BSc (Hons)
Computer Games Technology
Gain industry standard skills to become an accomplished game developer
Course Overview
Why take this course?
Love gaming and want to develop the skills to create your own? Our course can provide you with experience in all the required aspects of computer game development.
You’ll get the chance to design graphics using animation and 3D modelling, program your game for consoles and develop entrepreneurial skills to sell your game – all valuable assets for this expanding industry.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Use our cutting-edge, industry-standard software, game engines and console development kits to enhance your learning experience
- Work in teams on game-related projects, taking on the role of designer, manager, artist or programmer
- Opt to do a salaried placement year
What opportunities might it lead to?
The games industry is the dominant media industry of the twenty-first century. Interactive game technologies offer unlimited possibilities for careers and innovation. The ‘serious games’ sector where, for example, games technologies are being used to assist rehabilitation, training, education, simulations and so on, is also growing rapidly.
Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:
- computer game development
- multimedia production
- animation
- graphics and video editing
- digital video film-making
Currently I have been given the task to build a small 3D/2D game from scratch.
Chris Millin, BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology student 2012
Key Facts
- UCAS Course Code:
- G452
- Duration
- 3 years full time, 4 years sandwich with work placement
- Entry
240-300 points to include a minimum of 240 points from A Levels, or equivalent.
Other qualifications- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £8,750 p/a*
International full-time students: £11,000 p/a*
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- create.admissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 2421 - Department
- School of Creative Technologies
Subject:
Computing and Creative Technologies
Find out what our students say about studying at Portsmouth, including:
- Hands-on, practical work and real-life learning, which is transferable to future careers
- Modern facilities and access to the latest technology including numerous computer labs, TV studios and a motion capture suite
- Approachable lecturers who have experience and contacts in the industry
Visit us at our open day
Wed 10 Jul
Structure & Teaching
Year one
In the first year you are introduced to a useful range of fundamental game development skills including game design techniques, 3D modelling, drawing on paper, including life drawing and C++ programming.
Core units in this year include:
- Define Games
- Foundation in 3D Modelling
- Introduction to Image Creation
- Technical Game Development
- Tools for Games and Animation
- EPortfolio
Year two
In this year you continue to develop game design and development skills, and also choose between two pathways – game graphics or game programming.
Core units in this year include:
- Design Games
- Project Initiation and Career Management
- Student Enterprise
Options to choose from in this year include:
- Commercial Asset Production for Real Time
- Design and Visual Research for Cinema and Game
- Mathematical Elements for Games and Animation
- Professional Experience
- Program 3D Applications
- Program Consoles
Year three*
There’s a wide range of options in your final year allowing for specialisation in the areas that interest you the most. You’ll also complete an individual project on a topic of your choice, as well as a year-long group project chosen from a pool of real-life projects proposed by a range of clients.
Core units in this year include:
- Real Time Interactive Group Project
- Final Year Project
Options to choose from in this year include:
- Advanced Game Graphics Techniques
- Applications of Virtual Reality
- Console Programming Resolution
- Create Worlds
- Games Research
- Motion Capture Applications
- Produce Games
- Programming AI for Games
- Rendering Pipeline
*This course is also available as a 4-year sandwich (work placement)
Teaching and Assessment
You will experience a variety of teaching through lectures, seminars, tutorials, laboratory sessions, online lessons and project work.
We constantly work with game developers and professional bodies such as TIGA to ensure that the course stays up-to-date, guaranteeing that you learn the skills valued by today’s games industry.
How are you assessed?
Due to the practical nature of this course, assessment is extremely varied and includes:
- practical projects
- work portfolios
- academic and evaluative essays
- multiple choice tests
- oral presentations
- examinations
- case studies
Tutor's view
Mark Eyles
Creative Technologies
Our games courses are dynamic, challenging and industry focussed. You will develop expert skills in your chosen specialism: programming, graphics, design or entrepreneurship/management by choosing from a wide range of options. The course teaching team includes games industry veterans who maintain strong industry links. Come and join our hardworking game development community if you have a passion for making games.
Visit us open day
Facilities & Features
The Games Lab
Home to all the latest games consoles
Specialist Software and Equipment
You’ll have excellent resources at your fingertips
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information
The Games Lab
This is home to all the latest consoles for our game students. You’ll have access to Playstation 3 development kits, PSP development kits, Playstation 2 Linux development kits (available to borrow) and a range of other consoles and games.
Specialist Software and Equipment
A full range of industry software will be available for you to use in the computer labs. You’ll have excellent resources at your fingertips including:
- the Virtual Reality Lab
- motion capture facilities
- Half Life 2 (source game engine)
- Unreal game engine
- XNA (Dreamspark) Xbox 360 development environment
- Maya
- Macromedia software
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
Through extensive use of the latest versions of industry-standard hardware (console development kits) and software you will gain in-depth knowledge of the principles underlying these evolving technologies. You’ll be all set to find employment within the computer games industry or other areas where computer games technology is making an impact.
Graduates from this course have been successful in finding work with these big names:
- Black Rock
- Climax
- Codemasters
- Electronic Arts
- Exient
- Jagex
- Kuju (Zoe Mode and Nik Nak Games)
- Pivotal Games
- Rebellion
- Sony
- Travellers Tales
Work experience
The best way to boost your CV is by doing an industry placement. This is a great opportunity to put your developing skills into practice in an industrial or commercial setting – and be paid for it! Taking a year in industry is extremely effective way to increase your employability for when you finish the course. You may even find that your placement employer hires you once you graduate.
Our team at the Student Placement and Employability Centre (SPEC) ensure you have access to a range of volunteering and work experience opportunities. We also offer support during your year-long industrial placements, and provide support for the different types of application processes.
Career planning
6.04 minutes
Finding a job is a competitive business, but the statistics show that 89 per cent of our 2011graduates went into employment, further study or training within six months of finishing their degrees.
To make sure you take the right steps on your career path, we’re here to give you help, support and advice throughout your study. Even after you’ve graduated, we continue to give you support for up to five years.
Employers tell us that they want graduates to be able to demonstrate certain skills when they come out of university. Our courses take account of this. We make sure we prepare you for employment through work-related learning, projects, placements and working in simulated environments that are designed to prepare you for the working world.
Open Day
Our next open day is Wed 10 July
VISIT US! Have a look around and get a feel for what it’s like to live and study here. We’ll be on hand to talk to you about your course interests and show you all of our amazing facilities. You’ll also get to meet tutors and other students…
Application, Fees and Funding — find out more