Norwich University of the Arts

BSc (Hons) Games Development

Course content

Year 1

• Pursue a common first year with fellow BSc routes Interaction Design and User Experience Design, enjoying the wider insights gained from interdisciplinary learning while maintaining a sharp focus on developing core Games Development skills x
• Research and develop aspects of game interface design through the application of digital design principals and frameworks
• Learn the fundamental skills associated with software engineering for games and build core technical competency
• Undertake web game development projects using industry-standard practices and frameworks, incorporating relevant coding languages and libraries
• Develop techniques for the collection and analysis of user interaction data and explore industry-standard research methods
• Develop prototyping, user testing skills and gain an understanding of the role of cognitive science within game design
• Develop awareness of the digital project lifecycle, key milestones and processes by designing and developing a fully functional web-based game project

Year 2

• Gain a deeper understanding of applied games development through the design and development of a 3D game for a specific platform and audience
• Move on from purely browser-based games to working within an industry-standard integrated development environment (IDE) to develop more sophisticated programming techniques
• Examine the principals of physics and mathematics that underpin games to simulate real-world environments
• Explore the use of networking to create multiplayer games
• Investigate the use of pathfinding and artificial intelligence algorithms within games
• Identify and develop a technical specialism and area of interest
• Deepen your project management experience using digital tools for developing and tracking progress, delivery and results
• Develop awareness of issues concerning professional practice, such as health and safety, funding structures, curation/display, enterprise and entrepreneurship
• Consolidate and develop games testing processes

Year 3

• Develop advanced technical skills and demonstrate proficiency in your chosen specialism
• Undertake work with non-traditional interface technology to deliver an experience to the player, e.g. using augmented reality, virtual reality or motion sensing
• Pitch ideas to industry professionals
• Develop awareness of how to publish, license and monetise games
• Refine and apply advanced research skills toward the completion of a final project that will demonstrate craftsmanship and mastery of games development techniques as you enter the industry

Your games development skills

Our undergraduate games development course allows you to focus on areas that interest you, professionally and personally. You’ll be exposed to a variety of industry-standard platforms and technologies to understand their differences and how they are best deployed.

Applying computer science, emerging technologies, user experience and interaction design for the creation of new games, you’ll create games for different audiences, based on evidence gathered through research, observation and practical experimentation.

You’ll evolve how you think, make decisions and develop ideas, to ultimately code games that give users an exceptional experience.

Your games development future

As well as acquiring and developing the creative tools that will enable you to develop unique and innovative games, this degree will also show you how to make them commercially successful.

You’ll get a thorough grounding in the business of games, learning how to develop, distribute and licence games products as an independent producer.

Typical careers paths include:

• Games Designer
• Game Programmer
• DevOps Engineer
• Game Developer
• UI Programmer
• Product Designer
• Web Designer
• Software Researcher
• Engineer
• Software Developer
• AI Programmer