Digital Games Development BSc(Hons)

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Top reasons to choose this course

• Build a portfolio of project work.
• Showcase your work to potential employers at the final year degree show.
• Networking opportunities with professionals from the games industry.
• Option of a placement year in industry.
• Work with industry standard tools and games engines such as Adobe CC, Unity, Unreal, Maya and Blender.
• Specialist facilities include our digital media and games studios, HTC VIVE, VR lab and usability lab.
• Learn with innovative researchers and experts from industry.
• Accredited by BCS – The Chartered Institute for IT.

Areas of study

You will explore four main themes on your Digital Games Development degree.

Program design and implementation
The course has a strong emphasis on essential programming skills. You will study the concepts of programming and program structure, particularly the field of object-oriented programming. In your final year you will be able to apply what you have learned to design and create your own distributed multiplayer games.

Digital asset design and creation
You will study 3D models and investigate how these can be integrated into other media such as video. You will learn about video and audio production, and get hands-on experience in our recording and TV studio for green-screen and motion capture.

Web technologies
Through these modules you will develop a deeper understanding of how modern web technologies can be used to host digital media. At the start of the course, you will discover the key concepts of how technologies are used to create dynamic websites using client-side scripting. Later modules build on these skills, exploring server-side scripting, asynchronous communication and modern client-side frameworks, particularly in mobile technology.

Product development
These modules cover digital game theory, managing multimedia projects and developing design ideas, through to developing and programming complete digital games following agile methodologies and delivering them to the marketplace.

Year 1 

You will study a broad range of subjects in computing and game development, helping you to build a strong foundation of knowledge and skills.

In your first year your classes will be over three days each week and they will not start before 10am. You may have other activities on campus on other days.

Modules

• Introduction to Game Design and Development

  During this module you will explore the methods and techniques used to design and build computer games. You will learn how to analyse and deconstruct complex game systems to assess their entertainment value and turn original game designs into working prototypes.

• Introduction to Games Programming

  This module is the entry-level programming module and will introduce you to the fundamental concepts and skills required to write simple games using C++.

• Object-oriented Game Development

  This module introduces you to the fundamental concepts and skills required to create games using object-oriented techniques. You will cover topics including planning, modelling and developing gameplay, problem-solving techniques, data types and expressions and professional development tools and techniques.

• Introduction to Web Development

  During this module you will explore a range of current web technologies and gain practical experience in designing, making and maintaining standards-compliant static and interactive web pages. You will be provided with your own space on the Brighton Domains web server on which to host and test web pages online.

• Working in the Digital and Games Industries

  This module introduces you to the digital and games industries context working practices, using the Brighton & Hove digital sector as a case study. You will prepare for work experience applications by producing a personal digital portfolio and managing your professional online presence. The module integrates an introduction to the university learning environment and a foundation in academic study skills.

• Introduction to 3D Modelling and Animation

  This module will provide an introduction to the foundations of 3D computer graphics and basic animation. Covering the fundamentals of basic 3D design, modelling, texturing, simple lighting and animation, on completion you will be able to create simple 3D animated rendered sequences for multi-format delivery.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

Year 2 

You will apply the knowledge and skills you gained in your first year to more specialised areas of games development. This includes working on a group project where you will apply your knowledge to a real-world project.

The university teaching hours are between 9am and 6pm. In year 2 the days and times you will need to be on campus will depend on a number of things including the type of teaching on your course, and time spent in the library and on research

Modules

• Artificial Intelligence for Games

  Through this module you will gain the skills needed to programme artificial intelligence (AI) for games. You will develop simple programs including games that make use of AI; explore the techniques and algorithms commonly used in games AI programming; test and debug games AI algorithms; and be able to demonstrate best practice when designing effective AI algorithms.

• Narrative Game Design

  Build the skills to generate and develop ideas, characters, settings and structure for a compelling story-rich game. You will be guided through the creative process of building narrative into your game designs by analysing how storytelling drives gameplay forward. You’ll gain an understanding of traditional narrative story processes and how these fit into game story flows and the strategic elements of gameplay.

