Module ICP-2801:
Game Development
Module Facts
Run by School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering
20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits
Semester 2
Organiser: Dr Cameron Gray
Overall aims and purpose
3D game design offers a range of new ways for the player to interact with the fictional world of the game, while offering new challenges to the designer who must engage with space and place in new ways. In this module you will learn the skills of 3D development and apply world and level design skills to the creation of a 3D game for playing on a computer screen or virtual reality headset. You will develop your design experience through an introduction to rapid game prototyping. You will learn to finish a game at the end of a fixed time, have a core of a game that is fun, select the best idea from a set of alternatives, and test the technical feasibility of an idea. You will complete a workabler prototype by the end of the module, and you will maintain a production diary which includes plans, revisions and critical reflection on process.
Course content
- Unity game engine
- Game objects
- Models, materials and textures
- Terrain and environments
- Lights & cameras
- Scripting
- 3D game genres
- 3D Interactive design
- 3D animations
- Publication and distribution channels
- Rapid game prototyping
Assessment Criteria
excellent
- Comprehensive knowledge
- Detailed understanding
- Extensive background study
- Original interpretation
- New links between topics are developed
- New approach to a problem
- Excellent presentation with very accurate communication
threshold
- Knowledge of key areas/principles only
- Weaknesses in understanding of main areas
- Limited evidence of background study
- No original interpretation
- Only major links between topics are described
- Limited problem solving
- Many weaknesses in presentation and accuracy
good
- Strong knowledge of key areas/principles
- Understanding of theoretical underpinnings
- Evidence of background study
- Limited original interpretation
- Well known links between topics are described
- Problems addressed by existing methods/approaches
- Good presentation with accurate communication
Learning outcomes
-
Produce a playable 3D game prototype
-
Create actors and levels in a 3D environment
-
Research and critique sources for design of narrative, landscape, gameplay, character and genre
-
Work effectively in a 3D environment using key production processes and professional practices relevent to the game industry
-
Edit functions and apply functions to actors
Assessment Methods
Type | Name | Description | Weight |
---|---|---|---|
Playable 3D Prototype | 40.00 | ||
Production Portfolio | 60.00 |
Teaching and Learning Strategy
Hours | ||
---|---|---|
Lecture | Introduction of game principles and design methods |
11 |
Workshop | Game development workshops |
11 |
Private study | Individual work on game design, development and testing |
178 |
Transferable skills
- Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
- Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
- Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
- Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
- Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
- Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
- Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
- Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
- Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
- Mentoring - Able to support, help, guide, inspire and/or coach others
- Management - Able to utilise, coordinate and control resources (human, physical and/or financial)
- Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others
Subject specific skills
- Apply an understanding and appreciation of continuous improvement techniques
- Formulate and analyse requirements and practical constraints of products, processes and services, place them in an engineering context and manage their implementation;
- Solve problems logically and systematically;
- Plan, budget, organise and manage people and resources;
- Analyse and display data using appropriate methods and mathematical techniques;
- Knowledge and understanding of facts, concepts, principles & theories
- Use of such knowledge in modelling and design
- Problem solving strategies
- Analyse if/how a system meets current and future requirements
- Deploy systems to meet business goals
- Specify, design or construct computer-based systems
- Deploy tools effectively
- Development of general transferable skills
- Methods, techniques and tools for information modelling, management and security
- Defining problems, managing design process and evaluating outcomes
- System Design
- Knowledge and understanding of mathematical principles
- Knowledge and understanding of computational modelling
- Specify, deploy, verify and maintain computer-based systems
Courses including this module
Compulsory in courses:
- I110: BSc Computer Information Systems year 2 (BSC/CIS)
- I11B: BSc Computer Information Systems (4 year with Incorp Found) year 2 (BSC/CIS1)