Games And Digital Asset Design

The games and animation sectors require individuals who can design and create assets for deployment within interactive products such as games and visual novels. This unit will introduce students to techniques and foundational principles for visual, animated and interaction design, specifically for use in digital entertainment products.

The unit will examine key features, differences and constraints that apply when creating content for different platforms and audiences. It will also introduce fundamental principles of how media content such as digital images, audio and animations are created, stored and edited. The unit will also provide valuable experience and development of technical skill in designing and producing media content including artwork, animations and digital audio. Students will be given opportunities to apply the design principles they have learned in order to review and improve their digital asset creations.

2D Graphics And Digital Art

The games and animation sectors require individuals who have an understanding of both traditional drawing techniques and digital creation platforms, but may specialise in artwork created digitally with custom software and drawing tools. At the heart of this are the key skills for representational art; drawing, painting, illustration.

The unit will examine key features of available 2D graphics platforms used for creating drawings and paintings for games and animation. It will also introduce the fundamentals of drawing and representation through exercises in methods that are typically used for environmental and concept art in the games development and animation production process

The unit will also provide valuable experience and development of technical skills in extending and customising applications for content including artwork, animations and digital media. Students will be given opportunities to apply the drawing principles they have learned in order to review and improve their 2D graphics artwork.

Principles Of Games Programming

What programming techniques are used when making computer games? This unit will relate programming concepts in the particular case of computer games development using a suitable modern object-oriented programming or scripting language such as C# and a current game engine and IDE such as Unity or Godot and Visual Studio. A hands-on approach will be used to ensure that students appreciate the workings of each programming construct by applying them to the implementation of a computer game. Where possible, the unit will make use of assets and design work produced during the Games and Digital Assets Design unit. Good practice in code design, implementation and testing will be encouraged from the start, with a view to producing maintainable software. The unit will involve a mixture of individual work and team-based development.

Fundamentals Of Creative Technologies

This unit has two elements, the first is aimed at your professional development and the second introduces you to the practices of the digital creative industries.

Firstly, this unit will equip you with the skills needed to cope with the demands of your course (which are also important to employers) and to help you to become more ‘self-aware’ learners. It will also teach you to develop an awareness of the expectations and professional requirements of your chosen industry.

The second element of the unit will lead you to develop your knowledge of the fundamental practical skills of digital creative technologies, and the ability to use them as applied to computer games development, interactive digital technologies and computer animation and visual effects. This section will be comprised of a series of practical-based labs where a range of techniques will be introduced.

Prototyping And Visual Programming

The computer game development life cycle typically begins with initial concept development, pitching of ideas to stakeholders or potential project backers for feedback and evolution of the design in terms of functionality and look and feel via a pre-production phase, culminating in the creation of an interactive prototype. This prototype undergoes refinement via an iterative design process and the final version used as a vehicle to document and express the early game design and mechanics to members of the development team including animators, technical artists, sound engineers and programmers. Team members will then work to continue the development through to final release.

This unit will equip students with the skills to develop basic game prototypes and will be taught in two parts: One part will introduce techniques used in the computer games development industry to document and refine a game concept in response to a specific design brief and feedback received. The second part will equip students with the skills to create digital interactive prototypes to demonstrate their game designs. This will be achieved by introducing visual programming for prototype development, with specific emphasis placed on visual programming and procedural coding techniques and will make use of a modern game engine such as, GameMaker Studio, G Develop or Construct 3 with visual scripting or Unreal Engine with templates.

Web Technologies And Platforms

You will learn how to use client side and server side technologies to implement web applications.
Issues of design and usability will be explored and you will produce and validate your own product designs prior to implementing them using current development tools.

The primary aims of the unit are:

1. To equip students with the technical understanding needed for the design and development of web applications
2. To develop practical skills in the design, implementation and evaluation of web based applications.

Compositing For Visual Effects

This unit provides an overview of the concepts and practices of digital compositing for visual effects, with the practical application of specific industry-standard software tools to create visual sequences or effects.

