
Module UXS-2801:
Game Development
Module Facts
Run by School of Languages, Literatures, Linguistics and Media
20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits
Semester 2
Organiser: Dr Eben Muse
Overall aims and purpose
You will have the opportunity to apply game design skills developed in the first year to real-world 2D or 2D+ game projects. A set of professional briefs require you to design a complete game level. You will need to use a range of tools to develop visuals, gameplay and mechanics to meet the requirements of the brief in a creative fashion. You will begin using more advanced game design tools and techniques, including more advanced scripting and complex sprite sheets, as you create fully playable game levels. You will have the opportunity to make use of common game project tools, including agile and scrum methodologies. At the end of the module, you will have developed a portfolio of work that presents your work in a professional manner.
Course content
Students develop a professional portfolio that includes the design, development and production of two video game levels to meet a professional brief. Weekly seminars introduce students to level design principles and methods, as well as methods of game development project planning such as agile and scrum. Students complete much of the design work off-line in the seminars, but weekly workshops will allow students opportunities to apply design ideas using industry-standard software.
Assessment Criteria
good
Good (C- to B+)
- 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
excellent
Excellent (A- to A**)
- 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
Threshold (D- to D+)
- 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
Learning outcomes
-
Work effectively in a game engine using key production processes and professional practices relevant to the game industry
-
Create actors and levels in a digital environment
-
Produce a playable game prototype
-
Research and critique sources for design of narrative, landscape, gameplay, character and genre
-
Present work and self professionally on-line
Assessment Methods
Type | Name | Description | Weight |
---|---|---|---|
LOGBOOK OR PORTFOLIO | Game Testing Portfolio | 60.00 | |
DEMONSTRATION/PRACTICE | Crowdfunding Proposal | 40.00 |
Teaching and Learning Strategy
Hours | ||
---|---|---|
Workshop | Workshops with the game engine software |
11 |
Lecture | Introduction of game principles and design methods |
11 |
Private study | Individual work on game design, development and testing |
167 |
Study group | Weekly team meetings for idea generation, design and testing and reporting on progress |
11 |
Transferable skills
- Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
- 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.
- Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
- 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
- An understanding of creative and critical processes, and of the wide range of skills inherent in creative writing. (NAWE Creative Writing Benchmark Statement 3.1).
- Ability to connect creative and critical ideas between and among forms, techniques and types of creative and critical praxis. (NAWE Creative Writing Benchmark Statement 3.2; English Benchmark Statement 3.2).
Resources
Resource implications for students
Students are encouraged to download free, educational versions of the game engine software.
Talis Reading list
http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/uxs-2801.htmlPre- and Co-requisite Modules
Pre-requisite of:
Courses including this module
Compulsory in courses:
- W622: BA Film Studies with Game Design year 2 (BA/FSGD)
- P310: BA Media Studies with Game Design year 2 (BA/MSGD)
- W839: BA Professional Writing with Game Design year 2 (BA/PWGD)
- I103: BSc Computer Science with Game Design year 2 (BSC/CSGD)
Optional in courses:
- W3P3: BA Astudiaethau'r Cyfr & Cherdd year 2 (BA/ACC)
- T103: BA Chinese and Creative Studies year 2 (BA/CHCS)
- W890: BA Creative&Professional Writing year 2 (BA/CPW)
- WPQ0: BA Creative Studies year 2 (BA/CST)
- WPQB: BA Creative Studies (4 year with Incorporated Foundation) year 2 (BA/CST1)
- WQ93: BA Creative Stds & English Lang. year 2 (BA/CSTEL)
- WR91: BA French and Creative Studies year 2 (BA/CSTFR)
- WR92: BA German and Creative Studies year 2 (BA/CSTG)
- WR93: BA Italian and Creative Studies year 2 (BA/CSTITAL)
- WW93: BA Creative Studies and Music year 2 (BA/CSTMUS)
- WR94: BA Spanish & Creative Studies year 2 (BA/CSTSP)
- WP83: BA Media Studies & Creative Wrtng year 2 (BA/CWMS)
- W620: BA Film Studies year 2 (BA/FLM)
- W62B: BA Film Studies (4 year with Incorporated Foundation) year 2 (BA/FLM1)
- 2W89: BA Film Studies (with International Experience) year 2 (BA/FSIE)
- PP53: BA Journalism and Media Studies year 2 (BA/JMS)
- PP5B: BA Journalism & Media Studies (4yr with Incorp Foundation) year 2 (BA/JMS1)
- 3HPQ: BA Media Studies and English Literature year 2 (BA/MEN)
- P306: BA Media Studies year 2 (BA/MS)
- P31B: BA Media Studies (4 year with Incorporated Foundation) year 2 (BA/MS1)
- P30F: BA Media Studies [with Foundation Year] year 2 (BA/MSF)
- 8U76: BA Media Studies (with International Experience) year 2 (BA/MSIE)
- PW33: BA Media Studies and Music year 2 (BA/MSMUS)
- LP33: BA Media Studies and Sociology year 2 (BA/MSSOC)
- WW38: BA Music and Creative Writing year 2 (BA/MUSCW)
- W6W8: BA Professional Writing & Film year 2 (BA/PWF)
- P3W9: BA Professional Writing and Media year 2 (BA/PWM)
- W900: MArts Creative Practice year 2 (MARTS/CP)