BSc (Hons) in Computer Games (Design)

Accredited by: BCS

GCU's Computer Games programmes aim to produce graduates with the right mix of practical skills and technical knowledge to enter the computer games industry.

We have excellent studio facilities including HD Video Production Suite, Art Studio, Digital Audio Recording Studio, Game Design Studio featuring 3D Laser Scanning tools, Motion Capture tools and a Rapid Prototyping machine. There is a User Experience lab where games can be tested and evaluated and a Virtual Reality lab containing a full-featured Driving Simulator and other VR equipment such as Oculus Rifts. In Years 1, 2 and 3 students in all programmes take part in an Integrated Project, an opportunity for students from the different disciplines to make games together. You'll also enjoy guest lectures by industry experts.

Computer Games Design covers Player Centred Design Principles where the player is the focus of the Game Design Process. This approach covers practices taken from Human Computer Interaction (HCI) where you'll learn various tools and techniques such as conceptualisation and evaluation. You'll also study Game Narrative, Serious Games Design, and Player Psychology and Computer Arts.

Your career

Graduates have gone on to work at Rockstar, Electronic Arts, Sony and Guerrilla Games.

International student start dates

For new international students, orientation events start on 14 September 2018. This extra time is specifically designed to assist new international students in settling into the UK and GCU prior to the start of general student induction and teaching.

There will be a whole host of fun and informative activities taking place during this period, including campus and city tours, as well as welcome events where you can meet other international students.

Work placement

The programme offers an optional placement year between third and forth year.

Professional accreditation

BSc Computer Games Design is accredited by the Chartered Institute for IT (BCS).

HM Forces

In partnership with HM Forces, GCU has identified this programme is being particularly suited to military and ex-military men and women. Visit the HM Forces Careers Zone for more information on the services we provide.

Assessment methods

Assessment methods used to demonstrate achievement of learning outcomes include examinations, coursework, class tests, presentations, computer-based exercises and written reports. In each of their initial three years, our students take part in innovative group projects leading to an individual project in their final year, which improves their academic, practical and employability skills. Each project incorporates two strands of learning, the first is the essential technical skills needed to undertake a complete product design and this is developed further to allow our students to show their innovative and enterprising abilities. The second strand furnishes our students with the ‘soft’ skills related to team working, business operations, the project design process and ethical practices. This work helps students to develop a growing appreciation of the practicalities and realities of the application of software processes in the real world. Assessment is by presentation, delivery of design report and, most importantly, demonstration of product prototypes.

Teaching methods

We aim to be flexible and like to extend our laboratory work so that students can access hardware and software tools for use outside lab hours, allowing students to gain additional, highly valuable experience in designing and developing games. We have a games lab equipped with the tools to allow students to complete coursework and projects, and a a living-room style eMotion lab where some forth year design students evaluate their games, by examining physiological measures such as tracking pupil dilation. These practical facilities are highly prized by employers and can be the difference when competing for high quality employment opportunities for industrial placement on graduation. Project based teaching is completed through years 1-3. Students will join groups comprised of designers, physiologists, programmers and artists. We believe this provides students with the opportunity at each level to participate in the production of a game which is similar to the process followed in industry. All teaching material used in labs tutorials and lectures for all modules are provided in electronic format on GCU Learn.

What you will study

Year 1

Mathematics for Computer Games, Introduction to Games Design, Introduction to Games Programming, Fundamentals of Computing, Fundamentals of 3D Graphics.

Year 2

Game Programming 1, Game Design 1, 3D Modeling and Digital Sculpting or Drawing for Design, Game Content Design, Human Computer Interaction.

Year 3

User Psychology, Serious Games Design, Game Preproduction workshop, Usability Research Methods.

Year 4

Affective Design, Game Narrative, Design for Change, Honours Project, GameSystem Design.