This is based around 2 parts: 

• 2D and 3D compositing techniques, and imaging for visual effects
• The emphasis is on the practice of technical skills with a complimentary underpinning on the theory of optics, physics and algorithms used for visual effects.

Professional Industry Portfolio

This unit gives students the opportunity to improve their employability by developing an individual portfolio of work based on initial research and analysis of job roles and practices in their focused area of the creative technologies industry. This research may also be related to an enterprise project or industry partner introduced by the department. Portfolios are a common tool use in the creative industries for evidencing skills and talent.  Further, portfolios can be used to assist a student with reflective practice as well as platform to articulate complex and technical matters.

The first assignment will be focused in preparing a professional application and Curriculum Vitae (CV) related to a specifically target job role, and will be assessed through presentation, and from feedback from a Lecturer acting as an advisor.

For the second task mentoring will be given towards preparing a portfolio of work – or showreel – over the course of the year. This portfolio, which would also include artefacts developed in other units would collect the entire student’s work by the end of level 5 and provide a point of focus for the student’s development before entering the final year.  Styles and types of portfolios will be examined in a series of seminars over the second-half of the course.

On completing this unit the student will have re-enforced the context for the technical studies that receive in the concurrent units of this degree course, and the ability to reflect on how the technical skills they are developing are relevant and can be applied in further research in the major Undergraduate project in Level 6.

Applied Games Design

Computer games design involves devising immersive player experiences and game environments that challenge player expectations and perspectives. At the same time, game designers must understand how to create intuitive and easy to use UI and control schemes and in-game challenges and obstacles to be overcome and enjoyed without engenderment of excessive frustration in the player.

In this unit, students will develop knowledge of a variety of game genres and mechanics. Additionally, students will learn how to formulate suitable test plans for evaluating the playability, immersion and overall quality of user experience their games provide. Students will have the chance to try out game testing via practical application of a number of industry relevant techniques such as, expert evaluation, focus groups, data analytics and play testing and will learn how to apply their findings to improve game designs.

Applied Games Programming

What are the main concepts and techniques used in the implementation of computer games and games engines? During this unit you find out and will work both individually and in teams on a number of game development projects. You will be using an object oriented programming language (such as C++ or C#) and appropriate development tools and libraries. You will learn about the main concepts and structural components that are involved in developing games software, and see how they are implemented.

Mobile Application Development

This unit will introduce students to mobile devices and applications. Students will learn about the tasks that mobile application development team will carry out. Students will also learn how to do the tasks using different methods and technologies to deliver mobile design, implementation and evaluation.

Essentially the unit will detail the development of mobile computing, explain user interaction design methods and theories, and then go on to describe the differences in software development between mobile application programming and web application programming, and develop applications that incorporate both programming methods to efficiently construct a single application task.

Desktop Applications Development And Software Engineering

This unit aims to help you:

• To develop desktop applications in an object-oriented programming language with object-oriented analysis and design;
• To understand the process of modelling real world problems and systems in a programming language;
• To develop the students’ knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the software development process from an engineering viewpoint;
• To develop the students’ ability to analyse and apply a diverse range of concepts, principles and techniques to the whole software life cycle;
• To extend your knowledge and skills in advanced programming and software development methods

User Experience Design

1. To foster an understanding of the users’ needs, abilities, and limitations, and of the techniques and technologies that can enable an effective interaction between the users and technologies.
2. To develop the knowledge and skills necessary to enable students to model, design and evaluate display and interaction to strive good user experiences.
3. To enhance the students’ desire, skills, and confidence to research user experience design topics for themselves.

