Games Design BSc (Hons)

This exciting and engaging module introduces you to the core principles of game design and how to bring ideas to life in a game engine. You’ll explore the history of games and gain insight into how the modern games industry operates. You’ll also build essential knowledge in maths and computer science that underpins professional game development. Finally, you’ll develop key academic skills to ensure you’re fully prepared for future modules.

This module explores the design and development of computer software (applications) from two perspectives:

1. The implementation of software using programming code, in a high level statically typed, object-oriented programming language, such as Java.
2. The user-centred design approach to software design, considering human factors, user experience, usability, and prototyping.

The programming aspect covers a range of topics including

• The syntax and semantics of a programming language
• Different types of data, including collections
• Control flow - conditional, iterative and recursive
• Data input and output (CLI and file based)
• Object-orientation, including class design and inheritance
• Unit testing
• Basic refactoring

The human aspect considers topics that include

• User-centred design
• Human factors
• Usability
• Accessibility
• User experience
• Low and high-fidelity prototyping
• Evaluation

You will be introduced to the asset creation pipeline, beginning with the planning and fundamentals of 3D modelling. You’ll learn how to unwrap and texture your assets to prepare them for use in a game environment. You will then bring your creations into a game engine to see them come to life. Finally, you’ll explore the basics of animation as your first step into adding motion to your assets.

Creating games is typically a group activity. Students will experience first-hand the collaborative games development process through practical work, leading to an understanding of the skills needed to effectively work in teams.

This module enables students with A-Level German or equivalent to further develop their grammar, vocabulary and expression and apply these to real world situations.You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop your oral and written communication skills at Post-A level.

This module is designed for students that have completed A-Level or equivalent in French. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and expression and apply these to real world situations. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop your oral and written communication skills at Post-A level.

This module is designed for students that have completed a A-Level or equivalent in Spanish. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and expression and apply these to real world situations. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at Post-A level.

This module is designed for students who have completed GCSE in Chinese or equivalent. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and learning conventions for spelling and pronunciation. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at an intermediate level.

This module is designed for students who have completed GCSE or equivalent in French. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and learning conventions for spelling and pronunciation. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at an intermediate level.

This module is designed for students that have completed GCSE or equivalent in Spanish. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and learning conventions for spelling and pronunciation. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at an intermediate level.

This module provides the opportunity to study a new language from scratch and introduces you to basic grammar, vocabulary and cultural contexts. You will apply the language to practical situations using both oral and written skills. 

This exciting module sees students learn how to design and develop multiplayer games. You will learn about both online and local multiplayer games before implementing their own multiplayer game in a game engine. Multiplayer level design will also feature on the module.

In this module you will learn the practical techniques and workflows to design and craft 3D game environments. Students will learn advanced concepts of modelling and texturing as well as new 3D content creation theories (e.g. architectural modular kits). Students will also learn how to bring their content efficiently and effectively to a game engine.

You will first learn how to use industry standard collaboration tools, alongside the theory of effective teamwork. Following this they will then join Level 6 students in a junior role helping them develop a vertical slice suitable to pitch to industry, working in a simulacrum of a games development studio.

Audio is an incredibly important, but often forgotten, element of successful game design and implementation. This module introduces the roles that game audio fulfils and enables students to specify, create, and implement impactful audio in games. Students will continue to develop their user experience skills with a focus on aural feedback mechanisms to improve player experience and game feel.

Over the duration of the module the underpinning theories and practical techniques relating to game audio implementation are covered. Typically, this will include the following main topics areas, though emerging themes and trends may be substituted in, depending upon developments in the industry:

• Audio and its role in Games
• Digital audio fundamentals
• Planning and organising game audio assets
• Sound design for games
• Sound effects, environments, voices, and music
• Audio editing and post-production
• Interactive audio
• Game audio middleware
• Spatial audio and virtual acoustic environments

This is an experiential learning opportunity that incorporates 35 teaching contact hours/lectures to prepare for the 150 contract hours. L5 students can use all their skills learned to date on an actual real-world (external business) client-driven project, working in teams and producing an artefact. 

You are also expected to undertake around 215 hours of self-study.

This module not only gives them enhanced skills but the opportunity to work for a real client thus giving them a valuable CV and LInkedIn entry as work experience that can contribute to their employability portfolio. 

You will collaborate in teams and produce full client documentation alongside a reflection of their expereince and this all give some much needed contemplation of their skills to date and how to use them. 

This module provides a structured, university-level work placement for 4, 5 or 7 weeks (optional timeframe decided on a 1 2 1 basis) as one continuous block / period with a placement provider (i.e. industry apprioprate sector). It is designed to enhance your professional skills in a real-world job setting.

The placement can either be organised by you or with support from university staff.

All work placements within this module must be university-level; this means:

• Undertaking high-skilled work commensurate with level 5 study (e.g. report writing, attending meetings, delivering presentations, producing spreadsheets, writing content on webpages, social media, marketing services/products etc)
• Physically placed (albeit part of it can be hybrid) within an employer setting in one continuous block / period for 4, 5 or 7 weeks for a minimum of 140-147 hours over the course of the entire work placement

Where applicable, your existing part-time employer can be approached/used as the placement provider, if the high-skilled work.

• criterion above is fulfilled for the full duration of the placement.
• All quality assurances/agreements provided by the University are adhered to, by you and the employer.

The work placement context may not necessarily, reflect your degree discipline per se, but rather, it will give you an enriched experience to enhance your professional skills in a real-world job setting.

The module will provide the opportunity to further develop your language skills, building on your previous learning at advanced level. The second half of the module includes a placement abroad or, alternatively, a project on a sustainability issue in a target language country. The first half of the module will prepare you for placements abroad where appropriate as well as a deeper understanding of sustainability in target language contexts. Students of more than one language may take one language in the first half of the module and spend their time abroad developing a different language. 

The module will provide the opportunity to further develop your language skills, building on your previous learning at intermediate level. The first half of the module includes intensive taught sessions in interactive workshop mode which will prepare you for placements abroad or self-directed language development. The second half of the module includes an placement abroad or, alternatively, a project on a business or tourism issue in a target language country. Students of more than one language may take one language in the first half of the module and spend their time abroad developing a different language. 

The module will provide the opportunity to further develop your language skills, building on your previous learning at beginner level. The first half of the module includes intensive taught sessions in interactive workshop mode which will prepare you for placements abroad or self-directed language development. The second half of the module includes a placement abroad or, alternatively, a project on a cultural issue in a target language country. Students of more than one language may take one language in the first half of the module and spend their time abroad developing a different language. 

• The multiple facets of global citizenship
• Ethical engagement and practice
• The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
• Intercultural communication
• Culture shock
• Cultural adjustment
• Self- assessment of needs: identification of the range of transferable skills, competencies and attitudes employees need and employers expect graduates to possess-with a strong focus on understanding the intercultural competencies (ICC) needed to live and work abroad.
• Critical analysis/evaluation of individual requirements in relation to culture/cultural adjustment/culture shock/visas/medical.
• Critical analysis/evaluation of skills already acquired in relation to key skills related to ICC.
• Devising strategies to improve one’s own prospects of working abroad in the future.
• Devising an action plan to address gaps in transferable skills based on organisational analysis and sector opportunities.

Part A:      

Preparation for Experiential Overseas Learning will take place at the University of Chester during level 5 and will include:  

• The multiple facets of Global citizenship
• Ethical engagement and practice
• Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
• Intercultural communication

Theories, models and strategies of learning

• Theories and models Intercultural competence
• Theories and models of Integration and Multiculturalism
• Critical thinking skills and models of Reflection

• Experiential learning models
• Self-directed experiential learning

Personal and placement-related skills

• Enhanced independence
• Improved command of multicultural behaviour
• Increased knowledge and confidence in their individual facets of personal identity
• Effective time management and organisational skills
• Project management – working away from University and independent study
• Self-management and personal development
• Team building and team work

Part B:            Overseas

Students will engage in experiential learning activities overseas for at least 150 hours 

Year in Industry placement year for computing students. 

This is a placement module where students acquire a 1 year paid work placement related to their area of study.

Full attendance at the work placement and University-scheduled events is mandatory.

The placement hours stated for this module are only the minimum required hours for this module, it is likely most placements will last for 9 months - 12 months and exceed the minimum 1,180 placements hours.

The traditional academic programme structure is not applicable. The placement content is freely structured and determined by negotiation between the student, placement supervisor and host organisation. It is generally informed by the aims and learning outcomes and by the objective of optimising added value for both the host organisation and the student experience

Preparation for the year abroad will take place in Chester during level 5 and will include:

• Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
• Host-country orientation, study methods– economic, political and social reality of the country
• Orientation specific to exchange – health, education, gender issues
• The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• Practical matters relating to living and studying in the wider world

Theories, models and strategies of learning

• Critical thinking skills, experiential learning and models of reflection

Personal and placement-related transversal skills

• Effective self-motivation and independent resourcefulness
• Effective time management and organisational skills
• Project management – working away from University and independent study
• Self-management and personal development

Whilst abroad:

You will undertake study at one of the University of Chester's partner universities or undertake and approved work placement or virtual placement. If you are a student,  it is expected that you will choose a series of modules at the university abroad which must be agreed by the host institution and the Module Leader. you must supply details of you modules on a learning agreement within 4 weeks of arrival at the host university.

You will work in a senior role developing a vertical slice suitable to pitch to industry, running a simulacrum of a games development studio. You will be joined by Level 5 students, mentoring and assisting them in junior roles, making use of industry standard collaboration tools and processes throughout.

The module offers a comprehensive exploration of design thinking and its integration with human-centred design principles and practices to realise highly usable interactive systems. By the end of the module, students will be equipped to design innovative and user-friendly digital products and services, balancing business objectives with user satisfaction. This is supported by a focus on collaboration and teamwork, ensuring that the practices and processes of the industry are reflected. Over its duration, the module will engage with topics including, but not limited to, the following:

• Human-centred design and ISO 9241-210
• Balancing business goals with user needs
• UX research
• Experience mapping
• Design thinking
• Information architecture
• Progressive enhancement
• User interface design techniques
• Defining inclusive design and accessibility
• Style-guides and specifications for developers
• Design sprints for software innovation
• User testing and evaluation

Through this module, you will master the art of creating games for mobile devices and emerging platforms, addressing the distinct constraints and opportunities that set these environments apart from traditional PC and console development. The module covers platform-specific design principles, touch-based interaction, variable screen sizes, limited processing power, and interruption-driven gameplay. You will develop hands-on expertise in optimising performance, implementing intuitive controls, and crafting engaging experiences that leverage the unique capabilities of smartphones, tablets, and other innovative gaming platforms.

Students will undertake a large self-directed software project in a specialist topic of their choice with guidance and support from a dedicated academic supervisor.

The project will begin with an appraisal of said topic, usually through a literature review and/or a commercial assessment of viability. This will be followed by planning and creation of a practical software artefact covering an implementation lifecycle, making use of project management techniques.

Ethical issues will be explored, leading to required approval for quantitative and/or qualitative testing, with results then analysed and used to inform futher development and to draw conclusions against a hypothesis.