Design and Production

Design & Production delivers game designers, level designers, narrative designers and producers for the gaming industries, including console, online, mobile and board games.

This variation teaches you concept development, game design, game production, business management, interactive storytelling and basic technology and computer graphics. Design & Production is very popular with students who have leadership and conceptual aspirations for the games industry and communication skills.

Year 1

You are introduced to basic game theory (ludology), game design, balancing and quality assurance. You learn project management and game production methodologies as well as gain a comprehensive overview of the history of videogames. Concept Design introduces entertainment theories, prototyping methodologies, and pitch documentation for the conceptualisation phase of development. You are introduced to 3D graphics, including modelling, to facilitate their communication with artists and facilitate level development.

Year 2

Business Management covers the legal, marketing, management, business and financing aspects of game production. Narratology focusses on storytelling methodologies, scriptwriting, gameplay dialogue and target group design. Level Design explores theory, methodology and development of multiplayer and single player levels. Technology  introduces students to the basic requirements of online and console programming to facilitate communication with programmers and facilitate prototyping development.

Year 3

Advanced design courses include casual and serious gaming, designing massively multiplayer online (MMO) games as well as single-player campaigns, and designing for future technologies.
In the second half of the year you do an work placement in an industry studio environment.

Year 4

You choose an area of specialisation related to your current academic and/or industry interest and produce a body of work and graduation thesis.

Curriculum overview

See the curriculum overview (PDF) for more detailed information on the full programme.