Welcome to your Computer Gameplay Design and Production course

Hello! We are delighted to welcome you to the Computer Gameplay Design and Production course, otherwise known as “GPlay”! You are now starting your journey to master gameplay mechanics, game engines and the understanding of games design theories. Soon you will be able to create your own games and begin your career within the games industry.  

Your staff team

We want to make sure you know some of our team before you arrive. Hopefully this will help you recognise us and ensure you know who you can contact if you need any additional help and guidance.

Adam Martin

Senior Lecturer

Adam is a games design specialist, with his main areas of interest including Unreal Engine, games prototyping, VR, and design methodologies. He encourages collaboration across different subject areas including arts, technology and education.

Adam's profile

David James

Course Director

I am a Games Technical Design Lecturer at Staffordshire University, specialising in the design principles and technical implementation of game software.

David's profile

Dr Wael Elzanaty

Lecturer

Wael El Zanaty is a games design and rapid games prototyping lecturer. His main area of interest is games design, mobile games development, games production, business issues, marketing, user experience and user interface design.

Wael's profile

Daniel Webster

Senior Lecturer

Dan is a highly experienced 3D artist with professional skills in Character, Environment, Vehicular modelling, and Animation for the Games industry.

Daniel's profile

Cameron Swain-Laing

Lecturer

Cameron is a hard surface/environment artist. His main area of interest is city based PBR open world environments which has a lot of room for working with modularity and creating modular kits.

Cameron's profile

Course delivery

In the Games Development Department, the academic year is comprised of 3-blocks of learning. Each block is 9-weeks long. You can expect to be scheduled for 12-hours of contact throughout the week.

You will study two modules at the same time, with each module being timetabled 6 hours of contact per-module, per-week. You will study 6 modules over the year.

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, and development practical sessions. Seminars enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups of around 15-40 students. In addition, you will have timetabled meetings with your academic mentor at least twice a year. You will be taught in first-class learning spaces throughout your course. Many of our courses are accredited or recognised by professional, statutory, or regulatory bodies.

Your course will provide you with opportunities to engage with formative feedback and engagement activities to help us to gauge your understanding of your subject informally before you complete the formal assessments.

There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module. This includes a range of coursework assessments, practical portfolio work, development logbooks, written reports, presentations, and independent supervised projects. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark, and at later levels, ultimately to your degree classification.

You’ll often be given independent learning tasks (homework) that are designed to consolidate your learning and give you opportunities to complete tutorials or practice what you’ve learnt from your scheduled sessions. This is what we refer to as “self-managed study time”.

Semester one activities

BSc Students

For first year students, you will explore the following:

Introduction to Games Design - In this module you will take your first look at an industry-standard game engine, and learn to create gameplay via visual scripting, You will also learn game design techniques and tools to help you to create game design documentation for your projects.

Introduction to Asset Creation - In this module you will create your first 3D game-ready assets for your games.

Mechanics Prototyping – In this module, you will continue to develop your game engine skills and design and implement new, exciting gameplay mechanics.

Pre-Production for Gameplay Designers – In this module, you will explore the processes of game production, from the very first stages of initial idea conception.

Introduction to Games Animation – In this module, you take your first look at creating animated assets to be used within a game.

Narrative Design for Games– In this module, you will explore the use of narrative design and story-telling in the game development process.

Before you start

Download and Install Unreal Engine 5

https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/download

To get you started, it is recommended you take a look at the official Epic Unreal Engine 5 beginner tutorials, found here: Games - Getting Started | Epic Developer Community (epicgames.com)

You will also be creating 3D assets as part of your learning. To assist with this, visit Autodesk’s 3ds Max Learning Channel:

Autodesk 3ds Max Learning Channel - YouTube

Foundation semester one activities

As part of the Foundation year, you will cover a range of modules:

Introduction to Games Scholarship - In this module, you will begin your journey as a games developer in training, understanding the roles and career opportunities within the games industry and beyond.

Introduction to Collaborative Enterprise - This module will challenge you to capitalise on your skills and individual creativity while working with a mixed disciplinary team of games developers.

Games Design Foundations - This module introduces you to the process of game design and creation. You will learn how to design great gameplay experiences in the form of levels and game mechanics.

Games Engine Foundations - This module introduces you to games development using games engines. By utilising existing game frameworks, you will learn the foundations of level creation and scripting in Unreal Engine.

