Games Concepts Design BSc(Hons)
Key features
* A ground breaking course aimed at producing the next generation of games and film concept designers with skills required by industry
* Course content designed and developed by ex-industry artist in collaboration with current industry concept designers.
* Concept design and development techniques taught covering anatomy, engineering, aviation, architecture, physiology and vehicle design.
* Film industry standard 2D Matt painting and 3D compositing using Combustion and After Effects.
* All core teaching delivered by industry experienced designers, artists, compositors and engineers.
* 3D modelling for both games and film using 3D Studio Max, Maya and ZBrush
What you do
This course has been designed to develop the traditional creative concept artists skills and to expand these skills to include the development of the game concept resources beyond original 2D concepts. Using 3D applications such as 3D studio max, Maya and Zbrush you will model and texture your ideas then bring them to life in the latest games engines such as Hallife2 or Unreal 2007.
At Levels 1 and 2 you will become proficient in the use of 2D and 3D applications such as Photoshop, Painter and 3DS Max software, which is used predominately by the games industry. In addition, you will explore game engine structure, anatomical structure and develop functional game resources from concept through to delivery. 2D/3D Matt painting, compositing character design, development, along with character modelling are all covered, as are cognitive and resource-based modelling methods.
At Level 3 you will embark on a substantial individual project which will be the key to demonstrating your skills to future employers when you graduate. Your modelling skills will also be extended to cover modelling using Maya.
Throughout your studies you will have access to purpose built laboratories and industry standard and sponsored equipment.
What it’s about
It's about producing multi-skilled game concepts artists.
The Games Concepts Design degree has been designed and developed with the help of noted games concept artists from industry, in order to build a course capable of producing the next generation of multi-skilled game concept artists, with the breadth of knowledge and depth of understanding required by this competitive industry.
Informed decision-making is the cornerstone of creativity and they are much sort after core skills of any successful game concept artist. If you are required to design and develop futuristic buildings, vehicles or characters for a next generation game console you need a fundamental understanding of the design principles that underpin these structures.
What industry says
"It looks to me like the structure of the course is already very solid and that you have a really great understanding of what a concept artist needs to know to correctly prepare them for a career in video game and concept art." Lawrence Etherington for Blink Twice http://www.studioblinktwice.com/lawrence.htm
"After reading through these course details......... the course sounds like a massive education, something I wish I had when I started out as a digital artist." Henning Ludvigsen www.henningludvigsen.comwww.pixelbrush.net
Computer Games Design: BEng(Hons), BSc(Hons), MEng
What it's about
The computer games industry is a vast market, it grosses more than
the film and music industries put together. In the UK alone it employs
more than 30,000 people. The industry itself believes it will quadruple
in size over the next three years. This course gives you a good
overview of the computer games industry so you can gain a clear idea of
the area in which you aspire to work. It will also give you the skills
to become a 3D Modeller or Animator, which is the first rung on the
career ladder to becoming a successful games designer or level designer.
What you do
At Level 1 you will learn about the reverse engineering of current
games, level design based on the principles of architecture and games
design documentation. You will be given a good grounding in 3D
modelling techniques and motion capture followed by an understanding of
games engines and physics. You will also have the opportunity to study
how manga characters are created.
At Level 2 you will learn about
high concepts, preproduction, production and testing of a game
generated by working in groups. You will also learn 3D facial and body
modelling as well as computer and character animation in 3D Studio Max.
There is also the opportunity to investigate multiplayer online games
in more depth.
At Level 3 of the BSc(Hons) version of the
award you will expand your skills in modelling to incorporate advanced
3D techniques in Maya. You also have the opportunity to learn audio for
computer games or further motion capture skills.
An individual project makes up a large proportion of the final year
For
the MEng students the 3rd year takes a slightly diffferent form with a
group project and alternative options available. This is followed by a
final Level M year where you will go on to study interface and platform
development of games, and also the study of game playing, known as
ludology, as well as an individual project.
Multiplayer Online Games Design: BEng(Hons), BSc(Hons), MEng
Key features
- Traditional game design theories along with the additional considerations of networking the game play experience
- Study networking infrastructure and data delivery to inform game design
- Develop rapid prototypes using high level languages
What it’s about
A Multiplayer Games Designer is a creative thinker who develops and
explores the wondrous possibilities of online interactive worlds before
they have even been produced. Multiplayer Online Games Design is a
course designed to meet the explosive demand by industry for creative
and technical development
skills on a range of gaming platforms. Currently, online gaming
accounts for a quarter of all game types sold worldwide, this market
share is projected to more than double in the coming years. There is an
established and ever expanding demand for online gaming in America and
Asia with Europe set to become the largest growth area for multiplayer
online games development.
What you do
This course has been designed and co-developed with industry to meet
the growth in demand and is aimed at taking students with a passion for
designing online games – giving them the opportunity to develop into
rounded multiplayer online games designers.
At Level 1 of the
degree, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of multiplayer game
design and development. You will then put these skills into practice by
rapid prototyping and manipulating multiplayer games and game content
through the use of scripting languages and software development kits.
On completion of the networking elements of Level 1 you can attain a
CISCO qualification.
At Level 2, understanding the ramifications of information delivery on
your design and storytelling is a key skill within multiplayer games
design. Understanding the opportunities and limitations of delivering
information to the user through interface design or across differing
architectures, is explored in depth. You will continue to develop your
design ideas in rapid prototyping but with the addition of game
testing/play testing.
At
Level 3, the influence of psychology and marketing of multiplayer
online games is studied along with exploration of distributed
communications systems for multiplayer games. Your designs will again
be brought to life within the rapid prototyping element of the course.
Your final year project will then give you the opportunity to research
and develop a specific area within multiplayer online games design.
