Games Design and Development BSc Honours

Program Overview

Middlesex University's Games Design and Development BSc Honours program equips students with the technical and creative skills to excel in the dynamic gaming industry. Through hands-on projects and collaboration with professionals, students develop expertise in game design, programming, and storytelling, preparing them for careers as game designers, developers, and programmers. The program emphasizes innovation and industry-standard tools, ensuring graduates are ready to contribute to the ever-evolving world of gaming.

Program Outline

Games Design and Development BSc Honours

Degree Overview

This program is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge required to become successful games designers and developers in the fast-changing gaming industry. Through a combination of technical and creative instruction, students will create games using a variety of tools and technologies, including Unity, Unreal Engine, and game engine scripting. The program emphasizes collaboration and interaction with students from other Middlesex departments, including 3D animation, art and design, music, computing, and graphics.

Key Objectives:

• Develop practical skills in game design and development using industry-standard tools and technologies.
• Gain a deep understanding of game mechanics, player experience, and game design principles.
• Collaborate effectively with other creative disciplines to produce finished game prototypes.
• Develop strong communication and presentation skills to effectively convey game ideas and concepts.
• Prepare for a successful career in the games industry or related creative fields.
• Professional Studio Practice 1 (30 credits): Explore the key theoretical concepts and history of game development and player experience focused design.
Develop a prototype for a cross-platform game.
• Professional Studio Practice 2: Industry Projects (30 credits): Work to fulfil an industry brief as a collaborative group.
Work with students from different specialities managing asset workflows to produce a prototype.
• Game Cultures Design Beyond Entertainment (30 credits): Explore the key theoretical concepts and history of game development in a wide range of contexts.

Year 3:

• Experimental Gameplay Development (30 credits): Make new and experimental gameplay.
Learn processes to rapidly conceptualize and prototype game mechanics and evaluate the results.
• Final Major Project (30 credits): Take a game idea from pitch to advanced prototype.
Most students will work as a group and are encouraged and supported in finding students from other disciplines to collaborate with.
• Games Design Processes, Research, and Playtesting (30 credits): Optional.
Propose a games design research topic and write a substantial examination of the existing knowledge on the subject. Using an existing game or a prototype they will carry out a playtest study to examine the design question that interest them.
• Research and Documentation (30 credits): Optional.
Designing and making a new game requires a good deal of contextual research, design justification, project documentation and reflection.
• Professional Studio Practice 3 Portfolio enhancement projects (30 credits): Optional.
Develop a deeper understanding of the games industry and the requirements of different jobs in it. Create a portfolio of your previous work, choose your target job role, and come up with an improvement plan for targeting the job with your portfolio.

Assessment

• Continuous assessment through projects, assignments, presentations, and examinations.
• Emphasis on practical application of knowledge and skills.
• Feedback provided throughout the program to support student learning and development.

Teaching

• Experienced teaching team with industry expertise.
• Project-based workshops with recorded and live lectures and seminars.
• Focus on innovation and design, equipping students for the dynamic games industry.
• Collaboration with professionals and other students from various disciplines.

Careers

• Potential Career Paths:
• Technical Game Designer
• Gameplay Designer
• Level Designer
• Interaction Designer
• App Designer
• Developer
• Programmer
• Graduate Employers:
• CDProjeckt Red
• Outplay Entertainment
• Trick27
• Pixel Foundation
• Rockstar
• PlayStation
• Square Enix
• Program prepares students with:
• Technical skills in game design and development.
• Creative skills in game design and storytelling.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Portfolio showcasing their skills and accomplishments.

Other

• Highlights:
• Access to world-class facilities, including digital media workshops, high-end workstations, and cutting-edge software.
• Small class sizes for personalized attention and interaction with faculty.
• Opportunities for internships and real-world industry experience.
• Learning Support:
• Mentoring and guidance from experienced faculty.
• Career guidance and assistance with job search.
• Entry requirements: 112 UCAS points, including GCSE Grade C/4 in mathematics.
• Tuition fees: £9,250 for UK students, £16,600 for international students.
• Start date: September 2024.
• Program length: 3 years full-time.
• Mode of study: On campus.
• Location: Hendon campus.
This program seeks to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to become successful game designers and developers in the rapidly evolving games industry. Through a balance of technical and creative instruction, students will have the opportunity to develop games using various tools and technologies, including Unity, Unreal Engine, and game engine scripting. The program emphasizes collaboration and interaction with students from other Middlesex departments, including 3D animation, art and design, music, computing, and graphics.