BA (Hons) Games Design degree

BA (Hons) Games Design degree

This 1 year top up, full time, innovative and exciting new games programme has been designed to allow students from the HND or foundation degree (and others where appropriate) to progress to an honours degree to develop an independent, autonomous practice, but with skills and attributes to be part of any team within any typical games design studio. This programme aims to facilitate and equip graduates with the expertise, enthusiasm and flexibility for a future in developing games and their content. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of Agile, entrepreneurship, team management and the techniques and skills needed by the games industry to get you that dream job, or to start your own independent games company.

We specialise in providing a typical studio set up with small class sizes to ensure you get excellent support and advice for your studies. You will have greater access to staff and resources, as well as practical specialist knowledge to pursue a career in your chosen area of specialism within the games industry.

Tutors will facilitate your independent research into advanced game design skills and techniques reflecting your particular specialism throughout the programme. Team production of prototypes will be explored, as well as methods to improve immersion, narrative and visual impact. You will be encouraged to investigate design innovations such as virtual and augmented reality, to develop new methods of enhancing gameplay, and simulation whilst receiving career and business advice specifically tailored to your individual aspirations. Visits to games festivals such as EGX Rezzed will also inform student practice.

You will be encouraged to work creatively and professionally to design and communicate concepts through visuals, prototypes, 3D/2D game assets, game design documents, pitches and presentations often to professionals within the industry. You will use industry standard software such as Autodesk (3D Studio Max, Maya and Mudbox etc), the full Adobe Master collection, UE4 and others. You will also have access to VR headsets such as Oculus Rifts and Vives, excellent sound labs, video cameras, Kinect cameras and blue/green screens etc.

Graduates have gone on to work in games studios such as Splash Damage or set up their own independent studios.

This is a full-time course; typically, students should expect to spend 35 – 40 hours per week on a combination of taught and self-directed study. Each module is delivered over a 15-week Study Block, which typically comprises 12 weeks of learning and teaching, and 3 weeks of assessment and feedback.

Students will engage in a variety of learning activities, including lectures, seminars, private and group tutorials, specialist workshops.

For examples of student work please check out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Gamedesign4Industry  

Download BA (Hons) Games Design for Industry Programme Specification (2022-23) at https://www.cornwall.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BA-Hons-Games-Design-for-Industry-Programme-Specification-2022-23.pdf  

What you will learn Entry requirements Progression Cornwall College Camborne

What you will learn

Indicative Modules Year 1:
Game Worlds, Innovation & Production
Commercial Games Practice & Enterprise
Honours Team Project

Entry requirements

240 credits with 120 at level 5 from a relevant Foundation Degree, HND, or equivalent in an appropriate subject. All qualifications and subject grades will be considered on an individual basis. HND qualifications may require additional bridging modules.

Progression

Possible Progression (subject to availability)

– Cert Ed or PGCE at Camborne or St Austell
– Masters Level programmes at other institutions

Possible Careers:

-Games Designer or Developer
-3D Animator or Modeller
-Character Designer
-Environment Artist
-Lead Designer or Animator
-Animator for Film and Television
-Level DesignerVR/AR developer/artsit
-Gameplay Programmer
-Concept Artist
-Narrative Artist
-Visual FX

Cornwall College Camborne

Our Camborne campus has served as a vocational training hub for nearly a century. The iconic Tamar tower and the ‘big top’ that covers our construction and engineering provision, are landmarks known throughout the area. This legacy, combined with an exciting modernisation programme, has made Cornwall College Camborne the home of cutting edge facilities, dynamic learning experiences and fantastic student spaces. Open and modern learning areas, electric vehicle training labs, esports gaming facilities, chill out areas, an award-winning restaurant and plenty more besides, makes this the perfect place to have your #careercollege experience.

Read more on the exciting developments at St Austell & Camborne

What You Will Learn

Indicative Modules Year 1:
Game Worlds, Innovation & Production
Commercial Games Practice & Enterprise
Honours Team Project

Entry Requirements

240 credits with 120 at level 5 from a relevant Foundation Degree, HND, or equivalent in an appropriate subject. All qualifications and subject grades will be considered on an individual basis. HND qualifications may require additional bridging modules.

Progression

Possible Progression (subject to availability) – Cert Ed or PGCE at Camborne or St Austell – Masters Level programmes at other institutions Possible Careers: -Games Designer or Developer -3D Animator or Modeller -Character Designer -Environment Artist -Lead Designer or Animator -Animator for Film and Television -Level DesignerVR/AR developer/artsit -Gameplay Programmer -Concept Artist -Narrative Artist -Visual FX

Cornwall College Camborne

Cornwall College Camborne

Our Camborne campus has served as a vocational training hub for nearly a century. The iconic Tamar tower and the ‘big top’ that covers our construction and engineering provision, are landmarks known throughout the area. This legacy, combined with an exciting modernisation programme, has made Cornwall College Camborne the home of cutting edge facilities, dynamic learning experiences and fantastic student spaces. Open and modern learning areas, electric vehicle training labs, esports gaming facilities, chill out areas, an award-winning restaurant and plenty more besides, makes this the perfect place to have your #careercollege experience.

Read more on the exciting developments at St Austell & Camborne

Case studies

Leah is now a self-employed artist creating unique ceramic pieces of art & one-off pieces for exhibitions, commissions and collectors. “I love designing and making a new collection of work for an exhibition. Commissions are also really fun, especially when they are for an organisation such as a museum.”

Whilst at Cornwall College I did three years of life drawing, I don’t believe there is anything that improves your artistic communicative skills more than drawing. I also had an amazing teacher that taught me how to work with clay, which is now the main part of my job!”

Leah’s ceramic designs are inspired by Renaissance ar, she prints out the paintings, places them on her clay pot & then uses dressmaking pins to map out the structure of each painting onto the unfired clay. This breaks down the painting into a series of geometric shapes and then she carves the clay with a scalpel following these markings.

Taran is now a 3rd year Press and editorial student at Falmouth University. “I love shooting on film, and digital. Film has made me slow down as every roll costs money. I now consider myself to be a photographer.”