From the start you will be designing and developing games. You are actively encouraged to 'play', to question the nature of games/computer games and express the ideas you formulate through your personal project work. As your skills develop you will undertake live projects linked to games developers. The course provides a strong visual and creative base, supported by digital modeling, set within a professional framework for the development of games concepts. The course provides you with the necessary skills to operate as a games designer and give you the creative freedom to develop your own ideas. BA(Hons) Games Design covers the conceptual, visual and digital development of games.
Programme of Study
BA(Hons) Games Design is most suited to those individuals wishing to become involved in visualising, games design, conceptual design, animation and digital modelling of games within the games industry. This is an innovative course dealing with the creation development and implementation of games concepts. The course introduces students to the creative and technical disciplines required to become a Games Designer.
Students are encouraged to question the nature of current games and propose radical new concepts. They are introduced to a broad creative approach to games and the professional processes needed to improve their proposals.
Student study is led through a series of games design projects. Some are individual, some are collaborative and some are live briefs set by industry. These projects allow the student to explore every aspect of games design and develop their own personal practice. Complementary to the project work are a series of lectures and demonstrations designed to develop and enable the necessary skills a graduate will need to become a successful games designer.
The course team have a wide variety of skills and are highly experienced in developing an individual's visualising, creative thinking, digital modelling and games development skills. We have a broad and recent experience of the games development industry across all platforms with major titles. The team is also supported by visiting lecturers from games development companies and other relevant professionals.
Graduates from the course are able to display a rich portfolio of work that will showcase their skills. Core aspects of graduate work are visualisation, digital modelling and a solid foundation in game design and documentation. These skills and others developed on the course are those most commonly identified by the games development industry as key talents in modern Games Designers.
Course Content
In year one the course introduces students to idea generation and development, concept visualisation and basic modelling and digital visualisation.
The modules you are taught are:
Introduction to Games Design
Creative Thinking
Historical Contextual Studies
Plus one elective module
In the second year your project work is developed in a commercial fashion which supports your professional practice. These activities are complemented by a major focus on digital modelling for the games design industry.
The modules you are taught are:
Games Organisation
Animation and Environment Production
Contemporary Contextual Studies
Plus one elective module
The final year brings all the aspects of the course together through three projects which demonstrate your design ability, personal specialisation and creative ability.
The modules you are taught are:
Honours Project
Games Proposal
Contextual Studies
Design Futures