Games Development (Art) BA(Hons)

The Games industry relies on professionals who work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams. This module gives you an early experience of both developing game assets and working as part of a team in which such artefacts are planned, designed, implemented and evaluated. The module aims to provide you with an understanding of industry best practices within the games industry. This includes reflective and peer assessment of contribution to the team effort. You will gain introductory experience of a product development cycle, technology limitations, and possible future developments relevant to the course.

The module has been designed to introduce you to the principles of 3D asset creation for current generation video games and integration into games engines. During the module you will examine workflows for specific platforms and technologies, while developing an understanding of the requirements of developing assets to specific design briefs and styles.

The aim of this module is to provide you with a range of core transferrable skills that you will need in your studies and, looking further ahead, in your career. The module focuses on broadening your understanding of Computer Games Development/Design by exploring cutting edge technologies, innovation, research and career opportunities in the context of the Games industry. The first part of the module explores the support and resources available to you at the university, leading to the creation of a personal development plan. Building on this foundation, the second part of the module focuses on developing your research and academic writing skills.

The module aims to develop your technical skills and knowledge in game engine prototyping, using a state-of-the-art game engine, to design and develop a game prototype. Practical studio themes will be developed by tutors which are aimed at helping you to gain an understanding of how the theory fits in with computer games design. You will be introduced to the concepts and principles that underpin the creation of game prototypes and will use a visual scripting language to control actions, interactions and animations.

The module will introduce you to the practical principles and theoretical knowledge of creating digital 3D characters. Examining a broad range of applications for 3D production and optimisation for games development you will create your own characters, from introductory models to complete character production pipeline.

You will partake in multiple weeklong game jams, working as part of a team to design, develop and produce a game. The module will allow you to develop your understanding and practical abilities in games production processes on both a technical and professional level, with a strong focus on team and communication skills and encouraging an active approach to individual professional development and team responsibilities. You and your team are expected to conform to professional working standards and follow an agreed code of conduct as part of the module; individual contributions to teamwork and attendance on timetabled sessions contribute to assessment and will be monitored.

This module gives you the opportunity to develop and demonstrate a mix of practical and conceptual skills. The module focuses on the requirements for hard surface modelling techniques and 3D environment creation processes. Studio sessions will be used to introduce and discuss a range of theory and examples of current practice regarding environmental design processes. You will work individually to undertake practical assignments and develop your analysis and production skills through practice; using a combination of digital tools and techniques to produce a portfolio.

This module provides an opportunity for you to develop your understanding of the process, practice and production of visual assets for game production; exploring creative, conceptual and technical approaches to asset production in relation to your field of study. The module will introduce a range of approaches, techniques, and frameworks. You will develop your visual literacy and production skills through practice; using a combination of traditional (paper based) and DCC tools and techniques in the production of an original portfolio.

You will examine the development of character development focusing particularly on the production and planning of 3D characters for games. You will develop the skillset of design and development of characters ranging from conceptual design, sculpting and texturing to final production of rigging for animation and game engine implementation.

Teams of approximately 8 students will form a games development team, allocating production roles and responsibilities as per standard games industry studio structure. Working from an agreed design outline, you will develop a professional quality game, to either a publishable standard or in the case of larger titles a vertical slice with the potential to attract publisher investment. You are expected to conform to professional working standards and an agreed code of conduct, this will include polished pitching and proposals, collaborative team working driven via sound project management and structured task assignment alongside an Agile development approach.

The module encourages an examination of the role of context, pre-production, production and post-production techniques in the commission, design and development of digital game art. A combination of current theory and case studies will provide the context for you to explore a range of analytical frameworks from which to critique contemporary game culture and your own working pipeline and practice. You will then further explore specialised topics and design practice through independent research, defining a suitable brief before synthesising their individual knowledge, conceptual and practical skills into an original body of visual work for a defined context.

The module provides an opportunity for you to develop and demonstrate the synthesis of practical and conceptual skills for the planning and implementation of complex 3D projects focusing on the creation of 3D worlds and environments. Studio sessions will be used to introduce and discuss a range of theory and examples of current practice relating to the subject. You will work individually to undertake practical assignments. Individual independent research will allow you to demonstrate your understanding and knowledge of a chosen specialist topic.