Commercial Games Development - MSc

You will study the following compulsory modules over the course of a year:

• Commercial Games Studio - In this module you will focus on the development of commercial entertainment software products in a real-world industry setting. It will involve working on commercial projects slated for release or stakeholder handover.
• Games Research and Development - Immerse yourself in this rapidly moving stream of innovation, and learn how to deploy new technologies across a range of contexts and emerging application areas. This module forms the basis of a portfolio providing an entry point to research and development within the Games industry and also to academic research and real-world application.
• Dissertation by Research and Development - This is your chance to show your grasp of a complex and specialised area of knowledge, and your software engineering skills, by addressing a research problem with theoretical and methodological approaches.

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we will inform you.

The two taught modules will use collaborative game development techniques to help you develop both individual technical skills and advanced team working skills.

Staff will be embedded in the activities, leading teams and individuals under industry conditions.

You will use reflective video logs and streaming as effective industry and academic resources. Game jam learning will be used for producing prototypes, strengthening group dynamics and fostering continuing professional development and communities of practice.

For more details, see our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.

The MSc Commercial Games Development is offered as a full time course over 12 months.

Two taught modules are spread across the first six to eight months, followed by a final 60 credit dissertation project.

You will be expected to attend two full contact days a week during the taught component of the course. The rest of the week is expected to be self-directed study time, with the recommendation that you work independently in the PlayWest studio.

We will use a variety of assessment tools appropriate to the modules.

For Advanced Games Development, you will submit a portfolio with group and individual vivas.

For the Research and Development for Games module, assessment will be through video development logs, prototypes and a technology research portfolio of academic standard research papers.

For more detail, see our full glossary of assessment terms.