Computer Games Design

Introduction To 3D Games Engines

Students will cover the basics of a games engine, how they have evolved over time and how all the elements of a games engine function as one entity. They will also be introduced to a games engine's software development kit (SDK) toolset that will cover the following elements whilst relating to resources and balanced functionality.

Module code: GAME40213

Introduction To 3D Modelling For Games

This module introduces you to the pipeline for creating games art assets. You'll learn how to model and texture assets using the latest industry standard techniques and software. You'll be introduced to high detail modelling and the painting of PBR materials. By the end of the module you'll be modelling assets ready for today's PC and console games

Module code: GAME40400

Narratology For Games

This module looks at understanding how important narrative is to games from the analogue tabletop role-playing game scene, to modern digital games platforms like Indie & AAA. Students will also gain perspective on the history & trends of interactive fiction, allowing them to prepare for a future in narrative design, as well as looking at narrative roles relevant in the industry today. This will all be showcased by developing interactive narrative games for multiple gameplay environments using industry-standard development practices.

Module code: GAME40246

Introduction To Animation & Motion Capture

This module focuses on the fundamental techniques of key frame animation and the study of working with motion capture data to produce animations to be imported into a game engine.

Module code: GAME40212

Introduction To Games Design

This module focuses on the theoretical side to games design and covers a wide variety of topics ranging from level design and development to mechanic exploration and breakdown. The assignment consists of a series of task-based learning and problem solving as well as covering some of the essential software in games design.

Module code: GAME40214

Introduction To Texturing For Games

This module covers the skills required to produce hand painted texture assets for the games industry. You'll learn to generate textures from scratch, manipulate images, target UV mapping techniques to environments and characters and apply fundamental art skills to texture creation.

Module code: GAME40187

3D Hard Surface Modelling For Games

This module focuses on learning techniques to produce hard surface models such as weapons and vehicles. Students will produce a portfolio of weapon and vehicle assets to varying specifications and implement them into a games engine.

Module code: GAME50356

3D Character Modelling For Games

You'll begin a journey through Character Art development for games. You will develop skills in modelling, texturing and presentation resulting in the creation of Character Art portfolio pieces.

Module code: GAME50168

Advanced Realtime Technologies

Students will explore the wider application of Real Time Game Engine technology in a 21st Century setting. Completing this module will afford you skills in a wide range of game engine techniques such as Scripting, Lighting, VFX and Cinematography.

Module code: GAME50655

Game Interface Design And Implementation

In this module you will analyse current user interfaces and heads up displays being used in modern games and investigate the design process for menus, options and other elements of user interface design. You will then design and create a user interface for a specific game genre before implementing your design into a game engine.

Module code: GAME50261

2D Game Art

This module introduces the core concepts of pixel art, from low resolution 16 colour sprites to industry relevant creation of larger tiles and higher requirements, with the assignment focusing on development of tile sheets and developing pixel art for modern engines such as Unreal Engine 4.

Module code: GAME50649

3D Games Design And Development

This module focuses on working with game prototypes and industry standard documentation. You'll develop skills in the field games design, level design and game engines resulting in games design documentation, playable projects and demo videos.

Module code: GAME50185

3D Environment Modelling For Games

This module covers the skills required to produce realistic game environments. You'll learn to project manage, organise construction into modular elements, implement specific 3D modelling and sculpting / texture workflows, and integrate assets into games engine.

Module code: GAME50186

Junior Collaborative Game Development And Testing

Students will work in a junior role in a team comprised of departments as in a games studio. They will work with other juniors and level 6 seniors to make a vertical slice of a game as either an artist, designer or tech/scripter.

Module code: GAME50170

Rapid Games Prototyping

Students are taught from scratch how to design, develop and enhance their own game prototypes using rapid prototyping techniques, scripting and an industry standard game engine. The emphasis is on demonstrating core gameplay ideas within short timescales.

Module code: GAME50253

Advanced 3D Games Engines And Scripting

This module creates an understanding of the importance of utilising an embedded scripting language within an engine. This will be used to create simple game entities and later on in the module, a simple game.

Module code: GAME50180

Character Animation And Motion Capture

This module focuses on the study of character animation. The work looks at locomotion cycles, body mechanics and blending of animations. The module also features the use of motion capture data to produce animations for a playable character in a games engine.

Module code: GAME50265

3D Hard Surface Modelling For Games 2: Harder Surfaces

This module focuses on expanding students’ skills and experience with producing hard surface models exploring sci-fi and mech modelling. Students will focus on designing, producing and implementing their own models into provided games frameworks, ensuring their work is compatible with gameplay systems to ensure functionality as well as artistic quality

Module code: GAME60517

Individual Games Technology Portfolio

This employability focused module looks at a number of specific aspects with web presences, social media and industry engagement, while also allowing you the chance to add more work to your portfolio to fit your future career plans.

