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

This module introduces students to group working practices within the context of a computer game development project. The module encourages the development of key interpersonal skills needed for collaborative work, such as communication, problem solving, respect and consideration of others, and identifying roles and responsibilities within a multidisciplinary group project.

This module introduces students to the key programming principles necessary to develop computer games through scripting. Students will apply these within the context of a game engine, exploring the development and application of algorithms, real-time assets, data management and interactivity within computer games.

The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the principles and technical skills used to create 2D digital graphics for video games and other creative industries, and to explore the creative processes required to produce their own digital assets to professional standards.

In this module students use level design principles within game engines to produce interactive game prototypes. Students learn the technical skills required to create effective white box designs for game levels, appreciating the importance of level design in the production pipeline.

This module introduces students to the technical 3D modelling skills and creative processes required to produce 3D models for game prototypes. Students develop their visual research and texturing skill set to produce bespoke assets which respond to market trends and audience requirements.

This module introduces students to the principles and technical skills required to create interactive and intuitive user-interfaces (UI) for computer games. Students will use industry-standard 2D software to produce UI graphics. This will involve using shape language, colour theory and composition in the context of visual design for screen-based formats.

Through session based activities, learners will be guided towards developing an insightful knowledge into narrative design. Understanding how to use narrative engagingly within a designed medium. Within digital industry, this will involve learning narrative history, media theory, act structure, psychological principles and digital implementation skills that are necessary to create an engaging digital product.

This module develops students' professional collaborative skills and experience of the game development process when working in multi-disciplinary groups to develop a 3D digital game to a deadline. Students use effective communication methods, empathy and compromise, problem solving and organisation skills within the context of a computer game project.

This module guides students towards producing working prototypes of digital games using approaches relevant in modern industry and understanding how to make a playable and entertaining game. Students will engage with design principles, iteration cycles, and practical software skills necessary to deliver an impactful game demo.

This module introduces students to the underlying reasoning behind Human Computer Interaction with relation to game design and accessibility; Why games are built the way they are. In digital games, this might relate to the requirements of a game engine or target platform and most importantly, the end user

This module guides students towards producing working finalised levels of digital games using approaches relevant in modern industry and understanding how to make an immersive and fully interactable game. Students will engage with user testing, build cycles, and refined software skills necessary to deliver an effective product.

This module develops learner's knowledge of designing to enhance the overall player experience. Learners will implement essential user experience principles to enable the design of rewarding prototype gameplay mechanics. This will produce interactive experiences that meet the requirements of varying target platforms and most importantly, the player.

The objective of the module is to encourage students to explore the potential of innovative or unconventional technology to construct genuinely new, interactive experiences.

This module ensures students are fully aware of the needs and expectations of the contemporary computer game industry through an understanding of its social, economic, and cultural climate. Students will engage in employability focused tasks to develop a greater understanding of professionalism within their chosen industry and specialism.

This module develops the student's experience and collaborative skills when working in multi-disciplinary groups to develop a social computer game to a deadline. Students are encouraged to apply themselves professionally to recognised industry specialisms within the framework of a live computer game project.

This module provides students with the opportunity to investigate and research an aspect of the games industry and produce a dissertation through study of current industry practice and trends, and analysis of primary and secondary data sources.

This module allows students to develop a body of professional portfolio work that focuses on a chosen career specialism. Students are supported through regular staff mentoring and projects refined via critiques of work-in-progress and feedback from milestone presentations.