| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
Course overview
This course has specifically been co-created with the games industry and incorporates input from industry collaborators to meet a clear demand for more appropriately skilled practitioners to join the industry.
The course covers the full extent of the games development process from initial story ideation to final product testing and you can expect towork in cross-functional teams to conceptualise, design, build, test and market playable games.
Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects
Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022
5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities
QS Stars University Ratings
Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)
QS Best Student Cities Index 2023Why you should study this course
4
complemented by experimental immersive studios and digital and electronic hacklabs.2
.Collaborations
We work in collaboration with The RSA (Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce), and upon successful completion of the 'Creative Futures and Social Change' module, you will receive
RSA digital badging
.Program Outline
Year one
You will develop and deepen your specialist skills in the context of interdisciplinary games development teams to conceptualise, design, develop, test, and market games across platforms. You will engage with all aspects of games design and development and produce a working prototype. You will work collaboratively in a studio environment. You will critically reflect on your own and others’ practice in existing, new and emerging aspects of the game industry.
Modules
Games in Context – 10 credits
Understanding the games design and development pipeline from concept to quality assurance is crucial for those moving into the games industry. This module aims to provide a discipline-agnostic contextual springboard into understanding the macro, micro and miso factors affecting the games development industry across independent (indie) and AAA games. AAA games is the term used to describe high-profile games with a large budget produced and distributed by large, well-known publishers.
It's aim is to equip you with a broad contextual oversight, and understanding of, the underlying principles of games development and empower you to become critical thinkers. The module will explore key principles around the business of the games industry, the history of games development, intellectual property rights, and the different roles involved in the games development lifecycle.
Compulsory
How Games are Made – 40 credits
This module aims to introduce you to development and project planning processes in the context of video game design through an industry studio-style engagement with concepts, skills, and practices. The module covers both theoretical and professional approaches to, and best practices of, game development to build your understanding of the games design lifecycle and empower you to become collaborative communicators and develop your leadership skills. This process will follow an agile and iterative approach that begins with conceptualising themes and mechanics, through to workflow and processes. The module asks you to reflect on and situate your practice in this agile game development context through the development of a Games Design Document (GDD) and Technical Design Document (TDD).
Compulsory
Researching and Pitching Games Concepts – 10 credits
Concept development in games design involves researching the market and positioning of a games concept and pitching it for development. This module aims to develop your ability to practice industry-related research skills and professional pitching and communication, through the development of a games idea pitch and associated Game Design Document (GDD) and Technical Design Document (TDD). The module will develop your research capabilities and apply these to an authentic simulated game concept.
Compulsory
Immersive Games Production Simulation – 60 credits
This module aims to immerse you into the games production process. Through 12-week intensive studio-based projects you will take one of the games concepts pitched during ‘Researching and Pitching Games Concepts’ and build a live games demo product under the mentorship of industry professionals.
The module will explore the practical skills required in the development of games whilst developing your collaborative leadership capabilities. You will be expected to work in collaborative inter-disciplinary teams to develop the necessary agile project management and cross-communication skills expected by industry employers.
Compulsory
Springboard into Industry – 20 credits
Branding and positioning yourself in the context of the games industry is vital to early career professionals. This module aims to support you as you position yourself within the professional games development industry in the context of your specialist skills and experience.
The module will explore the different roles and responsibilities involved in the games development lifecycle whilst empowering you to critically reflect on your career aspirations in support of the transition from higher study to industry employment. You will be supported to develop a personal brand within your professional practice focus area and to curate your portfolio to align with industry needs.
Compulsory
Polishing Your Game to Perfection – 30 credits
Quality assurance forms part of the games development lifecycle and ensures that games are ready for release. This module focuses on the post-production aspect of games development, exploring quality assurance testing and iterative development and building on the development cycle.
The module is practical in nature, allowing you to take the outcomes from ‘Immersive Games Production Simulation’ module and refine your game demos. You will critically explore the playtesting, stress-testing, and Quality Assurance processes involved in games development and refine the skills needed to address functionality, completeness and balance in the context of development work.
Compulsory
Creative Futures and Social Change – 10 credits
This module explores the changing world of work which you as arts and humanities students enter after study. New technology and the changing global economy mean that jobs and skills are changing and evolving quickly and will continue to do so. This is an exciting and new world, and this module is designed to empower you to realise your potential in it. This module provides tools for you to develop into changemakers, thrive in a changing world of work and participate in creating a better future for society. You will be guided through a process of reflection that explores four possible futures for the world of work and how to situate your own professional identity as the future of work changes through your careers.
This module is designed in collaboration with The RSA (Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce), and upon successful completion, you will receive RSA digital badging.
Compulsory
