BA (Hons) Game Design Bachelor's degree at the University of Derby

This module provides a introduction to 3D modelling within the context of game development and digital entertainment. You will develop core skills in creating and manipulating 3D assets using industry-standard software. The module covers basic modelling techniques, material application, and rendering workflows, with reference to practices used in games and related creative industries. Although not exclusively focused on games, the module includes game-specific techniques and considerations to help you understand how 3D assets are integrated into interactive environments. You will also explore the creative production pipeline, learning how to translate ideas into digital 3D forms. Considerati

Assessment: Coursework

This module introduces the fundamental concepts and principles of programming. It develops the practical skills needed to design, implement and test computer programs. No prior computer programming experience is assumed, and all practical work is done using a standard programming language and software development environment. Module learning outcomes On successful completion of the module, you will be able to: Understand the fundamental principles of computer programming Apply problem solving skills to design, develop and test solutions against the target specifications Module content Programming Elements – Variables, Loops, Decision Statements Arrays and Sequence Data Functions – Built-in a

Assessment: Coursework, Exam

This module introduces you to the use of contemporary game engines for the creation of interactive prototypes and playable experiences. It provides a foundational understanding of how digital environments, logic systems, and interactive elements are structured and controlled within professional development pipelines. You will gain experience in using visual and code-based scripting systems to create a small-scale interactive prototype, learning how engine tools, component hierarchies, and event systems contribute to gameplay behaviour and player experience. The emphasis is on experimentation, iteration, and problem-solving within small, agile production contexts that reflect modern independe

Assessment: Coursework

This module introduces the fundamental principles of Game Design, providing the theoretical and practical foundation for creative and technical development across the programme. It supports Games Design Practice 1 and Game Engines by encouraging you to explore how design thinking, systems, and player experience interconnect within contemporary game design and development. You will examine core game design concepts such as mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics, and how these combine to shape player interaction, motivation, and engagement. Emphasis is placed on developing professional communication skills through concise design documentation and small-scale collaborative exercises that mirror th

Assessment: Coursework

The ability to communicate a creative vision for a game is fundamental to the role of a 3D practitioner. This module provides you with the principal skills needed to develop concepts that can be developed digitally to advance visual designs. You will study and apply traditional skills and methodologies, so that they may better understand the creative link between traditional skills and design aesthetics. Module learning outcomes On successful completion of the module, students will be able to: Understand and explore key principles of traditional media Apply appropriate techniques to a digital design Module content The ability to communicate a creative vision for a game is fundamental to the

This module introduces you to the core principles and practical methods of Level Design through the creation of Whitebox environments in a contemporary game engine. It develops foundational knowledge of spatial composition, player flow, and environmental readability, preparing you to design and evaluate playable spaces. You will learn how to plan, construct, and iterate upon level layouts using industry-standard workflows and technical constraints. Working individually and in small agile groups, you will explore how blockouts and prototype spaces inform gameplay experience in the early stages of development. Emerging generative AI pipelines will be referenced in relation to ideation and eval

Assessment: Coursework

This module simulates an authentic studio environment in which Art, Design, and Programming students collaborate to respond to a real-world games industry brief. Students form multidisciplinary teams, scope the project, establish workflows, and deliver a playable prototype that demonstrates the core game loop and feasibility. Emphasis is placed on employability foundations (communication, planning, scoping, Agile practices) and working professionally to a specification, including ethical and legal considerations (such as the ethical use of generative AI.) Module learning outcomes On successful completion, you will be able to: Deliver a playable prototype in response to a real-world industry

Assessment: Coursework

Building directly on GAMELAB 1, this module advances the prototype to a polished, playable game artefact. Teams run full production sprints, implement stakeholder feedback, and iterate on design, content, and technical stability. Focus areas include quality assurance, performance, content completeness, and client/user-facing polish. Students evidence decision-making, and iteration through industry-standard documentation and reflection. Module learning outcomes On successful completion, you will be able to: Finalise and deliver a playable game artefact that evidences iteration informed by stakeholder/user feedback Demonstrate advanced team-based professionalism under time and production press

Assessment: Coursework

This module develops your ability to apply design logic and technical problem-solving within a professional production context. Building on core engine literacy from L4, you will explore how gameplay systems are specified, structured, and implemented within an existing provided game framework. You will be provided with a defined set of mechanics and tasked with delivering a vertical slice that demonstrates functionality of the provided mechanics within a “test gym”. This simulates the process of joining an established game project in industry, where designers are required to integrate and extend existing systems rather than create from scratch. Another key professional output is a Technical

