BA (Hons) Computer Games (Design)

Core modules

Introduction to Digital Entertainment

This module aims to introduce students to the games industry, and the tools and processes used by industry professionals. Students work individually and in small groups on practice-related projects, which allow students to experiment with creative tools whilst developing core academic and collaborative skills, vital for industry and university success.

Introduction to Game Design and Prototyping

This module explores the fundamentals of game design and prototyping. Students will design and build their own board and card games from concept through to prototype and playtesting. Students will learn the fundamentals of game design theory and demonstrate that knowledge with their game prototype portfolio.

Programming Fundamentals

This module focuses on the idea that programming is fundamentally a problem-solving activity and seeks to lay the foundations in creative and logical thinking that are vital in many areas of software development.

Collaborative Games

This is a group-based module where students from the Computer Games Art and Design courses collaborate to create small game projects using game engine technology. Students will work in teams and record their individual progress in a reflective blog.

Scripting for Game Engines

This module aims to give a basic introduction to a selection of third-party development environments and involves learning about the engine’s interface, developing a simple game and how to find help should they encounter issues.

Media Design

This module will concentrate on the skills needed for computer game designers to communicate their ideas in an effective and appropriate manner.

Core modules

Gameplay and Game Design

This module will concentrate on the skills needed to produce the concept document and the design document (central to developing a commercial game), with a supporting library of artefacts to generate a comprehensive description of a new 2D game.

Media Creation for Games

This module will focus on three key skills for media creation; concept development and concept art; the theory and practice of 3D modelling; and 3D printing as a prototyping and visualisation tool.

User Centred Design

This module will concentrate on the skills and knowledge needed for computer game designers to deploy user centered design as part of their design practice.

Digital Game Design and Prototyping

The subjects studied in this module explore the relationship between digital technology, game mechanics, interaction, emergent gameplay, and the player experience.

Advanced Media Creation

This module will focus on four key skills for media creation; 3D model rigging, deformation, and animation; video effects; and the essentials of audio. Over the course of the module students will concept and build a 3D character, animate the character, apply video effects and incorporate audio.

Producing Games

This module will concentrate on the knowledge and skills needed for computer game designers to become effective game producers and project managers. Students will learn the approaches to project management while working on a project, and analyse them based on their experiences working in a large team.

Core modules

Project Research and Preparation

Effective research is an essential aspect of the design process, and this module provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to research and prepare for a substantial design project.

Computer Games Design Project

This module is designed to provide the student with the opportunity to conduct a self-managed project of significant scale and complexity. The project should reflect theory and practice drawn from the course and should also reflect their particular interests.

Professional Development

The Professional Development module has been designed to develop three key areas that are vital for professional success. The three areas are: graduate skills and employability; professionalism; career and personal development.

Optional modules

Please note: Not all optional modules are guaranteed to run each year.

Experiential Design

This module will concentrate on the skills and knowledge needed for computer game designers to effectively utilise experiential design approaches in their work. Students will iteratively design and prototype games as they develop their experiential expertise.

Futureproof Design

This module will concentrate on the skills and knowledge needed for computer game designers to effectively utilise futureproof design approaches in their work, including; future forecasting, construct models of the future, and consider the role speculation can have in the design process.

Artificial Intelligence for Games

This module explores the role of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) in delivering software solutions to real world problems. Emphasis is on those subjects that have immediate application, especially in the development of novel solutions within the games industry.

Studio Practice

This module takes the concept of producing games further by having the entire class work as a studio formed of Artists, Designer and Programmers. Students reinforce learning from other modules by putting concepts into practice while working collaboratively to publish a small but polished game.