BSc (Hons) Computer Games

This module will introduce you to the fundamentals of programming and object orientation, including the following basic ideas of programming:

• variables
• memory and assignment statements
• control through conditional statements, loops
• functions and procedures
• objects and classes
• instance variables and methods
• arrays
• user interaction
• interaction between objects. 

This module will allow you to develop an intuitive understanding of the expressive power of computation and reinforce important mathematical and programming concepts through engaging and creative work.  

You'll be introduced to a variety of generative techniques by analysing the work of other artists and studying code examples. Possible techniques include phase modulation, uses of the sine function, additive synthesis, stochasticism, perlin noise, and extensive variation through parameterization.

You'll then develop a deeper understanding of these topics through a number of challenging creative exercises using a suitable programming environment.

This module introduces fundamental numerical tools to support computational and algorithmic inquiry, and to enable effective computational experimentation.

You will:

• explain the need for different number systems
• understand what a prime number is and perform arithmetic modulo prime bases
• appropriately use combinations of trigonometric or special functions
• represent abstract locations in vector coordinate systems, and derive and apply transformation matrices

This module introduces fundamental logical tools to support computational and algorithmic inquiry and to assist effective computational reasoning.

In this module, you'll explore the perceptual and technical fundamentals of graphics computing.  

Topics include: 

• fundamentals of visual perception: basic colour theory, perspective, and animation 
• manipulating images for creative contexts 
• image processing 
• the application of 2D and 3D geometry for animation and interaction 
• creating simple physics simulations. 

You'll apply this knowledge through a series of practical and creative exercises undertaken throughout the module using an appropriate programming environment with supporting graphics libraries.

This module will introduce you to the basic concepts essential in the design and implementation of client-side web-based applications. We'll cover a basic introduction to the Web, followed by more detailed lectures and labs on current good practice with technologies such as HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript.

This module gives students the opportunity to design and develop simple board and computer games in an environment that mirrors industry practice. It enables students to combine specialist technical skills acquired in other modules to create their own games.

Students are introduced to i) industry standard tools for game development, such as game engines, and ii) the process of game development, including prototyping and playtesting. Students will undertake two game development projects, each with a specific brief and lasting a set number of weeks, as deemed appropriate by the module leader. For each project, students propose a game that fits the brief and then implement it.

Projects must be appropriate in scope. Students are expected to deliver the proposed game and document it fully. This documentation takes the form of images, video, commented source code, executables, websites, and written evaluation, following the method indicated in the project brief. Students are expected to demonstrate the ability to develop games appropriately. In addition, student’s projects must demonstrate coherence and uniformity with respect to the agreed brief, showing awareness of intended audiences, and using media appropriately.

This module gives students the opportunity to design and develop a simple computer game in an environment that mirrors industry practice.

Students are introduced to industry-standard tools for game development such as game engines. They are also shown the process of game development, including prototyping and playtesting.

Over the course of the module, students will practice this knowledge through designing and developing a playable game.

This module will introduce you to C++ for the first time whilst building on the programming techniques covered at level 4. Through the use of a framework designed with creative practice in mind, you'll learn the rudiments of C++ through a multi-media-driven approach.

Topics include:
Types, Arrays and Control Flow, Functions, Vectors, I/O, 3D graphics with primitives, object orientation, constructors, passing by reference, pointers and inheritance.

This module will introduce you to the analysis and design of algorithms. In particular, you'll learn how to classify algorithms in terms of their computational resource consumption, how to solve efficiently classical problems from computer science and how to apply design techniques to build new algorithms.

This module aims both to build on the skills and competences developed in the technical modules in the Creative Computing Programme at Level 4, as well as the critical and creative awareness fostered in the Introduction to Creative Practice module. Providing knowledge and skills to be used in exploratory fashion in the Creative Projects, this module will also allow you to develop your own creative practice in general. It will provide you with a detailed appreciation of human visual and audio perception, allowing you to explain the limitations of your own sensory gamut, and to be able to exploit similarities and differences between observers perceptual systems.

You will learn the fundamentals of signal processing and systems, including a programming language suited to the signal processing domain, and how they are applied in typical multimedia applications; andwill then be shown how to combine these signal processing techniques with an understanding of perception to produce multimedia information retrieval systems.

