About Computer Gameplay Design And Production in Staffordshire University

This course was built with the role of a core games designer or gameplay designer in mind. You’ll focus on scripting in game engines to allow you to take ideas from concept to a playable prototype. Exploring some of the fundamental ideas underpinning modern games, you’ll develop fun, exciting and experimental concepts.

Our academics come from a variety of backgrounds, including fine art, games design, interactive media technology, simulation and mathematical modelling. They’ve worked in gaming at all levels and the course leader, Nia Wearn, was listed as one of the UK’s top 100 most influential women in the industry.

We have a state-of-the-art games design studio and we have excellent links to influential organisations in the industry. You’ll have the opportunity to network with these companies and build contacts for your future career.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: BSc (Hons) Computer Gameplay Design and Production

In your first year, you’ll be introduced to the Unreal Game Engine. The practical work is underpinned with theory-based modules based on games design documentation, small-scale group work, and the fundamentals of gameplay. You’ll also have the option to study the narrative in games, the impact of video game realism, scripting in Unity, or 3D modelling.

During your second year, you’ll learn how to script in high-level languages. This allows you to create quests, missions and demonstrate your creative designs in the games engine. You’ll put these skills into practice as a junior member in a collaborative group project. As an individual, you will also create a paper-based game project using gameplay applications. Doing this will increase your understanding of the wide-ranging aspects of gameplay in modern games. There's also collaborative group work and options that include Indie Game Development in Unity, Game Interface Design or building a Production Skills toolkit.

In your final year, you could take on a lead role in a game development project. You will also create a final year game, project or research piece for your portfolio to take into industry. You can pick an option from a wide array of choices that include business and publishing, Experimental Gameplay or A.I. Scripting.

Entry requirements

To apply for an undergraduate (bachelors) degree you need one of the following qualifications:

• Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) / Standard 12/ XII with a minimum score of 65% overall

• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma with 28 points overall
• Successful completion of a relevant International Foundation Year from a recognised UK Institution
• For A-Level requirements, please see the ‘entry requirements’ section on the relevant course page