Game Design and Development

Part of Screen Yorkshire’s Connected Campus group, our three-year Games Design and Development degree programme has been carefully designed to meet the demands of the contemporary gaming industry.

With a particular emphasis on the blend between the technical and creative aspects of games design, you’ll be taught the core theories that underpin the discipline and use these to guide your practical work and, in turn, gain the vocational experience needed to embark on a career in this fast-growing industry.

Through the course you’ll gain a robust understanding of areas such as:

• Game play

• Technical computer animation

• Game programming

• Script programming

  You’ll be taught by an industry experienced team of academics including Carlton Reeve, a consultant for commercial AR games and Peter Chapman, who runs his own digital agency. And you’ll benefit from talks and workshops delivered by industry experts like Michael Ogden, Iki Ikram and Ben Smith. The high level of industry knowledge and insight gained here will provide you with the knowledge base you need to emerge as a confident and competent graduate.

You’ll have regular access to state-of-the-art facilities like the six camera Motion Capture Suite and technical equipment which you can use to put theory into practice and enhance your skillset. You can borrow equipment for you own personal projects too.

In your final year you will undertake a bespoke studio project, where you can collaborate with other disciplines and put theory into practice, whilst showcasing the skills you’ve developed throughout the course.

The department has close links with a number of prominent organisations. This includes the resident Working Academy placement agency and Game Republic (the Yorkshire games industry association), of which we are member. With access to such prestigious partners you’ll have plenty of opportunities to gain extracurricular experience that will enable you to emerge as a highly desired and capable graduate.

Year 1:
3D Character Modelling and Animation (core)
Creative Industries — Foundations (core)
Creativity and Imagination (core)
History and Conventions of Computer Games (core)
Introduction to 3D Computer Animation (core)
Introduction to Computer Programming for Games (core)

Year 2:
Game Appreciation and Industry Analysis (core)
Game Design Programming & Development (core)
Indie Games: Concept, Design and Development (core)
Issues in Web Development and Technology (core)
Script Programming and Technical Animation (core)
Environment, Set and Prop Creation (option)
Motion Capture (option)
Multimedia Application Development (option)

Year 3:
Design For Industry (core)
Individual Project (core)
Professional Industry Profile (core)
AI for Games (option)
Effects Animation and Dynamics for VFX (option)
Motion Capture (option)

Most modules use a mixture of formal lectures, practical lab sessions, tutorials and seminars. Some modules involve supervised group work, usually with an assigned academic staff member for each group. All modules require students to undertake independent study, supported through distance learning technologies such as our Virtual Learning Environment. Reading lists and suggested resources for independent study provide further direction for students to undertake this work, and regular contact hours and informal feedback throughout the courses provide opportunities for further guidance for learners. Assessments for modules mostly take the form of practical coursework, lab tests and written exams, with all forms being well represented throughout all years of the course across all modules.