MA Games Studio Development

Program Overview

This industry-facing program equips students with the skills and experience to develop video games. It covers the entire game development process, from ideation to testing, through cross-functional team collaboration. The studio model approach provides a holistic learning experience, preparing graduates for diverse roles in the games industry, including game design, development, programming, art, and sound design.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

It covers the full extent of the games development process from initial story ideation to final product testing. You will work in cross-functional teams to conceptualise, design, build, test, and market playable games. The program is designed to be a studio model, allowing you to experience the full production pipeline of games development, rather than focusing on one specific technical or creative element of the process. This holistic approach to real-world learning is designed to enable you to become an agile practitioner, able to flex across a range of roles within small independent games studios as well as to become a skillset-specific practitioner in the very large games studios with an awareness of the wider workflow.

Key objectives of the program:

• To provide students with the necessary skills and experience to develop video games.
• To give students a comprehensive understanding of the games development process.
• To enable students to work in cross-functional teams and to develop the necessary soft skills for the industry.
• To provide students with the opportunity to develop a portfolio of work that demonstrates their abilities and skills.

Outline:

The program will cover the following topics:

• Game Design & Development: This module will cover the fundamental principles of game design and development, including the game design document, technical design document, level design, user experience, user interface, game mechanics, and game balancing.
• Games Production: This module will cover the various aspects of games production, including project management, scheduling, budgeting, quality assurance, and marketing.
• Programming for Games: This module will teach students the basics of programming for games, including the C# programming language, Unity, and Unreal Engine.
• 3D Modelling & Animation: This module will teach students the basics of 3D modelling and animation for games, including Maya, Blender, and ZBrush.
• Sound Design for Games: This module will teach students the basics of sound design for games, including Foley, music production, and voice acting.

The program is structured as follows:

• Year 1: Students will take a series of core modules that cover the fundamental principles of game design and development.
• Year 2: Students will take a series of elective modules that allow them to specialize in a particular area of interest.
• Optional Placement: Students may also take an optional placement year, which provides them with the opportunity to gain real-world experience in the games industry.
• Year 3: Students will complete a final year project, which is a substantial piece of work that demonstrates their skills and abilities.

Assessment:

• Formative assessment: This is ongoing assessment that is used to provide students with feedback on their progress.
Formative assessment can take many forms, such as quizzes, essays, presentations, and group projects.
• Summative assessment: This is the final assessment of a student's work.
Summative assessment can also take many forms, such as exams, essays, and dissertations.

Teaching:

• The program is taught by a team of experienced and qualified academics and industry professionals.

• The program uses a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, seminars, workshops, and tutorials.

• The program makes use of the latest technology and facilities, including a state-of-the-art games lab.

Careers:

Graduates of this program will be well-prepared for a variety of careers in the games industry, such as:

• Game Designer
• Game Developer
• Programmer
• 3D Artist
• Sound Designer
• QA Tester
• Project Manager
• Marketing Manager

Other:

• The program is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Information and Technology (CIIT).

• The program has strong links with the games industry, and students have the opportunity to work on real-world projects.

• The program is offered on a full-time or part-time basis.

Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

• UK, Ireland , Channel Islands or Isle of Man: £11,200
• £18,600 per year without EU support bursary
• International: £18,600
The work placement opportunity2 (Extended Master’s) enables you to apply in semester 1 for an optional work placement of 9 to 12 months, extending the duration of your master’s to 24 months. The placement provides an opportunity for you to develop expertise and experience in your chosen field with the aim of enhancing your employability upon graduation. Please note that the optional work placement incurs an additional tuition fee3 of £4,000.
• The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:
• Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
• Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).