Year 0

FOUNDATION (YEAR O) DESIGN & CREATIVE BUSINESS

This 30-week course is designed to equip students with the academic skills and subject knowledge needed to progress on to study at undergraduate level. You’ll develop a unique portfolio of work throughout the course, helping you to progress onto a degree in any creative subject.

Stage 1
The first stage covers the key areas of related to your degree programme and will focus on games art and design. It is an introductory exploration into the dynamic and exciting world of computer games. You delve into the history, design principles, and cultural impact of computer games. By doing so, you lay the groundwork for deeper study in game development, design, and analysis. The hands-on component of this unit involves you reverse engineering the core mechanics, rules, and win conditions of a popular computer game. Through this process, you gain practical experience in dissecting and understanding game systems.

Stage 2
This stage builds on the key research, analytical and reflective skills built in Stage 1. Students will also have the opportunity to explore specialist areas of study and focus on your chosen path within the creative arts or business.

Stage 3
Students undertake a self-directed, specialist project which will synthesise and conclude their newly learned knowledge. The Final Major Project consists of three units which include advanced language and study skills needed for progression onto an LCCA design or creative business undergraduate degree.

Modules include:

• Games Art and Design
• English for Academic Purposes, Research & Study Skills
• Visual Culture
• Final Major Project

Year 1 (Level 4)

Games Design Concepts and Visual Storytelling

This unit encompasses various crucial aspects of game development. It delves into core game mechanics, such as rules, goals, challenges, and feedback, while exploring common mechanics like points and levels, using Unreal Engine Fortnite Engine (UEFN) as design and experimentation tool. Additionally, balancing and pacing techniques, emergent gameplay, and strategies for maintaining player interest are discussed and you create new UEFN game islands to develop gameplay and visual experiences. The unit also covers community building, understanding user bases, player motivations, and monetisation. Visual storytelling is a significant focus of this unit, with an in-depth study of visual elements and their impact on player emotions.

Games Studio Practice 1

The Games Studio Practice Units, are where you collaborate to design, create, and test an original game created by you as a member of a multidisciplinary team consisting of a mix of students from both the Computer Games Design and Computer Games Art courses. Games Studio Practice 1 primarily focuses on the planning phase of game development, comprising two key elements: paper prototyping and digital prototyping to produce a simple game

Introduction to 3D Asset Creation for Games

This unit offers a fundamental understanding of 3D modelling tailored for game development, encompassing both theoretical concepts and practical skills. You delve into fundamental principles while gaining proficiency in industry-standard 3D modelling software. The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including 3D modelling fundamentals, software navigation, polygonal modelling, texture mapping, UV mapping, materials, shading, basic rigging, and insights into industry workflows.

Introduction to Gameplay Mechanics

This unit offers a comprehensive exploration of the foundations of gameplay mechanics using Unreal Engine as the primary tool. It covers essential topics such as navigating the Unreal Engine interface, player inputs, character control, Blueprint interactive elements, gameplay events, AI enemies, UI design, and testing strategies. By addressing these key areas, you establish a solid foundation in game development principles within the Unreal Engine environment.

Modules include:

• Games Design Concepts and Visual Storytelling
• Games Studio Practice 1
• Introduction to 3D Asset Creation for Games
• Introduction to Gameplay Mechanics

YEAR 2 (LEVEL 5)

Level Design: Player Experience and Usability

This unit is designed to teach you the intricate aspects of creating immersive and user-friendly gaming environments. It focuses on guiding players effectively through spaces by emphasising flow, connectivity, and landmark placement. Principles of environmental hierarchy such as zoning, pacing, and verticality are explored to enhance the overall player experience by using Unreal Engine Fortnite (UEFN) as a design and usability research tool. Through case studies, you learn about common architectural styles and motifs, as well as principles in level design.

Games Studio Practice 2

Games Studio Practice 2 is the second professional practice unit where you collaboratively design, create, and test a new and original game as part of a multidisciplinary team consisting of a mix of students from both the Computer Games Design and Computer Games Art courses. Within Games Studio Practice 2, you engage in rapid prototyping and iterative prototyping, two essential elements crucial for advanced game development from conception to a more refined stage.

Games Project Management

This unit focuses on cultivating strategic project leaders within the context of game development. You delve into advanced project management techniques, including the application of sophisticated frameworks such as Scrum and Lean methodologies. The curriculum emphasises optimising resources, implementing precise risk management strategies, and adapting agile practices to the unique challenges of game development projects. You are guided through market analysis, navigating uncertainty, and applying advanced financial modelling for budgeting and resource allocation.

Advanced Mechanics and Quest Design

This unit focuses on Advanced Mechanics and Quest Design within the context of Unreal Engine, delving into intricate game design concepts. You explore sophisticated quest design techniques and iterative design practices. The curriculum emphasises the development of advanced Blueprint scripting skills, mastery of AI development, design of comprehensive quest systems with branching dialogues, and integration of dynamic elements and progression systems. Throughout the unit, you design and implement comprehensive quest systems, incorporating branching dialogues, dynamic elements, and progression systems. By the end of the module, you possess a sophisticated understanding of these advanced concepts.

Modules include:

• Level Design: Player Experience and Usability
• Games Studio Practice 2
• Games Project Management
• Advanced Mechanics and Quest Design

Year 3 (LEVEL 6)

Games Studio Practice 3

Games Studio Practice 3 is the third professional practice unit, where you collaborate to design, create, and test a game as a member of a multidisciplinary team consisting of a mix of students from both the Computer Games Design and Computer Games Art courses. This may be either a new and original game or with the agreement of the entire team the development of an earlier iteration of a game from Games Studio Practice 2. This is the production phase of the game development cycle, focussing on two main elements: technical prototyping and the creation of a vertical slice. These components are essential for refining the game’s technical aspects and showcase its main features and quality to potential stakeholders

Final Year Project and Professional Portfolio Curation

The Games Final Year Project and Professional Portfolio Creation unit guides you through a structured process aimed at developing your skills and showcasing your abilities in games art and design. For the Final Year Project, it begins with the identification of a topic of interest and the definition of project scope, and objectives aligned with academic and personal interests.

Audio and Soundscapes for Games

This advanced unit offers an immersive exploration into the synthesis of narrative and audio within virtual environments. Through recording and editing techniques, you delve into fundamental principles of sound and music, foley, emotional storytelling, and crafting interactive soundscapes. The curriculum aims to provide you with a holistic understanding of audio’s role in storytelling in games, focusing on its integration into virtual environments to enhance narrative immersion, using Unreal Engine Fortnite (UEFN) as a soundscape design and experimentation tool.

OR

Advanced Games Feature Design and Emerging Technologies

This unit offers a comprehensive exploration of cutting-edge concepts in game design, focusing on advanced paradigms and technologies shaping the gaming industry. You delve into critical analyses of games to understand their impact and role in pushing the boundaries of innovation. The curriculum focusses on the development of Metaverse gaming, engaging with immersive technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), along with design principles for creating immersive experiences.

Modules include:

• Games Studio Practice 3
• Final Year Project and Professional Portfolio Curation
• Audio and Soundscapes for Games OR Advanced Games Feature Design and Emerging Technologies