Games Technology MSci/BSc (Hons) with foundation year

Games technology, however it is created or applied, revolves around an understanding of the foundations of programming. More than that, game developers must be able to program as part of a team. This module will introduce both core skills. Using industry-standard tools⁴, including integrated developer environments (IDEs) and version control systems, you’ll be taught fundamental programming concepts, such as syntax, abstraction and problem-solving. You’ll apply this core knowledge and an industry-favoured engine, to the creation of a game within a team of your peers.

Compulsory

Fundamental to all programming is the notion of mathematics. Whenever we write software, we are writing algorithms and algebra – and to write them correctly, we need a firm grip of the maths which underpins them. In this module, you’ll gain that understanding, exploring subjects like set theory, algorithms and complexity, and logical arithmetic. Don’t be intimidated, though! Everything is explained from first principles, and you’re supported throughout your mathematical studies by our dedicated maths support service (sigma).

Compulsory

To apply, extend or enhance information systems, any developer needs a fundamental understanding of the machine, with all its complex, moving parts. This module introduces you to these concepts, from the concept of computation to the twitching transistors which drive its implementation. Central processing unit (CPU) architectures, memory hierarchies, efficiency, networking and security are all explored. Additionally, the concept of the Operating System (OS) is introduced which, combined with the other topics studied, empowers you to begin your journey as a developer.

Compulsory

Games are complicated software projects by nature, with hundreds of communicating, interconnected, moving parts, and are constructed using a programming paradigm called object-oriented programming (OOP). This paradigm is fundamental not only to engine programming, but to the leveraging of existing engines. This module introduces a language built on OOP principles which also empowers the programmer with direct memory access. The fundamentals of OOP are introduced, along with the notion of computer memory, the heap and the stack. You’ll leverage all this knowledge in the construction of another team-based game, using another industry-favoured engine.

Compulsory

Databases are fundamental to modern, digital life – whatever we’re doing, we’re either generating, using, sharing or erasing data. The technologies, ethics and laws behind these processes are a fascinating and fundamental element of software development in the twenty-first century. In this module, you’ll explore all these concepts, mastering the elements of data handling, storage, and management which you’ll have to apply in later study.

Compulsory

In this module, you’ll be presented with a range of issues related to game design, with a particular focus on the ethical, social and legal aspects of game development. As interactive computing increasingly permeates our day-to-day life, it's crucial that developers keep in mind how our design and engineering decisions can impact the experience of players. Bringing together these aspects of psychology, ethics, sociology and technology, the module will help you develop a reflective, compassionate approach to ideation and presentation of novel game concepts. You’ll go on to explore the creation of design documentation and pitching of ideas, preparing you for the next stage of your studies.

Compulsory

Players demand a seamless, immersive gaming experience which combines rich, high-fidelity content with lightning-quick responsiveness. To meet these expectations requires the efficient, optimised programming of dedicated hardware designed with those goals in mind. In this module, you’ll be introduced to the graphics processing unit as a concept, and the common software and hardware features which underpin modern rendering. You’ll explore the key algorithms and mathematical principles of computer graphics, the core concepts of texturing and lighting, and how to program the shader cores which make it all possible.

Compulsory

Being a game developer means constantly staying on the front foot with both hardware and software, and reacting to new trends, technologies and paradigms in both the game industry, and wider technology sector. Moreover, it means evaluating these developments to select the most viable and entertaining ones to incorporate into your own video game designs and mechanics. Technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and natural motion controllers are just some of the many technologies this module explores, with the focus on evaluation for game development. You’ll use industry-standard tools to then integrate emergent technologies into your own software⁴.

Compulsory

The games industry has an expanding expectation of the realism and aesthetic detail presented in modern games, making roles such as technical artist increasingly common. Tasked with the job of producing ever more convincing digital assets, these artists are required to understand the programmatic skills with an appreciation of aesthetics, often creating tools or technologies to accelerate the creative process. In this module, you’ll cover a range of 3D modelling concepts and learn to create game-ready assets. As part of this, you’ll be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the core requirements of technical art, reflecting artistic vision and computational efficiency in a portfolio of practical work.

Compulsory

The use of physics is a staple in video games to engage and immerse players in our virtual worlds and simulations - without it, games would be, at best, movies and, at worst, static tableaus. From movement and interface detection to collision response and particle systems, this module will introduce you to the science which drives (in many cases, literally) games. During the module you’ll explore Newtonian mechanics and the general motion of objects in three-dimensional space, collision detection and impulse-based response. You’ll also cover the fundamentals of multi-threaded programming, to put the theory into practice when creating your own physics simulations.

Compulsory

With the increasing scale and complexity of modern games, the industry needs developers who can work as part of a team to produce enjoyable game experiences. This module aims to emulate this multi-disciplinary environment, along with some of the pressures and workplace challenges you’ll face when you move into the industry. You’ll participate in a collaborative game development project requiring project management and coordination. The module will introduce you to the notion of continual professional development and enhancing employability, alongside commonly-employed software engineering practises, and other key professional skills you need to bring your team’s creative vision to life.

