Games design at Plymouth is about a lot more than just making yet-another first person shooter! This course takes the wider view, recognizing that contemporary games technology is used for a huge range of purposes: Education, marketing, military or medical simulation, architecture – games technology is used for them all (and for stunning, cutting-edge games, too!)
Firmly based on helping students to find work in games design, the BA honours in Design for Games course has been built from the bottom-up – what jobs can we equip our students to do? We structured the course modules around the skills the industry needs, covering every aspect of game design from the theory of game-play to 3D animation and using game engines. You will develop an understanding of gaming technology, learning environments, psychology, project and business planning.
As you progress through the design for games course, the modules interlink: What you draw, you create as a 3D model, and that model is then imported into a game level of your own design. In the second year your animations can be controlled in a game environment.
Tuition for this BA degree is provided in a variety of ways: Lectures, through studio-based activities and online through a virtual learning environment. You will be encouraged to attend lectures given by practising designers and participate in study visits, external commissions, national competitions and exhibitions. Work-based learning is an important aspect of the course and the reality of the games producing world is built into everything we do.
B.A. Hons Progression
All successful FdA Games Design students have the right to progress to a third BA Hons year. This extra year is where you get the opportunity to specialise – whatever area of the Games design field appeals to you the most, we can support you.
In conjunction with tutors and industry professionals, you negotiate projects that allow you to grow in the direction you choose, whether level design, character development, modeling or the creation of education and training packages. Alongside negotiated projects, you will also explore contemporary cultural issues and debates from a variety of perspectives, and have the opportunity to be involved in seminars with specialists from sound, fine art, fashion, spatial design, film, animation, graphics etc. This broadened awareness strengthens your understanding of your own discipline and its relation to other areas of creative activity.
This year extends your skills ready for employment within the Games industry, and lets you create a unique, targeted portfolio in the process. it also gives you the opportunity to apply to Masters level Degrees
Game Designer, Game Content Creator, 3D Artist, Technical Artist, Animator, Character Designer/Animator, Facial Animator/Rigger, Motion Editor, Visual Effects Artists, 3D Modeler/Texturer, Cinematic Animator, Environment Artist, Level Designer.
Validated by the Open University