BA (Hons) Computer Games with 3D Modelling and Animation

Welcome to Computer Games with 3D Modelling and Animation

Play to your strengths with a career in Computer Games. We will prepare you for exciting career opportunities in the gaming industry by developing your technical, artistic and business skills in new creative media facilities. Be ahead of the game and immerse yourself in our game making community, make connections with a work placement at local or national game studios and be inspired by engaging sessions with industry specialists. This is an exciting time for the games industry and it is imperative we have skilled practitioners ready to step into this competitive field.

With an industry led curriculum this course will equip you for a career in computer games. Our lecturers have research and industry experience and smaller cohorts mean more support to achieve your ambitions.

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Course IntroductionModulesEntry RequirementsGraduate CareersAdditional

Your profile

You are artistic, competitive and driven. Gaming is in your blood. You are enthused by technology, passionate about the evolution of computer games and ready to transform your passion into a viable money-making career.

Your subject

The global digital gaming industry is booming. As consumer interest grows and funding for the digital arts increases, the UK is benefiting from an exponential growth in the sector. In the UK alone, there are more than 2,000 games design companies, ranging from small independent studios to multi-national corporations. In order to continue to compete with companies across the world, UK businesses are actively looking for qualified Games Design graduates to help their companies grow.

Your course

The BA (Hons) Computer Games with 3D Modelling and Animation programme will provide you with a complex understanding of the games design and development process, and give you the necessary knowledge to bring a game to market. The course covers the vast spectrum of gaming, from board games and classical hand-helds to modern consoles and virtual reality games. During the course, you will undertake key research, explore your own creative concepts and build a professional portfolio, all using specialised equipment and up-to-date games development hardware and software. You will be taught by experienced industry professionals and hear from expert guest lecturers who are currently working in the gaming industry. You will work closely with your tutors and your peers, and collaborate with other Digital Media and Music degree students. Group work and live briefs will give you the experience of different roles within a design team and provide you with the opportunity to pitch and market your ideas.

Your future

As a graduate, you will have developed the skills to pursue a career in entrepreneurship and small business development, computer games programming, computer games design and animation. You will be ready to enter a career in the fast-paced world of interactive media and games. You could embrace your creativity in an artistic role such as a concept artist, 3D modeller, games designer or animator, or choose to follow a more technical route and specialise in programming or developing computer games.

Undergraduate courses operate on a modular basis that provides flexibility and choice. Each module is worth a specified number of credits, with most modules counting for 20 or 40 academic credits (depending on the programme), with each credit taken equating to a total amount of study time which includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity.

Most full-time students will take modules worth 60 credits per semester, with part-time students taking proportionately fewer credits per semester. A total of 120 credits per level and 360 credits are needed for an honours degree as a whole. Overall grades for the course and degree classification are based on the marks obtained for modules taken at levels 5 and 6.

Our teaching is informed by research, professional practice and industry engagement and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline.

Course Overview Year One (Level 4) Year Two (Level 5) Year Three (Level 6)

Normally 96 UCAS Points*
Interview with a relevant portfolio of work
Access to Higher Education qualification also accepted

*UCAS Tariff points where shown, are for entry on to higher education programmes starting from September 2024.

International applicants

If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 6.0, with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking), or an equivalent English Language qualification.

Additional requirements for International Students:

You must provide evidence of having been in general education for at least 10 years and of having studied within the last five years
a face-to-face interview is required before an offer is made.

As a graduate, you will have developed the skills to pursue a career in a number of related industry areas including entrepreneurship and small business development, computer games programming, creative roles within a games company, computer games journalism, online distribution and marketing. In addition, graduates will have the opportunity to progress to Masters level courses in these areas.

Graduate careers and pathways

Entrepreneurship, including small business development
Computer games programming
Computer games journalism
Creative roles within a games company
Online distribution and marketing
Progression to Masters level courses

Timetables: Timetables are normally available one month before registration. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week. Part-time classes are normally scheduled on one or two days per week.

