BA (Hons) COMPUTER GAMES DESIGN: STORY DEVELOPMENT (WITH FOUNDATION YEAR)

Both of our three-year computer games courses share a common core of modules. The Computer Games Design (Story Development) programme differs slightly, though, with its emphasis on the application of traditional story and narrative design to game and gameplay design. The course will allow you to develop creative writing skills and focus on how they relate to game design.

In your first year, you’ll look at the basic theoretical and practical aspects of games design and development. One day, you could be deconstructing Asteroids or Pac-Man; the next, creating your own board game. You’ll be learning about graphics and prototyping production techniques as well as games theory.

In your second year, you’ll concentrate on more detailed games design as well as studying games research methods. You’ll also get the chance to apply your developing knowledge by working for a live client. You’ll gain valuable insights into all aspects of professional practice. It’s not just about designing games but about communicating your ideas properly, so you’ll take part in presentations and pitches.

In your final year, you’ll complete an individual research and dissertation project. Working in a group, you'll also conceptualise, design and develop an original game to give you a proper feel for how the games industry works. At the same time, you’ll be putting the final touches to your final professional portfolio to ensure you are in the best possible position after your graduate.

Who will teach on this course:

Christian Brindley
Imraan Younas
Shringi Kumari
Cenk Koknar
Patrick Girard Quinnell

We believe our courses are ideal preparation for a career in the games industry - and we can point to a couple of BAFTAs to back it up.

After graduating with a computer games degree here, Ashraf Mohammad started working with Rocksteady as a games tester. He has gone on to work on the Batman series of games and was a member of the team who won the 'Best Gameplay' and 'Best Game' BAFTAs for Batman: Arkam Asylum.

He is just one in a long list of our graduates who have made a real impact in the industry. For instance, in the last five years, two have featured in Develop Magazine’s list of the industry’s top 30 most promising young talents.

One, Richard Hamer, is now a top designer for Sony Entertainment Europe. The other, Ryan Wiltshire, worked for leading companies and has now set up his own studio. Another graduate, Matt Glanville, is a highly respected designer who’s now working for Just Add Water on Oddworld.

Some students go on to work as designers, programmers, testers and producers in a wide range of companies while others have become games design teachers themselves or launched successful careers in other areas of digital media.

FROM
A LEVEL
Must include passes at A2 in at least 1 subject
FROM
BTEC
Extended Diploma or Diploma
FROM
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE
Diploma with 24 points including a minimum of 15 points at Higher Level