3D Graphics And Animation

Computer animation and graphic technologies draw upon a large pool of theoretical principles from computer graphics and related fields. This unit aims to introduce you to the principles associated with computer animation, graphics and features of its main techniques. You will be shown how to implement these techniques through modern software and programming languages. The major aims of the unit are for you to:

• Distinguish intermediate 2D and 3D modelling principles and techniques.
• Be able to apply rendering and shading in 3D graphics.
• Incorporate 2D and 3D assets with animation principles and techniques.
• Be able to extend basic graphics and animation features in code
• Be knowledgeable of the state of the art of computer animation packages
• Explore features of modern animation software and link them with the underlying theory.
• Demonstrate ability in the use of specialist software packages to create computer graphic sequences.

Studio Development Project

This unit will give students in Creative Technologies subject courses the opportunity to further refine the skills attained in Level 4 of the course relating to their chosen pathways; programming, design, graphics, and animation as applicable.

This element of team-working is typical to work in both small and large companies in industry and the aim of the unit is to give experience of working on tasks in a way similar to a game development or design workplace environment.

They will be expected to work in mixed cross-pathway groups assigning roles and working towards a pitch and prototype based on a given topic. A briefing for this group work topic will be given, but students could chose to follow briefs from external projects and events such as Game Jams, Competitions, as available.

The main aim of the unit is to enable students to build up a body of professional work to focus on their skill set for employability. This unit will consider critical analysis and project management of production techniques used in the creative technologies' studio environment.

Research Methodologies And Emerging Technologies

This unit is designed for you to prepare for your honours project utilizing your subject experience from the first two years of your study. You will also asked to contextualize your project idea within current or emerging technologies, typically underpinned by academic publications and to do systematic market research that will equip you with a sound strategy on how to implement your honours project.

Advanced Graphics For Games

In Advanced Graphics For Games, students will work on a development project that supports your final year development (for your pathway) and produce a significant computer graphics or animation artefact that could become part of your portfolio. It is important that you have a clear, well informed career goal and ensure that the work you do in level 6 provides useful portfolio pieces to support your career aspirations.

The major aims of the unit is for the student to:

• practice emerging tools within computer games graphics platforms
• gain experience in the application of recent tools and techniques
• develop a significant portfolio piece
• gain additional experience of team working

Advanced Games Design

What motivates players? What are the psychological theories and models of human behaviour and of pleasure? How can we apply this knowledge to create games that are fun and engaging, that feel rewarding (and ultimately) lead to developed products that are well received and able to generate revenue?

In this unit, you will be exposed to widely adopted, as well as emerging theories on the psychological and business-oriented aspects of game design. You will also develop an understanding of the wider ethical and controversial issues surrounding contemporary computer games design. 

You will work on a development project that supports your final year development (for your pathway) and produce a significant games design related artefact that could become part of your portfolio. It is important that you have a clear, well informed career goal and ensure that the work you do in level 6 provides useful portfolio pieces to support your career aspirations.

The major aims of the unit are for the student to:

• Gain knowledge and reason about theories of motivation and pleasure and ethical and controversial aspects in game design
• Apply this knowledge in the creation of games designs
• Develop a significant portfolio piece
• Gain additional experience of team working

Advanced Games Programming

In Advanced Computer Games Programming, you will learn about the way in which things are done in the computer games industry at present and gain experience of making games yourself.

During the unit, you will study a number of emerging topics within the Computer Games Programming field. This will include both practical evaluation of tools and packages and critical review of published material.

You will produce a significant computer games artefact that could become part of your portfolio. It is important that you have a clear, well informed career goal and ensure that the work you do in level 6 provides useful portfolio pieces to support your career aspirations.

The major aims of the unit is for the student to:

• Contextualize emerging topics within the computer games industry
• Gain experience in the application of recent tools and techniques
• Develop a significant portfolio piece
• Gain additional experience of team working

Undergraduate Project

Whether you go on to further study or into employment one of the most important skills expected in an Honours Graduate is the ability to work autonomously.  This unit is an ideal vehicle for the development of that skill.

You will typically implement the project proposal developed during the unit CIS013-3 Research Methods and Emerging Technologies (an alternative approach will be agreed with the unit coordinator and your project supervisor if you haven’t successfully completed CIS013-3 yet). 