Topics include:

• Visual perception: cones, rods and the eye; optical illusions; colour vision; colour spaces and
• profiles; motion perception and Gestalt psychology.
• Animation: approaches to animation; perception in video and film; making animations; visualisation.
• Sound, hearing and music: sound and the ear; frequency, pitch and harmony; melody; rhythm;
• digital audio formats and compression.
• Signals: the nature of signals; special signals; audio signals and sampling; frequency, amplitudend phase; the Fourier representation.
• Systems: linearity and time-invariance; impulse responses and convolution; spectral analysis;
• convolution by spectrum multiplication.
• Audio and image filtering: EQ; filter design; subtractive synthesis; echo and reverberation; resampling; image representation; two-dimensional convolution and image effects.
• Multimedia information retrieval: retrieval, fingerprinting

This module gives students the opportunity to work in a group on a substantial game development project, including its technical, creative and social aspects.

It takes students through the entire games development process, from pre-production and the creation of design documents through to production and testing, with a particular focus on player-centred design. It develops abilities in project planning, management, critical awareness and design that students need in order to create digital games.

Students will learn a range of advanced techniques relevant to games programming.

Students will produce and document a complete and playable game using industry-standard tools such as game engines.

Physical Computing is of increasing interest to artists, musicians, choreographers, and other creative practitioners for the creation of novel artworks and for forms of computational interaction between these objects and people. 

There are many other applications of Physical Computing, for example in museums, ubiquitous and embedded computing, robotics, engineering control systems and Human Computer Interaction. A physical environment may be sonic, tangible, tactile, visually dynamic, olfactory or any combination of these.

The module will provide a starting point for you to build an understanding of microcontrollers, and how they fit into a wider computing and artistic context. It will cover basic physics, electronics, programming, and software engineering; alongside practical knowledge of tools such as laser cutting and 3D printing which are very commonly used in physical computing. This module will culminate in an extended project which will also give you an opportunity to plan a project over time, and make decisions as your project develops.

Students will study advanced topics in generative graphics with a focus on understanding and applying effects using shaders:

• Generating 3D environments from 2D perspective models with matrix transforms
• Understanding Geometry, Textures, Lighting
• Complete OpenGL pipeline
• Frag Shaders
• Vertex shaders
• Procedural rendering methods

In doing this they will apply perceptual knowledge acquired in Perception and Multimedia and mathematical skills acquired in Numerical Maths.

This module builds on the knowledge developed in C++ for Creative Practice by introducing you to a variety of specialist topics relevant to creative practice. This will be done through a project developed in weekly stages covering topics such as Networking with OSC, Event-driven programming with lamdas, memory management and smart pointers, developing GUIs, error handling, and test-driven development.

Through this grounded and practical work, students build greater knowledge of C++ syntax and techniques.

This module aims to expose students to standard data structures and algorithms for manipulating them. In particular, it will give students the chance to learn to choose appropriate data structures for solving problems.

Final Project in Games Programming is an opportunity for students to apply the skills, knowledge and expertise that they have acquired whilst studying Games Programming to a single and coherent body of work. Students will undertake a large scale, independent piece of software development work that is applied to the computer games industry. In most cases, this will be the independent development of a game but could also be the development of middleware, development tools or other games related software. The project outcomes will serve as a showcase for student’s talents and could launch a professional career in industry. Students will have to manage their own time and set regular objectives, undertaking project analysis, design, implementation and evaluation.

Games exist within an ecosystem of interactive and expressive technology. It is important that anyone aiming to work within this industry understands the context within which games exist and the opportunities for using knowledge from other related disciplines.

This module aims to teach you the foundations of game design practice with a particular view of how game design can be influenced by and take advantage of other forms of expression. You'll focus on how literature, comic writing, cinema, architecture, photography and other arts can influence and change the game design process. In this module, game design will be framed as a language and you'll be encouraged to use a broader vocabulary in order to create more interesting game mechanics. You'll also explore emotions and the ways that games are able to empower/evoke a particular kind of emotion.

Throughout the module, you'll be taught how to take a critical approach to playing games and will be encouraged to analyse how mechanics can improve certain feelings. This critical mindset will be paired with practical game design exercises to aid your understanding of the critical approach.