• Integrated Group Project

  The group project is an opportunity to work as a group and run a software project to develop a usable software solution. You will bring together what you‘ve learned so far and put this all into practice in a project environment through tasks from planning and management to requirements gathering, design, code and demonstrating the solution. 

• Game Development Frameworks

  The Game Development Frameworks module focuses on the use of industry-standard development frameworks to produce entire games. Using a combination of visual and text-based programming languages (C++), you will learn how to design, prototype and produce games for PCs/consoles as well as mobiles. 

• Intermediate 3D Modelling and Animation

  You will build on what you learned about 3D modelling and animation in year 1 during this module. You’ll produce complex 3D moving sequences and characters, working on your storyboard or concept artwork to practice and develop design skills, while building your 3D digital asset creation and application skills.

• Web-based Game Development

  On this module you will gain the skills needed to develop 2D browser-based games. You’ll create games using a range of web technologies and explore topics including physics for games, Javascript games engines and the challenges and opportunities of networked games.

Placement year 

You have the option of a year’s paid placement after your second year. Going on a placement builds confidence, can help you decide what how you want to specialise in your final year and strengthens your CV.

Our students have been on placement with organisations including:

• Unity Technologies
• Glyndebourne
• Ash Gaming
• The BBC.

Final year

In your final year you will consolidate what you have learned so far. The major project is your opportunity to focus in more depth on area of study you love, and option modules mean you get to explore more specialised areas of interest related to a career in this field. 

The university teaching hours are between 9am and 6pm. In your final year the days and times you will need to be on campus will depend on a number of things including the option modules that you choose.

Modules

Core modules

• The Computing Project

  The Computing Project brings together everything you’ve learned during your degree in a major piece of work on a topic of your choosing. It’s your opportunity to put your understanding of theory into practice. All projects must include practical work of some sort using computing/IT technology. A series of workshops will support each step of the project process, from proposal to presentation. 

• Advanced 3D Modelling and Animation

  During this module you will build on your knowledge of 3D modelling and animation, focusing on rigging and character animation. You’ll practice and develop the advanced design skills needed to plan and produce complex 3D animated sequences and characters, while further developing your ability to create and apply complex 3D digital assets. 

• Multiplayer Game Development

  During this module you will explore the issues involved in designing and implementing multiplayer games. You will develop practical design and implementation skills by creating a game using a range of web technologies. Areas covered include general games architecture; challenges facing network games; multiplayer game architectures; and implementation issues and techniques.

Options*

• Usability Evaluation

  On this module you will develop the knowledge and skills to perform a usability evaluation of a system or device – specifying requirements, choosing the best ways to evaluate usability and accessibility, planning and carrying out the evaluation and presenting the results. You’ll also explore the latest research in the broader field of evaluation. 

• Virtual Reality Systems

  This module will give you a sound understanding of the technologies behind virtual reality applications. You will explore both the theory and practice needed to design and implement virtual reality systems, which can be experienced by visualisation technologies such as virtual reality and mixed reality. You will develop a range of interactive applications which make use of a variety of software and hardware technologies.

• Marketing for Software Products

  During this module you will study business models used for software products and by software businesses. You’ll explore the ways in which these products are marketed, look at marketing strategies and examine the role of data in product design and marketing. You’ll also take a look at funding options for start-ups.

• Cyber Security and Intellectual Property Law

  You will evaluate key legal cyber security challenges during this module and explore how cyber security and intellectual property laws are used to protect the interests of developers of computer-related products. Topics will include the threat landscape and associated legal challenges; the legal framework regarding privacy, data protection and security in the UK and EU; and surveillance, forensic computing and the gathering of evidence.

• New Horizons in Computing

  This module gives you the opportunity to carry out independent, guided research into current trends and future innovations in computing technologies which you will be able to present to the local and wider computing industries. The module will also highlight the potential for, and the processes involved in, postgraduate studies.

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Course fees

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2025–26.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

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• Read our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf) for more on University of Brighton tuition fees.

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