Module overview
During the Game Development modules, you will build on a Semester 1 game design pitch to create a prototype that deeply explores your game concept. This interactive prototype will showcase a high level of gameplay and provide a solid proof of concept, addressing complex components such as the game loop and the most challenging aspects of the game design.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Record and document learning achievements to reflect, motivate and self-monitor.
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Demonstrate connections between purpose, practice, outcome, context and presentation
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Employ practical intelligence and experimentation to exploit medium of games for your current level of study.
- Undertake and evaluate human (player) testing of game products, prototypes and projects concepts for your current level of study.
- Design and develop games outcomes and methodologies appropriate to the contemporary games industry for your current level of study.
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- the professional standards, skills, principles and processes specific to your discipline
Syllabus
What You'll Do:
•Prototype Development: Transform a game design pitch into an engaging, interactive prototype that demonstrates core gameplay mechanics and complex components.
•Game Development Pipeline: Follow a development pipeline that includes best practices for version control, team handoffs, sprint production deadlines, and task division across art, design, and tech disciplines.
•Game Development Process: Work in small teams to take your game into production, using project management processes and agile methodologies to iterate on your game design through design sprints.
Learning:
•Project Management: Learn project management techniques, including task assignment, conflict resolution, and the use of design sprints and agile approaches.
•Team Collaboration: Develop teamwork skills by collaborating with peers, managing handoffs, and splitting work across different disciplines.
•Technical Skills: Gain advanced technical skills through workshops covering project development, team working practices, and game development software tools.
•Critical Reflection: Document and critically reflect on the production process, including pipelines and teamwork, to understand the dynamics of game development.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include:
• Project Briefings
• Group tutorials and discussions
• One-to-one tutorials
• Critical Reviews
• Seminars
• Creative and technical workshops
• Technical demonstrations
• Visual presentations
Learning activities include:
• Creative portfolio development
• Research and concept development workshops
• Creative design and technical workshops
• School resource based learning
• Seminars
• Study visits
• Peer group learning
• Group critiques
• Self-assessment
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Teaching | 48 |
| Independent Study | 252 |
| Total study time | 300 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Crow, David (2003). Visible Signs, An Introduction to Semiotics in the Visual Arts. Bloomsbury.
Assessment
Formative
This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.
Portfolio
- Assessment Type: Formative
- Feedback: Feedback on project briefs. You will experience formative feedback during the module in different learning situations, for example: tutorials, crits and written feedback.
- Final Assessment: No
- Group Work: No
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Portfolio | 100% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Portfolio | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Portfolio | 100% |