Computer Games Design with Animation (with a Placement Year)

Are you passionate about the world of video games? Do you dream of creating immersive and engaging gaming experiences for players around the world? Then look no further than the Computer Games Design and Animation course at Staffordshire University. Our cutting-edge program is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the fast-paced and constantly evolving world of game development. Through a combination of hands-on practical work and in-depth theoretical study, you'll learn the ins and outs of game design, animation, programming, and more.

The first year of your course will introduce you to games design principles, the use of games engines in the creation of games, the creation of 3D assets, and the animation of game assets, all using industry-standard approaches and software. In your second year, you will be able to choose from a range of modules that cover various topics such as environment modelling, character modelling, lighting, hand-keyed animation, hard-surface modelling, cinematics, and using animations in a games engine. Alongside this, you will also work in a collaborative environment with fellow students to create a game product. In level 6, you will round out these core skills by studying further advanced topics such as visual effects in a games engines, and the use of emergent, cutting-edge tools. You will work with other final year students in leading a collaborative effort with level 5 students in the creation of a further game product.

Your course will provide you with opportunities to test your understanding of your subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module normally includes practice or ‘formative’ assessments, 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. This includes a range of coursework assessments, such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations, final year, independent project and written examinations. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.