Although you will be working independently, you are expected to arrange regular meetings with your supervisor to guide and support you.  You will apply coherently your technical, analytical, practical and managerial skills during your project development.

The project is an important opportunity to expand your experience in an area which is of close relevance to the course that you are studying (e.g. Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, and Computer Games Development).  Your project may be of relevance to a future employer, and will demonstrate your interest and ability in the chosen area.  As such your project topic should be aligned with your career aspirations.

The following aims are addressed in particular:

• To provide you with an opportunity to work autonomously on a sustained piece of work.
• To develop your ability to manage a project from start to finish.
• To develop your ability to identify problems, analyse the requirements and produce and evaluate solutions.
• To develop your ability to work to the relevant academic and professional standards.

Disruptive Technologies

This unit will expose students with state-of-the-art practice and research on disruptive technologies for creative technologies in a range of areas. This may include VR, AR, MR XR, interactive technologies, graphics software and hardware, network gaming, pervasive and ubiquitous gaming. Such technologies will be analysed to determine their applicability and appropriateness for and impact from their adoption in the creative Technologies industries

During the unit, you will study a number of emerging topics within the Disruptive Technologies and perform critical research on a topic of your choosing. This will include both practical evaluation of tools and packages and critical review of published material.

The aims of this unit are:

• To introduce cutting-edge technologies and research trends
• To give final-year students an insight and understanding into the application of emerging technologies to different areas
• To provide students with the skills to critically evaluate the benefits, drawbacks and pitfalls of applying the latest techniques to their chosen field
• To give the student higher analytical skills to determine the impact of applying cutting-edge technologies
• Give the student a solid grounding in new research and commercial developments that can then be reflected on for developing research for the Undergraduate project unit

English Language Foundation

This unit focuses on your ability to understand and use the English language accurately when you read, speak, listen and write. We will concentrate on the English you need for undergraduate level study in your chosen subject area, covering grammar, subject area vocabulary and the four language skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking.

A key element of the unit is the grammar of the language, and particularly the verb tense system in English, because your ability to use the verb tense system accurately will be extremely important when you come to write essays and reports. This unit will focus in particular on the grammar of the language.

We will also focus on reading, listening and speaking skills in the context of your chosen subject area. Beginning with short texts, we will practise each skill and practise it again, so that gradually you will see, hear and feel that your command of the language is improving. 

A recurring focus of the unit will be your acquisition of 'learner autonomy'. This means your ability to acquire the language yourself, without needing a teacher's help. This is important because from next year you will not have an English teacher to help you. So we will consider and practise strategies to help you gain confidence in your own ability to increase your knowledge of and ability to use the language, including for instance guessing meaning of difficult words, deciding which words are important in a text, recognising differences between formal and informal language, and other strategies, so that as the first semester continues, you begin to feel more confident in your use and experience with the English Language.

Academic Skills Foundation

When you begin your undergraduate level studies, you will be expected to have knowledge of and ability to use a large range of 'study skills'. You will also be expected to have some knowledge of the subject area you will  be studying. This unit deals with both of these aspects of your preparation for undergraduate level study. 

All of the academic skills are practised in English, so you will use your developing acquisition of the language from the partner unit 'English Language Foundation' to practise and gain mastery of these skills. You will also use your language and study skills as you learn the foundation of your subject area, putting the skills into practice as you learn.

Academic Study Skills 2

This unit is designed to help you develop important academic study skills that you will use throughout your university study, as well as preparing you for when you enter into or return to employment.  This is part two of two linked units, which enable you to plan, build and practice your knowledge and skills acquisition gradually, it introduces and develops presentation skills, and professional development planning.

Principles Of Technology 2

The aim of this unit is to enable students to develop an understanding of the theory, practices and underlying technologies associated with the working principles, design and performance analysis of various technologies, in particular those relating to ICT systems. The is the second unit of two related parts and you will cover robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), UX Design, Cyber Security, Software Development and the associated data security and ethical dimensions of application design.