Teaching and Learning: You are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and practicals. Seminars enable smaller group discussions to develop understanding of topics covered in lectures.

When not attending lectures, seminars and practicals or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-directed study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, learning zone or technical learning resources, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations

Assessment: The course provides you with opportunities to test your understanding of the subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module normally contains at least one piece of practice or ‘formative’ assessment for which you receive feedback from your tutor. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades you receive for them do not count towards your module mark.

There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module. Assessment methods include written examinations and a range of coursework assessments such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations and your final year major project. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.

Feedback: You will receive feedback on all practice assessments and on formal assessments undertaken by coursework. Feedback is intended to help you learn and you are encouraged to discuss it with your module tutor.

UCAS Tariff Calculator

BA (Hons) Computer Games with 3D Modelling and Animation - Full-time

Level	Level 6
Location	Colchester
Duration	3 Years
UCAS Code	I620
Academic Year	2023-2024
Study Mode	Full-Time
Campus / Adult Skills Centre	University Centre Colchester
Applications	This course is closed for applications
Fee(s)	2024-25: £8,750 per year
Additional Cost Information	Students are recommended to purchase at least one external hard drive (approximately £40 for 1TB) to save and back up their coursework recordings and scores. There may be travel costs and entry costs for extra-curricular visits to concerts, gigs, performances and expos.
Awarding/Validation Body	University of East Anglia

Course Overview

This exciting degree programme introduces you to the artistic and narrative aspects of computer games design, programming, 3D modelling and animation. The course enables you to develop applied research practices, industry entrepreneurship and employment skills including applying gaming technologies to the real world such as designing virtual landscapes for marketing. The course has been developed in association with regional media providers and computer games specialists in order to stay future-proof in the every growing creative and digital media industry. Our course is aimed at providing students with the skills to develop their creative and technical design skills in the games industry. With the ever-changing nature of technology, for both leisure and the workplace, this degree aims to equip students with the skills needed to succeed in a range of industry fields.

Students will be able to use extensive facilities in the UCC teaching centre to develop their ideas and build professional portfolios using specialised equipment and up-to-date games development platforms. Games consoles including the latest XBoxes, PlayStations and retro consoles will be available for students to develop their understanding of the evolution of the computer games industry.

The degree course is validated by the University of East Anglia and students will be working alongside professional games designers such as the Games Hub at the Innovation Centre, and Game Anglia to enhance their studies, along with visits to games industry conventions and talks by industry professionals both regionally and nationally.

University Centre Colchester’s specific focus on industry-related learning provides students with the skills and knowledge to thrive in today’s dynamic employment sectors, with the courses developed in conjunction with local employers.

Year One (Level 4)

Intro to Game Design (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

Ready player one?! Get a practical understanding of games design including an awareness of gameplay evaluation via board games, card games, role-playing games, table top games and develop a knowledge of game design documentation, ready to design gameplay for a chosen target audience.

What do I learn?

You will immerse yourself in the study of game mechanics (“ludology”) and what makes games fun. The elements of gameplay include strategy, chance, story, probability, goals, rules, challenges, reward.

What’s the assignment?

By the end of the year, you will have researched an existing game, proposed and pitched a new game and created a final Games Design Document (GDD).

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Intro to Modelling for Games (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

In this hands-on module, you will be taught the theoretical principals and practical skills in 3D modelling of assets for computer games in the digital domain.

What do I learn?

Designing concept art, virtual modelling, lighting, applying texture to wireframe models, how to evaluate your skills development and career planning.

What’s the assignment?

You will submit a digital portfolio of designs, digital models and an evaluation of the process.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Intro to Games Engines (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

You will develop knowledge of game design and programming skills through practical experimentation and experience of coding and manipulating game assets. You will explore and analyse the development of the prototype of a game using industry standard software including mobile apps, PCs, online games and consoles.

What do I learn?

You will also develop game design techniques through practical sessions in game mechanic design and coding for mechanics. You will develop skills in product analysis and peer-evaluation, vital for skill development and product improvement, through practical testing and review.

What’s the assignment?

Simulating the industry, you will submit a vertical prototype of your game with an evaluative journal of the process.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Intro to Animation for Games (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

This practical module will train you in the design, rigging and animation of 3D assets for computer games.

What do I learn?

You will learn how to construct 3D models and prep them by bounding the models mesh to a system of joints and control handles (rigging), learning about joint hierarchy and kinematics and how to add skin and rig faces. You will develop your artistic and technical software skills in order to produce realistic animated characters or objects.

What’s the assignment?

In your portfolio, you will demonstrate your technical and artistic ability along with an evaluative report on the process.

Professional Practice 1 (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

You will develop understanding of the computer games industry and the employment available within it to enable you to prepare for employment. This includes the relationships between various roles in game development. studios, publishers and self-employment to help plan your career.

What do I learn?

You will investigate how the industry and its employees work together to produce computer games e.g. game design, programming, game art, concept art, level design, sound design and games design management.

What’s the assignment?

You will create a business presence online for your own skills and promotion, complete with a written research document or 5 minute video presentation on job opportunities in the games industry.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Industry Development Project 1 (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

As the culmination of the first stage, this module is designed for you to implement the understanding of game mechanics and theories, with practical skills to create a game prototype. Work created here will be added to your accompanying portfolio to aid course progression and employment.

What do I learn?

You will work in teams or individually to develop skills and keep a diary of the process, including analysis of peer-evaluation both on your own development and that of the product.

What’s the assignment?

In addition to the game prototype, you will produce a reflective journal.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Year Two (Level 5)

Intermediate Game Design (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

In this module you will research into and apply a further understanding of game studies, producing a pitch for a new prototype, which will form the basis of your Industry Development Project.

What do I learn?

You will develop your technical and artistic skills combined with the gameplay strategy and rules for your core loop design.

What’s the assignment?

Your pitch and game design will be accompanied by an evaluative report.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Intermediate Animation for Games (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

Building upon introductory modules in year one, you will develop the skills of creating 3D game assets, prepping for animation into a “cut scene”.

What do I learn?

You will also develop collaborative working practices and reflective evaluation in the context of industry simulation and peer evaluation. This leads to animating models and how to code the animations in a game engine.

What’s the assignment?

Your animated assets will be accompanied by your pre-production portfolio, including concept art designs, animation mechanics and evaluative report on the process.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Intermediate to Game Engines (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

Building upon the module in year one, you will develop a more sophisticated understanding of games design through the application of professional methods and processes to your work.

What do I learn?

You will create individual Games Design Documentation (GDD) to aid the design, programming and operation of assets in your games engine.

What’s the assignment?

This will culminate in a vertical slice of your programmed game supported by your GDD.

Professional Practice 2 (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

To get “a foot in the door”, you will have first-hand experience of a chosen career path in the games industry by work-shadowing an employer (or self-employed person) for 20 hours in an area of work depending upon your chosen interests.

What do I learn?

You will learn to network with possible employers and to develop business and practical skills in the media industry and you will be able to evaluate your progress and career plans with critical analysis.

What’s the assignment?

You will prepare for the placement by submitting a profile of the employer and an action plan and, after 20 hours of work shadowing, you will write up your experiences in a critical evaluation of 2000 words (as an online blog or written journal).

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Audio Design for Games (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

You will be introduced to sound design, sound effect creation and editing and you will develop an awareness of the key practitioners and effectiveness of music soundtrack composition for games, which all contribute to the success of the gameplay experience.

What do I learn?

It’s a hands-on module with practical Foley performance (live sound effects), digital sound design for a computer games and the process of recording, sourcing, referencing and designing sound effects to create a soundtrack for gameplay, Cut Film excerpt or Cinematic. Alternatively, if you are a musician you may wish to compose a musical soundtrack and create three versions for different elements of the game.

What’s the assignment?

To support your portfolio of sound effects or music, you will analyse the process and development of the soundtrack’s production in a written evaluative report.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Industry Development Project 2 (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

As the culmination of the second stage, you will implement the critical understanding of game mechanics and theories, with practical skills to create a prototype of a game. It will also be an introduction to business and the skills needed to collaboratively plan, develop and pitch a game prototype.

What do I learn?

You will develop entrepreneurship and market research skills during this project and self-evaluate the success of your individual learning and experience as part of their business plan in preparation for your future career.

What’s the assignment?

You will create and pitch a business plan for a new games company in a presentation complete with games design documentation and the prototype of your game (with an individual evaluation).

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Year Three (Level 6)

Game Studies (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

Building upon the modules in year 2, you will develop a culturally aware understanding of games design. You will develop a deeper understanding of the theories underpinning ludology, to be reflected through practice (3D modelling, animation, coding), aspects of gameplay and the design of the game, the players, and the role games play in society, in order to debate and discuss the socio-cultural place of non-digital games and computer games.

What do I learn?

You will critically evaluate the debates around and theories of the socio-cultural place of digital games including the limits and motivated concerns of ‘effects’ theory, the particular modes and issues arising from multi-player games as social environments, the issues of gender and identity in relation to digital games and theories of pleasure relating to gameplay, performance and competition.

What’s the assignment?

To demonstrate a thorough understanding, you will produce a research document to support the choices in your GDD documentation, which will form your Industry Development Project.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Innovative Technologies (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

This module researches and explores the development and application of technology for games and media e.g. Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality, Motion and Performance Capture and the latest technological advances.

What do I learn?

You will develop autonomous learning techniques, research and practical testing methods to fully explore and analyse the practical and conceptual elements of new and varied technologies.

What’s the assignment?

You will demonstrate your understanding through a digital portfolio of audio and visual components and a reflective report.

Industry Development Planning (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

This module is designed to develop further technical skills through practical workshops to specialise as a game producer, artist and animator.

What do I learn?

Peer evaluation and self-evaluation techniques will be developed in the context of industry simulation. Work created here will be added to your accompanying portfolio of design and realisation to aid course progression and employment.

What’s the assignment?

You will pitch your project, submit a detailed, professional-looking portfolio with Games Design Documentation and an evaluative report or video presentation to summarise your outcomes and progress.

Applied Business Technologies (20 Credits)

What’s it about?

To prepare you for continued work in the industry, you will form a self-employed company or small business with other students to promote your game prototypes and/or specialist skills.

What do I learn?

You will learn to network with possible employers and to develop business and practical skills in the media industry and will develop entrepreneurship skills within a team structure You will undertake the completion of relevant HMRC documentation, promotional website and social media page design and investigate the application processes for funding and support from regional and national organisations.

What’s the assignment?

Your submitted portfolio will be a culmination and realisation of your career action planning throughout the degree, combined with professional promotional material, financial budget planning and the game prototypes or exemplar material to start your career in the games industry.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Industry Development Project 3 (40 Credits)

What’s it about?

This module is the culmination of the work started in Game Studies and Industry Development Planning. Peer evaluation and self-evaluation techniques will be developed in the context of industry simulation.

What do I learn?

You will be trained in professional standard skills such as the creation of professional quality 3D models, animations, rigs, rendering and export of such designs. You may also choose 3D characters or objects with textures, rigged for animation and movement controlled in code via a games engine, or a complete level design in 3D software including coded collisions.

What’s the assignment?

Your final game prototype will be supported by a reflective evaluation.

Want to know more?

To see the module description, please click here.

Disclaimer

All Fees and prices shown on the website are for courses starting in the 2023-24 academic year and are correct at the time of entering/printing information, however these may be subject to change. The College cannot accept legal or financial liability as a result of any such changes.

The course information describes programmes offered by University Centre Colchester at Colchester Institute. The College takes all reasonable steps to provide courses as described, but cannot guarantee provision. The information is for guidance and does not form any part of a contract.

The College reserves the right to update and amend information as and when necessary. University Centre Colchester at Colchester Institute will do its best to provide the courses shown, but may have to modify or withdraw a course depending on customer demand and other factors.

BA (Hons) Computer Games with 3D Modelling and Animation

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