Computer Gameplay Design and Production

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• Focus on Gameplay theories, with practical & experimental applications of play throughout the course

• Solid Introduction to a range of Industry standard Games Engines & scripting languages

• The Usability laboratory offers you the ability to observe game players using your creations

• Option to study the integrated Masters MEng which still attracts bursaries and loans

•    View our resources. 

Computer Gameplay Design and Production course information (PDF, file size: 589.12KB)

The Games Industry has become increasingly focused as it becomes one of the UK’s most buoyant and important industries. With a greater range of powerful computing development tools available, this award has been designed to give you the skill set required to make the best use of these tools to produce independent games and experimental game play mechanics. You will use industry standard tools to design games that show both inventive core mechanics and engaging mission design principals at their heart, both highly regarded by employers.

Staffordshire University is committed to providing the skills required to work in the games industry such as computer animation, computer graphics game design, games programming, games art, post-production and special effects, and technical direction.
This computing games course provides a mix of balanced skills including computer animation, computer graphics, game design and game programming. Dedicated facilities are provided for computer animation, multimedia, games, networks and digital post production. You’ll have access to a range of networked computer studios which run the latest software for computer animation, games and computer graphics as well as access to our RARE (TM) motion capture studio.

In Year 1 (level 4), you are introduced to game engines, building multiplayer and single player maps and explore the design and mechanics constraints.  This practical application of game engines is underpinned with theory-based modules.

During Year 2 (level 5) your study of game engines will continue with introduction to scripting in high-level languages, including LUA and UScript, allowing you to modify engines to a greater degree.  These skills will be put to the test in the multi discipline group project that spans both semesters and brings you together with the other games technology students.

In your final year (level 6) you will use an industry standard engine to create your own shards of a MMO, putting everything  you’ve learned into play - along with an individual project designed to push the boundaries of game play and mechanics. There is also a Research Dissertation and Entertainment portfolio to complete, giving you a wide scope to develop large scale games as portfolio pieces to take into industry.

The optional Year 4 is at Masters level and covers the theory and technical application of Ludology – the study of play, along with another individual project and group project.

Year 1 / level 4 

• CE01031-4 Game Engine and Physics 1A
• CE01032-4 Game Engine and Physics 1B
• CE00010-4 Computer Games Design 1A - Design Documentation
• CE00014-4 Computer Games Design 1B - Level Design
• CE01106-4 Production Skills for Games
• CE01129-4 Analogue Gameplay Design

Options including:
• CE00076-4 Scriptwriting for Technologists
• CE01029-4 Intro to Games Modelling
• CE00739-4 Introduction to Narratology
• CE01023-4 Introduction to Audio Engine Design

Year 2 / level 5 

• CE00015-5 Computer Games Design 2A High Concept and Preproduction (Multi-discipline Group Project)
• CE00017-5 Computer Games Design 2B Production and Testing (Multi-discipline Group Project)
• CE01140-5 Realism in Games
• CE00738-4 Multiplayer Games Prototyping 1a  Introduction to 2D Game Scripting
• CE00737-4 Multiplayer Games Prototyping 1B Scripting 2D Game Connectivity
• CE01137-5 Advanced Games Engines and Physics 2A
• CE01138-5 Advanced Games Engines and Physics 2B

Options including:
• CE01036-5 MMOG Communities and Services 
• CE00085-5 Time Based Multimedia
• CE00739-4 Advanced Narratology
• CE01024-5 Advanced Audio Engine Design

Optional Placement Year

Year 3 / level 6

• CE00651-6 Entertainment Research Dissertation
• CE00652-6  Entertainment Portfolio
• CE01142-6 Experimental Gameplay
• CE00741-5 Multiplayer Games Prototyping 2A Introduction to 3D Game Scripting (uses the Monumental Tech Suite)
• CE00736-5 Multiplayer Games Prototyping 2B Scripting 3D Game Connectivity (uses the Monumental Tech Suite)
  
  

Options including:

• CE00747-6 Games Business and Legal Issues
• CE00548-6 Advanced Multiplayer Online Games Design
• CE00852-6 Practical Games Strategies
• CE00769-6 Computer Games Marketing
• CE01107-6 Military Games Design & Development

For those wishing to pursue the MEng award

Year 4:
CE00630-6 Project
CE00275-7 Interface and Platform Development
CE00426-7 Ludology 
CE00653-7 Games Creation

Games Technology award handbook (PDF, file size: 1.52MB)

Graduates will be in a prime position to enter the Games Industry as a Games Designer or a Level Designer, having shown the ability to analyse gameplay, create worlds and script mechanics, in a variety of engines and across different platforms.

• Computer Games Design and Programming
• Games Concept Design  
• Computer Games Programming
• Games Technical Art

For more information about Computer Gameplay Design and Production (BEng(Hons) G462, BSc(Hons) G460) please contact: