BA (Hons) Game Arts and Design

• Our course is designed in close collaboration with games developers and researchers to ensure technologies, skills and techniques are up to date.
  
• Access all areas – our dedicated lab space open until 10pm, and take advantage of our other amazing facilities, including a 35-seat, 360° immersive vision theatre.
  
• Your assessments are 100 per cent coursework – no exams.
  
• Be inspired by lecturers who are experts in their field, with backgrounds in both industry and research. The exciting work going on in our research groups, i-DAT and Planetary Collegium, feeds back into the teaching on this course.
  
• Get ready for work - take an optional additional year and secure a paid placement with a games company. 
  
• Broaden your horizons with great enrichment activities including overseas field trips.  Previous locations have included Berlin, Helsinki and New York. 
  
• Get exclusive insights with talks from guest speakers from the creative arts and technology industries.
  

• Year 1

• Get a grounding in key techniques and gain a critical understanding of the theories behind game development. You are introduced to character development, interaction technologies and approaches to immersion, along with the coding skills and creative design strategies that underpin them.
  

  Core modules

  • DAT406 Digital Making

    This module introduces students to a key set of digital technologies that are core to the production of current digital artwork. This will include exposure to a wide range of software, hardware and networking components commonly used by digital artists and designers. This is a Plymouth Plus module.

  • GAD401 Strategies for Game Design

    This module introduces students to the theory and practice of game design through the creation of a tabletop game. Students are asked to reflect on the history and culture of game-playing in human society, and analyse the dynamics behind a range of games. Students work in small teams to create a game, using analogue and digital processes, with an emphasis on creativity and experimentation.

  • GAD402 Immersive Experience

    This module introduces issues and techniques involved in designing and developing immersive experiences. This module takes a user-centred approach to the production of virtual and blended reality environments (including a wide range of different styles and types of game. The key to this module is the combination and integration of sensory stimuli to produce an engaging and compelling, whilst at the same time coherent user experience.

  • GAD405 Creative Coding

    This module provides an introduction to programming for digital artists and designers. The syllabus, topics, examples and style of teaching are designed to support interaction, graphics, video, animation, sound, embedded systems and integration with live data sources.

  • GAD412 Narrative Sequence

    You will explore interactive storytelling and animation / sequence creation within your work via a range of traditional and digital media and formats. Storytelling, narrative pacing, creative writing and animation are features of this module. Critical reflective writing underpins practical work.

  • ILLGA400PP Character

    Students visually explore character creation within their work via a range of traditional and digital media and formats. Understanding and utilising character development, narrative and creative writing are a feature. Critical reflective writing underpins practical work. Reflection and planning help to identify strengths and weaknesses. Potential collaborative practice is also a feature.

• Year 2

• You are introduced to advanced design and programming techniques, helping you develop your individual creative practice. Professional collaborations with industry give you insights into the benefits of both individual and group ways of working.
  

  Core modules

  • DAT502 Creative Industries

    This module explores the dynamic changes that are sweeping through traditional media and communications industries, brought about by the impact of new technologies. It explores, through group production projects, the practical issues underpinning the management of distributed organisations. The module includes an international field trip

  • DAT503 Reflexive Design

    This module provides students with an introduction to contemporary design processes from conception through development, to realisation. Supported by a critical examination of cultural artefacts, the module demands students synthesise a design practice with an understanding of historical, human-centred, environmental and educational principles.

  • DAT505 Advanced Creative Coding

    This module addresses advanced topics in programming for digital artists. This includes coverage of different development paradigms, advanced algorithms and essential APIs for effective creative software development. The module engages students on how code is used in a 'generative' or creative fashion - such as a-life and artificial intelligence.

  • GAD501 Game Programming

    This module builds on the generic programming skills developed to this point, and applies them to working with a professional game engine. Students work individually to produce a game that demonstrates the application of animation, physics, artificial intelligence, user interface, and game state management.

  • GAD502 Level Design

    This module focusses on designing virtual environments and game levels. Students will consider the ludic and narrative role of level design and apply these to the production of an interactive game environment. Students will be presented with a variety of theoretical frameworks that will help them better understand human cognitive processes and thus aid them in designing and creating more engaging game levels.

  • ILLUS511 Technique and Approach 2

    Individual research identifies, analyses, and communicates an investigation into the work of an individual or a group of practitioners in illustration or an allied practice. Lectures and research run concurrently throughout the module, to support the writing of an essay. Preparation for dissertation is undertaken. Drawing skills develop along with knowledge of the value of drawing within your illustrative practice.

• Placement year (optional)

• An optional paid 48-week work placement offers invaluable practical work experience. We recommend it because it enhances your final year of study and you are also more likely to receive project sponsorship and immediate employment with your placement company after you graduate.
  

• Final year

• Focus on your own particular areas of interest by selecting from a range of optional modules and a significant final year project. These allow you to develop skills relevant to industry and enhance your employability.
  

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BA Hons Game Arts and Design Programme Specification 2018 19 5837

UCAS tariff

112