Games Programming (with Foundation Year) BSc (Hons)

This module provides tools in your reading of cultural texts. Focusing on computer games, animation and film, you gain an introductory level of understanding in the context of your chosen fields of study.
As well as looking at the historical and contextual overview of the history of animation, film and computer games, you also look at how we interpret these types of media historically and materially. You choose a text from within your area of interest and undertake an analytical review in the form of a case study.

Algorithms are considered to be at the heart of computing and are critical to developing computer-driven applications. Designing algorithms requires you to think like a machine, using computational thinking to construct procedures to implement as computer programmes.

This module introduces you to the fundamental building blocks of algorithms through classic puzzles and recreational games. You develop your knowledge of design principles and your proficiency in creating algorithmic procedures by cultivating your ability to think computationally in solving puzzles and creating routines for playing simple, computer-enabled games.

You produce an individual project artefact, with the supervision of a member of academic staff. This involves you producing a small game project.
You take your existing knowledge and develop a small game from start to finish. This includes writing a high level concept document (proposal), early demo and testing (progress review) and a completed demo made within a contemporary game engine or similar.

This module introduces the relevant mathematical notations and techniques if you are preparing to study a technical computing degree at undergraduate level. The emphasis is on developing the skills that enable you to understand technical specifications of computing devices.

Topics include the number systems prevalent in computing, algebraic manipulation and equation solving, and the concept of functions – both algebraic and graphical formulations.

The module is delivered through lecture and tutorial sessions. Worked examples illustrate how each mathematical technique is applied. Problem-solving tutorial exercises give you the opportunity to practise each skill or technique.

This module is ideal if you have little or no experience of programming – it uses tools that are easily available, easy to use and familiar to anyone who has used a computer.

You learn how programming language constructs are applied to different problems of increasing complexity. All programming solutions are executed in a web browser although the module is not specifically targeting web development.

You practice and develop game-making and team-working skills through an individual game related artefact.

Lectures are delivered on topics to enhance your Python knowledge as well as team-working skills and an introduction to basic game play programming techniques.

Complex coding and scripting for a computer game requires an understanding of problem solving, data structures and algorithms needed to define the contents and behaviour of a virtual 3D world. You are introduced to these topics using an informal yet rigorous approach. The algorithms range from simple to advanced, widely used in AAA games. Recreational problems, like games and puzzles, are used to convey the important algorithmic concepts.

You are introduced to C++ programming, focusing on the learning, development and application of algorithms and data structures within computer games, and the basics of class-based object-oriented programming using C++ language.
You demonstrate conceptual understanding and practical competence of programming by designing and implementing solutions to specific programming problems.

You study standard C++ libraries, and where appropriate one or more 3rd party libraries. You are required to demonstrate an understanding of professional practices and appropriate codes of conduct.

You study advanced aspects of C++ language and its continual evolvement, focusing on game development.

You develop your knowledge and practical application of object-oriented programming, including exception handling, polymorphism, design patterns and templates, and the standard library for containers and algorithms.

You are required to demonstrate an understanding of professional practices and appropriate codes of conduct.

Knowledge of advanced mathematical concepts for building a games engine is essential for a games programmer. You learn basic and advanced mathematics in an applied context.

The production of a successful, robust, user-friendly system or application begins with the analysis of the stakeholders’ requirements and a detailed design. This module introduces you to the concepts and techniques of systems analysis and design, enabling you to break down and simplify complex systems and represent these visually using industry standard approaches such as Unified Modelling Language (UML). In industry, the resulting models are used to communicate designs to the developers and to the stakeholders prior to implementation.

Games Technology is explored in the context of games development, with reference to the interconnection of hardware and the developmental processes involved in games' creation. You consider the development process and appreciate the various technologies, in both software and hardware that must be brought together in the creation of a computer game.

This module develops your introductory level skills in visual scripting using a contemporary game engine.