Assessment: Coursework

This module explores how narrative structures, worldbuilding, and interactive storytelling techniques are applied within game design. You will examine how story and mechanics combine to create meaning, emotion, and agency, before developing their own short interactive narrative game or narrative interaction. Teaching focuses on the processes of creating both dialogue-driven and environmentally driven storytelling - from branching player–character conversations to narrative spaces that communicate meaning through embedding of story elements (e.g. audio logs). You will investigate narrative framing, character motivation, and various existing narrative systems (e.g. 3 act structure) to form coh

Assessment: Coursework

This module will explore the role that social enterprises and social entrepreneurship contribute to the economy and the attainment of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The global financial crash of 2008, the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, the rising cost of living, poor regard for social values and the failure of many policies aimed at social inclusion and cohesion, signal the increasing need for a way of doing business that promotes social justice and equality. Social enterprises offer an alternative to charitable action and government intervention to address injustices in society. Social enterprises can be distinguished from traditional ‘for-profit’ enterprise

Assessment: Coursework

Being creative can be thought of as coming up with new and original ideas, whereas innovation can be defined as the development and application of these new ideas to develop new opportunities, create original products and services and to solve problems. Both of these activities are necessary for the innovation funnel to be successful. In this hands-on module, you will discover how to generate new and creative ideas, and how to develop innovative products and services out of those ideas. Crucially, this may mean looking to other areas and subjects for inspiration and progress. To do all this, you will have the opportunity to work with other students on a real business problem, finding out you

Assessment: Coursework

This module provides opportunities for students to acquire an understanding of the issues that may impact on industrial and professional practices relevant to a career within their chosen discipline. During this period of work experience, students gain a deep appreciation of the responsibilities arising from both corporate and individual responses to such issues, thus enabling them to relate to the wider world when exploring a personal direction for potential career development. Students will be expected to develop their professional knowledge and improve their CV and professional profile with an aim to becoming competent in the skills needed to succeed in their chosen industry. The students

Assessment: Coursework

In this module, teams of students will develop a computer game prototype from concept through implementation to gold release. Module learning outcomes On successful completion of the module, you will be able to: Develop a high-quality game prototype using a modern game engine Critically evaluate the games development pipeline and reflect on your personal experience Module content An indicative list of areas that you will be expected to encounter and explore includes: Game concept creation Narratives, world creation, level design, etc Game design Game architecture Game production process Toolchain process Game asset creation Game middleware Project management Analysing and evaluating results

Assessment: Coursework

The module enables students to independently develop a substantial piece of work related to their specialism combining the skills and knowledge gained through their degree. Work on the project is independent private study guided through regular meetings with a member of academic staff. Project topics can be selected from a list of projects offered by staff or industry collaborators or students can suggest their own topic for possible approval. The main goals to be achieved in the project are the writing of a dissertation and the development of a practical artefact. The precise content depends on the project topic chosen by the student. However, each project will involve aspects of planning,

Assessment: Coursework

This module enables you to undertake a specialist investigation into a defined aspect of gameplay system design and implementation. Building on prior experience of technical and design pipelines, you will choose your own specific area of interest such as (for example) frame timing in combat systems, traversal mechanics, procedural generation, or adaptive AI behaviours, and carry out a structured research and development process. The first stage involves researching, analysing, and pitching a chosen field of study through a formal proposal that defines the technical and experiential goals of the project. The second stage is the construction of a playable prototype that evidences an advanced u

Assessment: Coursework

This module will look at the processes employed in developing high-end pre-rendered computer graphics and how these could be adapted or simulated in the context of real-time development. The module encourages you to explore and experiment with advanced non-game and game engine-specific toolsets and assess the feasibility of application to a real-time visual design. This module will assess your ability to critically analyse and evaluate the processes investigated. Module learning outcomes On successful completion of the module, you will be able to Assess and select appropriate advanced techniques and technologies in the production of a visual design in either pre-rendered or real-time context

Assessment: Coursework

This module focuses on the design and evaluation of user interfaces and user experiences for games, with particular attention to accessibility, clarity, and player feedback. You will work in small teams to design and implement a front-end or in-game interface, conducting structured usability testing sessions and iterating your design based on observed player interaction and data-driven evaluation. Teaching combines lectures, workshops, and supervised testing sessions where you plan, observe, and refine your designs in response to user behaviour and accessibility findings. The process reflects contemporary indie and small-team development pipelines, emphasising communication, testing discipli

Assessment: Coursework