Computer Games Technology

In particular, the project component of the Computer Games Technology MSc gives students an opportunity to carry out an extended piece of work under the supervision of one of our specialist academic and research staff, at the cutting edge of games technology.

At the end of the course, students are equipped with advanced knowledge and skills in a range of topics in games technology in preparation for a career in computer games development.

8 Core Module(s):

Games development process

• Develop a game design, pitch, and prototype using Unity and C#
• Use industry standard software engineering practice (Agile) in games development
• Follow the stages of games development in creating a prototype
• Study principles of game design and apply them in practice.

Computer game architectures

• Develop a game engine from first principles using C# and MonoGame
• Create and deploy a cross-platform game using the game engine
• Understand the principles of network gaming in the context of game engines
• Optimise game engines by understanding the specialist nature of games hardware.

Computer graphics

• Develop a graphics demonstration using C++, OpenGL and GLSL, the OpenGL Shading LanguageApply mathematical concepts such as vectors and matrices underlying computer graphics
• Apply mathematical concepts such as vectors and matrices underlying computer graphics
• Appreciate the real-time graphics pipeline and how shaders can be used to achieve graphical effects by taking advantage of the graphics processing unit
• Apply algorithms for practical graphical tasks in games.

Game Physics and Artificial Intelligence

• Develop an application in C++ using the Bullet 3D physics engine combined with artificial intelligence techniques
• Appreciate how physics and artificial intelligence can enhance the gaming experience
• Apply the mathematical concepts underlying game physics
• Implement artificial intelligence technologies in a gaming context.

Digital Signal Processing and Audio Programming

• Develop audio software using the FMOD audio rendering engine
• Explain the mathematical and physical concepts underlying games audio
• Appreciate how audio can enhance the gaming experience
• Use advanced music informatics techniques in a games setting.

Programming in C++

• Design and create classes and programs in C++ that are correct, robust and capable of being understood, reused and modified by others
• Apply various object oriented features, including inheritance, multiple inheritance and genericity, to enhance software quality
• Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the core features of C++ and their application to programming problems
• Analyse substantial well-written C++ programs and adapt them to new requirements.

Systems Specification

• Apply the principles and concepts involved in object-oriented analysis and design and build models using the constructs of the Unified Modelling Language (UML)
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the changing nature of software intensive systems and the range of new methods, tools and techniques available to develop these systems
• Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the challenges of requirements elicitation
• Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the fundamentals of software quality assurance techniques.

Research, Methods and Professional Issues

• Understand important principles in performing research-based projects
• Develop a games related project proposal to be used for the final individual project
• Learn evaluation, testing, and statistical techniques to analyse project outcomes.

Read the full Computer Games Technology programme specification