L6 Games Development

Level 6 Computer Games Development prepares you for progression to further study in Computer Games Development. The award provides a foundation in the knowledge and skills of Computer Games Development that will be advantageous if you intend to study Computer Games Development, Digital Media Studies or Computing Science at college or university.

There are three units within the course

• Design

You will acquire an understanding of the concepts and fundamental principles involved in digital gaming planning and design. You learn how to recognise and distinguish differences between numerous gaming platforms, environments and genres. You will plan and design a level in a digital game and be introduced to the role of the games designer. You will build on your knowledge of hardware in gaming technology and investigate graphics and sound technology used by various types of digital gaming platforms. You will investigate emerging technologies in gaming and analyse how this technology will affect games and peoples’ expectations of games. You will investigate what organisations and activities are involved in the investment, creation, production and distribution of games and evaluate external factors to be considered when designing a digital game. You will evaluate design methods used in the planning and design stages involved in the production of a digital game. You will plan and design a digital game to a given brief.

• Media Assets

You will acquire an understanding of the different types of media asset required for developing a digital game. You will learn how to plan and produce media assets for use in a game development environment.

• Development

You will gain an understanding of the processes involved in the final stages of development of a digital game. You will learn how to use your chosen game development environment to bring together all the parts and produce a working game. You will develop a test strategy then test the game thoroughly, recording the results. You will gain an understanding of the evaluation process and complete a user review of a game that applies a scoring/rating system. You will identify, plan and perform the main promotional activities undertaken in a computer games product launch.

Assessment

You will create an electronic portfolio of your work. The portfolio will be constructed over the duration of each unit within the course. The contents of the portfolio will be clearly labelled and related to specific evidence requirements.

Entry requirements

Students should have passed L5 Games Development or A/B at N5 Computing Science.

Next steps

Scotland offers more than 175 computer science and gaming-related courses, with over 4,000 people now employed in the video games industry right here, in Scotland.

The NPA Level 6 Computer Games Development course is your entrance to further education and a career in video games.