BA (Hons) Games Design (with Foundation Year) Bachelor's degree at Teesside University

Focusing on computer games, animation and film, you gain an introductory level of understanding in the context of your chosen field of study. As well as looking at the historical and context of these, you observe how we interpret these types of media historically and materially. Choose a text within your area of interest, undertaking an analytical review in the form of a case study.

You create a small game, which involves writing a proposal document and completing a demo using a contemporary game engine.

You are introduced to non-digital game development. Explore theories and methods for game and spatial designs in board games, card games, escape rooms, games of chance, collaborative play and spaces of outside play. You also hear from non-digital game experts and industry speakers.

You focus on the visual scripting skills you need to develop modern engine-based interactive content. You are introduced to the fundamentals of blocking out assets or levels for intial design in a current game engine complemented with visual scripting. These include variables, functions and operators.

Gain the skills you need for game creation using a contemporary game engine. Understand the fundamentals of modern game development, including scripting, asset creation and level design.

You learn the core theories involved in designing games. Examine the pre-production stages, focusing on the role of mechanics in designing an engaging and immersive gaming experience.

Study the fundamental concepts involved in creating game prototypes. Examine core gameplay loops, focusing on interaction and how this creates a tactile and engaging experience.

You work on an individual artefact related to a game experience using a brief set by industry. Develop your experience of working with a real production brief, targeting specific production skills within your own field of study.

You focus on the business, marketing and publishing aspects of the games industry, examining new trends and business models for games development. Look at the process for turning a digital concept into an attractive business proposal to acquire funding and investment, and explore how marketing, publishing and distribution get a game to market.

You work with students from across all the games courses to develop a game slice in a team. Experience working in a production environment, and focus on specific skills in your own field of study while gaining valuable teamwork skills.

Explore the design and production of gameplay missions, why people play games, what makes them fun and how you can apply this knowledge to add depth and playability to level design.

You look at the processes for developing frontend and heads-up display interfaces and user experiences for games. Explore design theories, interactivity, accessibility, rational navigation and interface psychology.

Experience working as a member of a games development team, in a setup that is as close to industrial practice as possible. You work in groups to construct a working game demo in a current game engine. You consider standard industry practices that consider multiplayer gaming threats, user safety, cheating and data security.

You undertake a large-scale project guided by a member of staff, where you produce a substantial piece of work related to your course alongside a written report. You also present and discuss your project.

Explore the theory and integration of games narrative concepts. Investigate elements of storytelling including narration, character creation, story arcs, point of view, voice, tense, cutscene, narrative wash and texture, backstory, storytelling using affordances and signifiers, world building, emergent storytelling, and found text and audio.