Game Design

UCAS code: W284

Here's what University of Wolverhampton says about its Game Design course.

100% of part time students were satisfied overall with their course.

If like us, you are excited by games and are fascinated by how they are made; and if you want to develop your skills and turn your ideas into games, you will enjoy our course. We will introduce you to all the main processes involved in the design and making of computer games. What makes our course special is that it covers both the artist side as well as the technical side of computer games. You will be involved from the initial idea generation to making the final game while working individually or as part of a team.

Passion for Games

The focus of the course is on creativity, innovation, ideas generation, drawing and design as well as critical thinking, problem solving and passion for games. Yes, you will use a variety of specialist and industry-standard software packages; yes, you will do some coding; yes, you will learn about the gaming hardware; but all because you want to bring your creative game ideas to life. In this course, there is a fine balance between theory and practice on the one hand and design and making on the other.

We will prepare and support you for getting a job in the industry and self-employment. You will be guided and supported by a friendly and highly experienced professional educators. We have a track record of high student satisfaction rate about their teaching and learning experience on our course. We will treat you with care and respect while giving you the individualised attention and support that you need. We always see you as a student not a ‘customer’.

The industry needs more female game designers. We are therefore actively encouraging and supporting applications from female candidates with suitable art and design and other creative backgrounds.

What happens on the course?

As a full-time student you will be studying three modules per semester which requires about 12 hours of attendance per week. The rest of the learning will be self-directed outside the formal sessions.

You will study in well-equipped studios. The studios are accessible from 8 am to 8 pm. There are no formal exams and all assignments are based on briefs and assessed by coursework. You can always book a session with your tutors for a one to one meeting to discuss your progress and get individualised support.

• In Year 1 you will study the theory of game design and are introduced to the process and strategies involved. You will also study digital arts, level design, 3D modelling and interaction design through code.

• In Year 2 you will build on the previous year and explore the world of serious games and game ethics and deign and present your own serious game. You will also study game audio which involves recording and editing your own sounds for games; will get involved in team production of a game and take a specific role within that team; improve your level design skills by designing and developing a more indicative game level using visual coding; and study 3D production through animation and modelling.

• In Year 3 you have a lot of space and freedom to focus on your chosen areas of game design by negotiating the content of your various projects with your tutors. You will work on your final major project of your choice throughout the year. At the same time, you will be working on a client-based brief for a game and also choose an area to experiment with, this should be an area that you like and want to know more about. You can link your experimentation with your final major project. You will work on designing a game, usually as a member of a team and will be introduced to how to prepare for the world of work, this will include preparing a professional portfolio ready for taking to your interviews.