Welcome to your Games Art course

Hi and welcome to your new Games Art course at Staffordshire University.

You have chosen a degree that utilises technical software to maximise artistic creativity for games and related areas within CGI.

Let’s cover some information that you’ll find useful before starting your adventure with us.

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.

Mike Acosta

Senior Lecturer

I am the Course Leader for the BA (Hons) Game Art programme at Staffordshire University. Under my leadership, the course has been ranked 1st in the UK and 7th globally. I have a strong focus on curriculum development and building industry links.

Mike's profile

David Edwards

Course Director

Dave is an experienced technical artist and academic. He teaches on many of the earlier levels of the Games Art degree, using his expertise in 3D character and environment art, 3D scripting, and level design in the Unreal Engine.

David's profile

Stephen Cunningham

Senior Lecturer

Course Delivery

In the Games program, the academic year is divided into three nine-week blocks. Each week, you will have 12 hours of contact time, typically spread over three days.

You will study two modules per block, with each module scheduled for six hours per week, totalling six modules per year.

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, workshops, and practical sessions. Group sizes vary, and sessions are usually conducted by more than two lecturers.

Each module concludes with a summative assessment, which may include coursework, portfolio work, logbooks, reports, presentations, and projects. These assessments contribute to your module marks and degree classification.

Independent learning tasks (homework) consolidate your learning and allow you to practice skills from your sessions. Assignments are divided into milestones throughout the semesters. All lectures will take place in person in our dedicated games development labs. Class sizes range between 24 to 44 students, and larger classes will have more than two tutors to assist with the session.

Each class typically lasts three hours, with breaks included.

In the Games Art course, we emphasise practical lessons. You’ll be expected to follow along and complete in-class exercises and live demonstrations in a workshop-style environment, with feedback on your development provided both in-session and through assessment points.

You’ll have access to industry-standard hardware and software, so don’t worry if you don’t have your own equipment! Our Games Art teaching team possesses a variety of skills and specialisms, you’ll not find a character artist teaching you environment art for example!

Semester one activities

BA students

In your first year at university, you will be engaging on the following modules:

LEVEL 4

3D Asset Development

This module provides students with a grounding of 3D Modelling. Students will learn about the fundamentals of low poly textured 3D games modelling and assets development for Game Art and Concept Art workflows.

Visual Studies & 2D Practice

This module provides games art students with an introduction to art theory and fundamentals. The module focusses on 2D skills development with an exploration of composition, colour and lighting and art and design theory supported with observational, perspective, & life drawing.

3D Props and Pipeline

This module requires that students use their previous knowledge from “3D Asset development” and newly learnt knowledge from “3D Game Props: Pipeline and Production” to create various assets based on real world, concept art and/or fictional universes as reference while also ensuring that they are suitable for video game implementation by making use of industry production pipelines.

Principles of Textures and Materials

This module will introduce students to the core principles of creating textures and surfaces for usage inside of Games Engines. You will create a series of Texture assets and PBR materials to adhere to different game styles. This will include both PBR textures for realistic rendering, and stylised textures for unique aesthetics.

Digital Sculpting and Stylized Assets

This module will cover the skills required to make stylised props following a game ready pipeline. There will be a focus on adhering to a given art style from existing media and development of digital sculpting skills.

Level Art and Visual Storytelling

This module aims to build the student’s knowledge and skills in visual storytelling. The module looks at the fundamentals of level design, architecture and spatial design to communicate with the player

Foundation year semester one activities

Foundation year students

Welcome to your first few weeks at university! You'll be diving into the following engaging modules:

Introduction to Games Scholarship

This module introduces you to the video games industry from an industry-grounded perspective. You'll learn about the evolution of the industry, the various roles and practices, and key topics like gender, ethics, and the societal impact of games. Group workshops will help you develop essential study skills through industry-related tasks. By the end of this module, you'll have a solid understanding of a professional game studio environment.

3D Modelling Foundations

Kickstart your 3D modelling career with this core module, essential for your entire degree! You'll explore concepts like primitives and parametric modifiers, compound objects, poly modelling, materials, and coordinate systems and much more.

As the year progresses you will also venture into more complex modelling of game assets, art theory and 2D visualisation skills, as well as a collaborative games development module with your peers from other games courses

Pre-learning

Absolute Beginner - Introduction to Blender

https://youtu.be/98qKfdJRzr0?si=8lwm6Vwh2hIj8Ezp

Intermediate Beginner - Donut Tutorial Blender

https://youtu.be/B0J27sf9N1Y?si=t5AAahrOdFvcLqI8

Sculpting in Blender

https://youtu.be/ol45TjMGFlw?si=WlwgVl9MQFXERfua

Mastering Autodesk 3ds Max: A Beginner's Guide:

DigitalSte - YouTube

Foundation year pre-learning

Mastering Autodesk 3ds Max: A Beginner's Guide: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZtL3Uc3M4XujCsCac4052kJZrGNqalmh

Mastering Autodesk 3DS Max: A Beginner's Guide to Materials: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZtL3Uc3M4XvSlRcVeL8NcnlJg-IDOS2w

Autodesk 3DS Max Tutorials - Animated Battle Scene: https://help.autodesk.com/view/3DSMAX/2016/ENU/?guid=GUID-8BB0BAA5-0645-4F79-A901-B6DA32010842