Compulsory

In this module, you’ll explore the principles and application of fundamental artificial intelligence techniques relevant to game development. You’ll learn to select appropriate AI algorithms for specific game design patterns and implement them using commercial game engines. The module covers fundamental data structures related to AI, such as node graphs, finite state machines, and binary trees, as well as the implementation of effective and efficient sorting, searching, and state management strategies. The module focuses specifically on the implementation of AI in the context of a gameplay experience, which often requires AI to be performant, stable, challenging and plausible, but can also afford specific opportunities for optimisation and illusion.

Compulsory

This module provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement² undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

This module provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement² undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

Contemporary game development requires an understanding of the fundamentals of cybersecurity and data governance. Modern studios act as both harvesters and protectors of vast quantities of potentially sensitive user data. Online games are also, by necessity, the target of hacks intended to bypass gameplay limitations, e.g. teleport hacks, 'bots and similar exploits. This module addresses both elements. You’ll gain an understanding of the fundamentals of cybersecurity and data governance as they apply to modern game development. You will also become familiar with defensive programming at the software design and game design levels, learning how to engineer software which is resistant to unauthorised user activity.

Compulsory

You’ll explore the use of procedural techniques across the digital content creation pipeline to accelerate and enhance the creative process. Through practical, hands-on application of your developing skills, you will create a portfolio demonstrating your skills as a technical artist. Upon successful completion of the module, you can expect to be able to solve complex technical issues during development and learn to work within the limits of a game engine, taking into consideration attributes such as curation of file sizes, polygon counts and draw calls.

Compulsory

Much of modern game development revolves around the enhancement of existing game engines, be they commercial or bespoke. This can involve extending an existing large codebase (brownfield development), integrating existing software libraries (middleware integration), or creating new apps and extensions which empower developers (tools programming). In this module, you’ll learn how game engines are structured, exploring the subsystems which make up common commercial engines. You’ll seek to learn how to develop modularised extensions to engines, integrate third party libraries to provide extra functionality, and leverage all these skills towards the creation of tools to empower your fellow game developers.

Compulsory

The rapid emergence and proliferation of mobile computing platforms such as smartphones and tablets, has led to a dramatic shift in the video games industry, with mobile gaming now accounting for roughly half of all game revenue. This drives an industry need for developers skilled in the area, able to design and develop games for low-powered platforms with non-traditional interfaces. In this module, you will explore how to overcome the technical constraints and challenges associated with development of mobile games using modern hardware. In addition, the module will provide you with a practical understanding of popular mobile gaming ecosystems, exploring issues relating to the design, publication, marketing and commercialisation of mobile games.

Compulsory

In this module you'll undertake an in-depth, ethically evaluated research project into a topic relating to games technology. Bringing to bear all of the skills you've developed over the course of your degree, you'll attempt to create a useful software library, a helpful tool, or a novel implementation of a technically challenging algorithm, relevant to an area of personal interest to you.

Compulsory

All game platforms are heterogeneous by nature - this means that they have multiple different types of processing core, accessible by the operating system and applications. In this module, you will be introduced to the concepts of heterogeneous computing, empowering you to further optimise your software, leveraging all of the cores at your disposal, whatever the architecture. Through exploration of contemporary console and computer hardware, and the way commercial engines interact with that hardware, you’ll learn to develop heterogeneous software solutions. You will also learn how to integrate these solutions into libraries which extend and enhance existing commercial engines, which is an increasingly useful skill in game development.

Compulsory

In this module, you will examine the applications of entertainment software and hardware, created by the gaming industry, to ‘serious’ challenges in areas such as education, public health and sustainability. You’ll relate your existing knowledge of game engines and game development to broader application areas such as training simulation, rehabilitation and architectural or product visualisation, developing an understanding of iterative and participatory approaches when employing games technology for serious purposes. Alongside the use of leading commercial game engines and digital content creation tools, you’ll explore the advanced application of augmented and virtual reality and other gaming hardware in these application areas⁴.

Compulsory

Driven by a commercial need to maximise market share and aided by increasing industry standardisation in the console space, cross-platform development is attracting increasing attention from game development studios. This has generated high demand for game engineering professionals skilled in the area, able to design and develop games for multiple platforms which provide consistent user experience. In this module, you will learn about the technical issues and challenges associated with the development of cross-platform games using console development kits and high-performance PCs. You should gain practical and theoretical knowledge of manipulation of assets, game prototyping and cross-platform user interface design, as well as explore the hot-button topic of cross-platform play.

Compulsory

As virtual game worlds and player expectations increase, reliance upon procedural content generation (PCG) within industry has expanded to offset the growing demands placed upon developers. This algorithmically-generated content, whether an artistic asset or a game level, must be plausible, enjoyable, engaging and, above all, consistent with the game’s developer-generated content. This module will explore contemporary procedural generation techniques and algorithms, both real-time and pre-processed, empowering you to leverage these technologies in your own game development. You will also learn how the outputs of these techniques can be meaningfully evaluated.

Compulsory

Working as a group, you will identify an area of potentially marketable development within the domain of games technology. Guided by the course team, you will apply the practical and analytical skills gained throughout your degree to the research and development of an innovative software solution targeted at that area. Your team will undertake background research, any required ethical approvals of the project, document the process, and evaluate both the effectiveness of the collaboration and your software deliverable in written report. This software solution will be feature-complete and ready for public release by the conclusion of the module.

Compulsory