BA (Hons) Games Development

Program Overview

Ravensbourne University London's BA (Hons) Games Development program equips students with the skills to design and develop games of all kinds. Through a games-first approach, students learn the fundamentals of game making, specializing in game design and production, game art, or technical design. The program emphasizes collaboration, industry connections, and the importance of games culture, preparing graduates for successful careers in the gaming industry.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Objective: To equip students with the fundamental skills necessary to successfully design and develop games of all kinds.
• Focus: Game making, with an emphasis on pushing students to develop their own practice in a supportive and critical environment.
• Benefits:
• Prepares students for a career as a computer games maker.
• Develops a critical understanding of games development.
• Provides access to cutting-edge technology and deep industry contacts.
• Allows students to explore different roles within the industry and the visual side of development.
• Encourages collaboration and learning from professionals from other disciplines.
• Flexibility: Students can specialize in one of three key gaming areas:
• Game design and production
• Game art
• Technical design

Outline:

• Year 1: Introduces fundamentals of games programming, architecture, and relevant media skills.
Focuses on industry protocols and personal development attributes.
• Modules (Year 1):
• Programming 1
• Design of Play
• Engines and Pipelines
• Environments and Levels
• Professional Life Practice: "Developing your Practice"
• Professional Life Practice: "Exploring your Practice"
• Year 2: Builds on Year 1 foundations with a focus on specific technical skills for game development across various creative possibilities.
• Modules (Year 2):
• Narrative and World Building
• Character Design for Games
• Games Studio
• Professional Life Practice: "Applying your Practice"
• Work-based learning
• Year 3: Students undertake a significant individual development project.
Culminates in a portfolio of work showcasing their skills and expertise.
• Modules (Year 3):
• Pre-production
• Production
• Professional Life Practice: "Situating your Practice"

Teaching:

• Approach: Learning by doing, with a focus on game making and collaboration.
• Faculty: Experienced academics and practitioners with substantial industry links.
• Learning environment:
• Supportive and critical
• Encourages independent and collaborative work
• Provides access to industry-level skillsets in game engine technologies, games culture, and game design fundamentals.

Careers:

• Potential career paths: Typography, editorial design, packaging, information design, wayfinding, exhibition design, user experience and user interface (UX/UI) design, art direction, and design strategy.
• Graduate skills: Strong concept skills and technical expertise.

Other:

• Ravensbourne University London has strong industry links with a range of high-profile companies.
• Students can benefit from Ravensbourne's facilities, including production control rooms, a TV studio, print shop, kit store, iMac suite, prototyping suite, materials library, and library.
• The program emphasizes the importance of games culture and practice.