Autodesk 3DS Max Tutorials - Modelling a Revolving Door: https://help.autodesk.com/view/3DSMAX/2016/ENU/?guid=GUID-13748709-9B5E-4287-9CBB-AEE5062E71B9

Autodesk 3DS Max Tutorials - Modelling a Helmet: https://help.autodesk.com/view/3DSMAX/2016/ENU/?guid=GUID-A8AFC8F7-AC83-428C-A9FC-A103CBE5F000

Equipment and software

Art Materials

As part of your course, you'll be expected to purchase additional art materials to support your traditional art classes. It is essential for your course that you are able to source the following materials as needed:

  • Sketchbook (Size A3 or A4, with a paper density of 15Ogsm 150gsm MINIMUM)
  • Set of graphite pencils (including a Hand B range)
  • Blending stump
  • Plastic and putty rubbers
  • Ruler
  • Sharpener
  • Willow charcoal
  • Set of multipurpose paintbrushes (at least 3 different sizes required)
  • Set of paints (a small set is more than adequate, be it watercolour, gouache, or acrylics)

Our on-campus art shop is well stocked and can advise you on supplies.

Software

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

We’ll be using the following software on all our awards. Much of the software you’ll be using is free or heavily discounted to students with a valid University e-mail address. The key software is listed below with free alternatives suggested at the bottom:

Free alternatives or practice software:

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 Specifications

  • Minimum 8GB RAM, recommended 32 GB RAM
  • Minimum i7-4790k5 Intel CPU, recommended i7-8700k Intel CPU
  • Minimum NVidia nVidia GTX 2080 recommend RTX3080
  • Minimum 1 TB HDD, recommended 512TB SSD with 1TB HDD

Recommended Graphics Tablets

As a BA(Hons) Games Art student most of your modules will involve the use of a graphics tablet. We support the Wacom lntous and Pen and Touch Intuos and Intuos Pro tablets in our games development labs. We have numerous labs with these set up ready for you to use and tutors will bring pens for you to use with your classes.

Wacom Intuos Pro Medium tablets and pens are also bookable through SISO, the website of the Henrion Media Stores free of charge.

https://staffsorb.siso.co/henrion_media_centre

You may find it more convenient to purchase your own Pen to use on these tablets.

https://estore.wacom.com/en-GB/wacom-pro-pen-2-with-pen-case-kp504e.html

It is suggested that you purchase at the very least a Wacom Intuos Small if you do not already have a tablet device.

https://estore.wacom.com/en-GB/wacom-intuos-small-black-ctl-4100k-s.html

Many students also use iPads or other brands of tablets as part of their development process.

Groups and societies

There are many clubs, groups and societies at Staffordshire University – many of which our students have joined:

Game Development Society: Set up by 3 former students now well established in industry. Get critique and support for your projects and work during dev sessions and through our discord server with 1000+ gaming students and Industry already registered. https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/gamedevsoc/

Life Drawing Society: This society has been set up to provide students with the opportunity to enhance their drawing skills using live models as reference. https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/lds/

Mario Kart Society: Set up for students who enjoy playing Mario Kart competitively or for fun.

https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/mario-kart/

Fight Club Society: Set up for fans of the fighting game genre, you can play competitively for fun and develop new skills within the fighting games you like. https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/fightclub/

There are many more societies listed here: https://www.staffsunion.com/getinvolved/clubsandsocieties/ .Feel free to check them out and get involved.

Trip and activities

LetsTalkGames.org

Let's Talk Games is a FREE to education games conference that features expert talks on the art and design of video games, how to get your foot in the door or what to study. Our annual conference is a must-attend event for any student interested in the gaming industry.

Previously, we have arranged annual trips to Cosford Aviation Museum and Leeds Armouries – both excellent for reference material. We have also taken students down to the Vertex Digital Arts conference in London and hope to do so again in the future.

Recent course developments

No1 in the UK for Games Development: https://www.therookies.co/schools/rankings/2023/game-design-and-development

In the 2023 annual rankings, the University is recognised 7th in the world for Games Design and Development and is 23rd in the world’s top 50 Creative Schools – the best ranked UK University! The Rookies platform is known for helping digital artists to build their careers by providing a space for gaining inspiration, learning new skills, and connecting with like-minded creatives . This certification will offer students better exposure to the industry and open more opportunities for networking and career advancement

FUSE Conference: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu27eII51vjIXrb2d6vhE4b9bQ4bDwu6y

Taking place in February, Fuse is a free online conference that features industry expert talks on a variety of Games specialisms. The week-long event is a showcase of Games industry professionals, running virtual activities such as specialist talks and demonstrations.

Let's Talk Games: https://www.letstalkgames.org/

Let's Talk Games is a FREE to education games conference that features expert talks on the art and design of video games, how to get your foot in the door or what to study. Our annual conference is a must-attend event for any student interested in the gaming industry.

Ukie Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTV5K7M4YpM

Ukie is an organisation that aims to help grow the UK’s interactive entertainment sector. Ukie is the oldest video games and interactive entertainment trade body in the world. Since its foundation in 1989, originally under the name of ELSPA, Ukie has sought to make the UK the best place to make, play and sell video games. Here at Staffordshire University, we annually host a student gaming conference as part of UKie.

Staffordshire University ArtStation: https://www.artstation.com/staffordshireuniversity

The Game Art courses boast a very strong portfolio of work on ArtStation. The portfolio showcases our students' work and awards association badges to students who apply for a showcase piece, which is open to all students on the course.

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.

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