Foundation year pre-learning

Download and Install Unreal Engine 5

https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/download

To get you started, it is recommended you take a look at the official Epic Unreal Engine 5 beginner tutorials, found here: Games - Getting Started | Epic Developer Community (epicgames.com)

You will also be creating 3D assets as part of your learning. To assist with this, visit Autodesk’s 3ds Max Learning Channel:

Autodesk 3ds Max Learning Channel - YouTube

Equipment and software

Much of the software you’ll be using is free or discounted to students with a valid University e-mail address, including Autodesk, and Microsoft Office. We’ll be using the following software on all of our awards:

  • Autodesk Suite (Including: 3ds Max, Maya, Motionbuilder - this can downloaded for free with a student email address from Autodesk)
  • Adobe Photoshop, Premiere & After Effects
  • Microsoft Office
  • Unreal Engine
  • Unity
  • Pixologic Z-Brush
  • 3D Coat
  • Substance Painter
  • Quixel Suite

The above packages are available in our labs but if you wish to have access to them on your own PC the recommended specification is below.

Suggested Hardware specs

  • Minimum 8GB RAM, recommended 16 GB RAM
  • Minimum i5 Intel CPU, recommended i7 Intel CPU
  • Minimum NVidia GTX 970/ 2080, recommended for UE5 projects / Ray Tracing
  • Minimum 1 TB HDD , recommended SSD for loading game projects

You can download wide range of software from the University free of charge once you have enrolled:

https://staffsuniversity.sharepoint.com/sites/software/SitePages/Home.aspx

Download software

Games we love

If you are looking for an excuse to play some games, here’s one…

It would be a great idea for you to experience as many types of games as possible to help build your knowledge of visual and mechanical archetypes. Have a look at some of the examples below, play something different, or perhaps try those un-played gems in your game library.

First Person Shooters

Quake 1,2,3

Doom 1,2,3

Apex Legends

Fortnite

Halo 5

Shadow Warrior

Call of Duty Modern Warfare

 

Real Time Strategy

Age of Empires 2

Warcraft 3

Starcraft

Command and Conquer Red Alert 2

Rise of Nations

Planetary Annihilation

 

Fighters

Tekken

Marvel vs Capcom

Killer Instinct

Soul Calibur

Dead or Alive

 

Role play

Horizon Zero Dawn

Fallout 4

Planescape Tournament

Pokemon Lets Go

Dungeon Crawler

Torch Light 2

Diablo 3

Gauntlet

 

Puzzle

Portal

Thomas Was Alone

Pikuniku

QUBE

Monument Valley

 

Sports

FIFA

Rocket League

NBA 2K

Virtua Tennis

 

Platformers

Rayman

Super Mario Odyssey

Crash Bandicoot

Spyro

Lego Star Wars

 

Racing

Forza

Gran Turismo

Grid

Wipeout

Star Wars: Episode I Racer

 

Arcade

Pong

Pacman

Metal Slug

Golden Axe

Altered Beast

Turtles in Time

Streets of Rage

 

Board and Card Games

Age of Wanders

Smash Up

Chaos of the Old World

Incan Gold

Carcassonne

Ticket to Ride

Race for the Galaxy

Munchkin

Magic: The Gathering

Retro Gaming at Archive.org

If you want to try some classics, then the Internet Archive has a great range of emulated games for you to try:

https://archive.org/details/internetarcade

https://archive.org/details/consolelivingroom
https://archive.org/details/softwarelibrary_msdos_games

Social groups for students

There are multiple clubs and societies at Staffordshire University.

Games Art’s students will find the following interesting:

Game Development Society:

https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/gamedevsoc/

Digital Arts Society:

www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/cas/

All clubs and societies

Academic skills

Whether you're joining us from school or college, or you're returning to education after some time away, everyone can benefit from the Academic Study Skills resources provided by the University library.

The Academic Skills team is here to support you throughout your academic journey and to help you gain the skills you need to reach your full potential. They can assist with academic reading and writing skills, give advice on how best to plan assignments, and help improve your time management.

The library's Academic Skills Guides offer the key information to make studying easier and give a comprehensive guide to the learning resources and services we offer.

Staffs CampusConnect

Staffs CampusConnect is our student-led community app for new students. Connect with other people from your course, hometown or country, and even those with similar interests.

To register, please ensure you use your Applicant ID (Student Number) that you received in your offer letter, and the email address you used in your application to us.

Register for CampusConnect

Welcome website

Our welcome website will provide you the link to your new student life. It's all about how you find your place at university, including everything from how to meet friends, feel confident in doing your academic work, being a member of your Student Union and getting involved in Union Societies, Academic Societies, Sports, Volunteering or representing your peers in your School.

Part of this Welcome Week - we have an exciting program of University and course level activities planned for you for your first week in September. We are also building an extended program for you to join a series of events throughout the first half of the autumn term. Further details will be shared with you via the Welcome website and Students' Union pages over the coming weeks.

Welcome website

Campus map

Use our campus map to familiarise yourself with our campus before you arrive.

Campus map (PDF)

Check your email

Please make sure you check your personal email account regularly over the next few weeks. We will be sending you lots of information about Welcome Week.

We look forward to welcoming you to the campus in September. 

If you have any questions, please send them to Adam Martin (adam.martin@staffs.ac.uk).

The Gplay Course Team  

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021