Module code: GAME60271

Individual Games Technology Project

Individual Games Technology Project allows you to perform independent research and development into games technologies of your choosing. Use this R&D to create a brief of your choosing, with the aim of creating final portfolio projects aimed at strengthening skills in modern game technologies contributing directly to your employability.

Module code: GAME60193

Senior Collaborative Games Development & Testing

Students will work in a senior role in a team comprised of departments as in a games studio. They will work with other seniors and Level 5 Juniors to make a vertical slice of a game as either an artist, designer or tech / scripter. The senior roles carry additional focus on mentoring and project management.

Module code: GAME60247

Advanced Games Technical Design

Module code: GAME60514

Cinematic Animation & Motion Capture

This module builds upon the previous animation & motion capture modules to introduce students to facial animation and cinematic presentation. Students also have the opportunity to explore the technical side of facial motion capture.

Module code: GAME60400

Advanced Level Design

Do you want to be a level designer? In this module you will craft levels for both single player and multiplayer experiences. You will develop a range of skills including 2D map making, greyboxing, understanding fundamental level design knowledge, and other industry techniques to make fun and interesting levels for a range of games.

Module code: GAME60521

Advanced 3D Modelling

Students will work towards the creation of several industry standard 3D art pieces. You'll work with a variety of industry standard software with the goal to create stunning portfolio ready pieces.

Module code: GAME60174

Military Games Design, Development & Philosophy

This module examines military based games and simulations. Students will study what it means to design, play and market military based games and how they have changed not just our understanding of conflict but how they have changed warfare in the 21st century. Military based games are not only the most popular of games on the market but are also now used as military training tools. We will examine how games are now replacing traditional simulations and table-top wargames for military training, and study how they have been used to model nuclear warfare, and now cyber warfare, and what this may mean for games design in general.

Module code: GAME60282

A.I. Scripting For Games

Students will focus on the challenging art of designing and implementing Artificial Intelligence systems. Through scripting complex custom entities, students pit their developed AIs against a series of challenging scenarios including competitive arena-based combat and multi-agent tasks.

Module code: GAME60248

Games Shaders And Texturing

This module covers the skills required to produce texture assets for the games industry. You'll learn to manipulate images, build realistic and hand painted stylised textures, target UV mapping techniques to the appropriate subject, implement textures into a games engine and apply fundamental art theory to asset production.

Module code: GAME50171

Introduction To Collaborative Enterprise

Video games are interdisciplinary pieces of interactive art that require a range of specialist skills. The majority of the games that you have played will have been developed by a team of individuals. Games Developers rarely work alone. This module will challenge you to capitalise on your skills and individual creativity while working with a mixed disciplinary team of games developers. Beyond developing a video games artefact, you will be exposed to the tools, practices, and transferable skills required to work effectively as part of a group.

Module code: GAME30512

3D Modelling Foundations

This module introduces students to 3D modelling for games. Using industry-standard 3D modelling software, students will learn the foundational approaches and techniques required to create game-ready 3D assets.

Module code: GAME30506

Games Engine Foundations

This module introduces students to games development using games engines. By utilising existing game frameworks, students will learn the foundations of level creation and scripting in Unreal Engine.

Module code: GAME30511

Introduction Into Games Scholarship

The games industry is a melting pot of different creative and technical roles. In this module, you will begin your journey as a games developer in training, understanding the roles and career opportunities within the games industry and beyond. You will also be exposed to the reality of the industry, exploring the ethical, economic, and societal impact of games. We will also support you in the creation of a career action plan, helping you to develop as an independent learner.

Module code: GAME30513

Games Design Foundations

This module introduces students to the process of game design and creation. Students will learn how to design great gameplay experiences in the form of levels and game mechanics. This is achieved by exploring existing game design theory, deconstructing existing games, and producing clear, professional game design documentation.

Module code: GAME30510

Mmog Design, Communities And Narratology

This module takes an in-depth look at massively multiplayer online games, the stories they tell and the communities they build and manage. Students will utilise play based research to examine the vast virtual worlds of MMOGS from within the stories and communities that they create. We will look at how narratives and communities must be uniquely tailored for, and how the intricacies of these designs are unique in games design due to the need for complex interactive storytelling to be achieved.

Module code: GAME60177

Dta Industrial Placement

Module code: PLAC00002