You consider the fundamentals of visual scripting including variables, functions and operators along with more advanced aspects such as player controllers and game modes. You use these concepts to implement gameplay functionality and interaction using a contemporary game engine.

Essential algorithms and models used within interactive 3D computer graphics and animation are introduced in this module. It is useful for those interested in programming interactive visualisation applications such as computer games.

You will be able to design and implement applications capable of the visualisation and animation of a virtual 3D environment using C++, a graphics library such as OpenGL or Direct3D, and a shading language such as GLSL or HLSL.

You will gain an in-depth view into the design of core computer game architectures and implementation using an Application Programming Interface and object oriented programming. You will develop your own computer game engine, which involves implementing and integrating computer game engine core systems eg graphics, simulation. Subsequently you will extend your existing C++ software engineering skills by integrating design patterns commonly used in game engine development.

You will be required to implement efficient C++ algorithms, both in terms of performance and memory use, and use profiling tools to inform your design choices and demonstrate knowledge of the underlying architecture.

You work in a team to produce a game experience within a current game engine. This provides you with experience of working within a production environment, and also with an opportunity to target specific production skills within your chosen field of study.

You explore the area of networking protocols, their quality of services, and related APIs. You are also introduced to concurrent and distributed programming paradigms.

You tackle issues faced when developing a concurrent or distributed application, including security and synchronization. You explore suitable abstractions, such as design patterns, distributed objects models and architectures.

Case studies are used to illustrate the theory of this module with appropriate technologies, for example, distributed architectures for online games, cloud, AJAX.

You are introduced to the essential animation and simulation algorithms and mathematics used to program 3D virtual environments. It is useful for those interested in developing interactive applications such as computer games.

Emphasis is on the practical implementation of the topics covered. After completing this module, you will be able to design and implement algorithms to model the plausible motion of point masses within a 3D virtual environment.

You have the option to spend one year in industry learning and developing your skills. We encourage and support you with applying for a placement, job hunting and networking.

You gain experience favoured by graduate recruiters and develop your technical skillset. You also obtain the transferable skills required in any professional environment, including communication, negotiation, teamwork, leadership, organisation, confidence, self-reliance, problem-solving, being able to work under pressure, and commercial awareness.

Many employers view a placement as a year-long interview, therefore placements are increasingly becoming an essential part of an organisation's pre-selection strategy in their graduate recruitment process. Benefits include:

· improved job prospects
· enhanced employment skills and improved career progression opportunities
· a higher starting salary than your full-time counterparts
· a better degree classification
· a richer CV
· a year's salary before completing your degree
· experience of workplace culture
· the opportunity to design and base your final-year project within a working environment.

If you are unable to secure a work placement with an employer, then you simply continue on a course without the work placement.

You consider artificial intelligence (AI) and its application in computer games and explore advanced AI techniques.

You gain experience of working as a member of a games development team that is as close to industrial practice as possible. Beta Arcade simulates the working criteria and mix of development skills that are required to produce a polished prototype of a computer game concept which would be suitable for publication.

You undertake a large scale piece of work, supervised by a member of academic staff. You also produce a substantial computing artefact and compile a report and a viva with a presentation, demonstration and discussion of the artefact. You develop work-discipline and a professional outlook. You are responsible for the planning and execution and consider legal, social, ethical and professional issues. You explore a chosen subject and analyse, synthesise, and creatively apply what you have studied on the programme, demonstrating critical and evaluative skills and professional awareness.

You expand your knowledge and skills of games programming, computer architecture and software development to include native development on mobile or gaming hardware. You build upon existing programming skills in C/C++ and knowledge of computing architecture and expand your games software programming skills, focusing on developing, analysing and optimising code for limited gaming devices.

You explore the physical laws and numerical methods necessary for the development and enhancement of physical realism in 3D games, and are introduced to new concepts such as rigid bodies, moment of inertia and soft body dynamics, with an emphasis on physics realism versus computation speed, stability and accuracy.