BA (Hons) Games Development with Year 0
Ravensbourne University London
Key Information
Campus location
Greenwich Peninsula, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
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Application deadline
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Introduction
Get in the game.
This year's zero courses is a preparatory year as part of a four-year BA (Hons) Games Development course. Aimed at students who want more time before year one to develop their skills, this is an ideal entry-level course for aspiring game makers who wish to create imaginative games through a variety of mediums. An entertaining career in games design and computer gaming starts here.
Year 0 in games development encourages creativity, imagination and new ways of making, thinking and documenting.
The course focuses on giving students a solid understanding of game development, the creative process, and the technical knowledge to realise it.
The course explores the contemporary gaming industry across a broad range of experiences – from the latest console blockbusters to virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).
Why study this year's zero games development course?
- Get prepared for progression to year one of BA (Hons) Games Development
- Gain a command of the essential, practical, intellectual and transferable skills needed to enter the world of games development
- Develop hardware and software knowledge suitable for games development
- Learn the broad cultural contexts of the creative industries
- Gain visual awareness and experience with a range of media
- Enhance your technical ability related to game development.
Ideal Students
Who is this for?
Year Zero is an excellent entry point into our BA (Hons) Games Development course, which may suit you if:
- you feel you will benefit from developing your skillset prior to entering an undergraduate degree course
- you will struggle to fulfil the entry requirements.
Curriculum
Year 0
Year 0, the first year of a 4-year degree, runs over one academic year during which students complete four units.
In term one, they will begin a unit in Explorative Media and Design studies. They will also complete a unit in the English Language. Which continues throughout Term 1 and 2 and provides the basic transferable skills necessary to underpin their practical and theoretical work.
In term two, students commence their Specialist Study unit and engage in a series of projects designed to broaden their chosen discipline knowledge and skills in Games Design. These will become more challenging as they move into term three to start the Final Major Project.
Year 1
Students are introduced to the fundamentals of game programming, architecture and the relevant media skills essential for game development.
Throughout the year, students learn the practices and conventions of industry protocols alongside personal development attributes required for success while at university and in the world of work.
Year 2
Progressing from the essential foundations of game development, the focus in Year 2 moves towards the specific technical skills necessary for game development across the range of creative possibilities.
Here, students will begin growing into their desired specialism – facilitated by a range of elective pathways that will see collaboration with students and professionals from related and other academic disciplines.
Year 3
Students in their final year are given the opportunity to undertake a significant and sustained individual development project.
This will pull together all the previous experience strands of their study, and provide the tailoring of a portfolio of work that will act as your professional calling card into the industry.
Admissions
Career Opportunities
You’ll graduate with a solid range of sought-after skills and a comprehensive portfolio ready for a career in any area of the gaming industry, including design, production, artwork, development, analysis and research.
Graduates can go on to pursue a number of careers within the gaming industries, these include but are not limited to:
- Games developers
- Games environment design
You will graduate with strong conceptual skills and technical expertise. Graduates work in areas such as typography, editorial design, packaging, information design, wayfinding, exhibition design, UX/UI, art direction and design strategy.