FdA Game Art

Bristol Zoo Gardens remains open to students.

You will have private access to the zoo grounds during lectures, to carry out your observations and data collection, but as more animals are moved, this will gradually be carried out at the Wild Place Project. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Course Description

This programme will develop your professional skills and knowledge required to design innovative and captivating game content. You will focus on both the typical visual elements of games design alongside studying emerging and specialists areas such as concept art, modelling and UI. By combining creativity and emerging and established technology you’ll be part of a degree with innovation, creativity and employability at its heart. You'll start by exploring a range of techniques and design concepts required for the ever expanding roles within the industry, before taking a lead on life projects and briefs to bring your ideas to life.

Unlimited Creativity

Working with industry-standard software, methods and pipelines, you'll develop your drawing and design skills before applying these skills to 3D modelling and related elements alongside concept, character and environment art. As you grow your technical skills and usage of professional tools, you'll start to create creative assets that contribute to a live brief, collaborative project or final major project. During independent study you will be expected to engage with essential research and prepare and complete assignments. In your final year emphasis is placed on your personal and professional development, communication and entrepreneurial skills so that you are well equipped to enter a diverse and rapidly changing industry.

"I cannot recommend this degree highly enough"

"I truly believe I would not have prospered and succeeded to find that course that I am now so enthusiastic about without the constant aid and support of the lecturers as well as the abundance of support that the University Centre has to offer. I like that the classes are smaller as it allows the friendly lecturers to focus on us as individuals and explain what is needed to pass in full detail whilst leaving enough room to research on our own. I cannot recommend this degree highly enough."

Kyle

FdA Game Art

Study Modules

GA4001

Creative Design, Development and Production Techniques for Video Games

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This module introduces you to the theory and practice of the design, development, and production of video games, including physical prototyping, digital prototyping, and the initial stages of the production pipeline. You will develop your study skills and wider independent research skills by investigating games, genres and technical methods. You'll learn about the legal and technical framework for games, their regulatory bodies and associated organisations. Through lectures, seminars and workshops, you will develop a mixture of technical skills as well as a solid understanding of the theories and principles of design, to enable you to develop successful and compelling game-play experiences. You'll be working in a creative environment, where specialists and peers will regularly view and review your work. The module is assessed by a written assignment and a practical assessment.

Assignment: 30% (1,500 words or equivalent)

Practical Assessment: 70 % (3,000 words or equivalent)

GA4002

Introduction to Rigging and Animation for Video Games?

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This module gives you the opportunity to acquire the key skills and underpinning knowledge to rig simple objects, bipeds and quadrupeds. You will develop your skills so that you can produce 3D computer animations using a mixture of theoretical techniques, evaluative techniques, and practical skills, using industry-standard software. You'll be introduced to a range of industry-standard tools and techniques for planning and developing animated 3D content for video games, utilising your own creativity and ingenuity throughout, to develop more responsive and user friendly 3D animation for games. The module is assessed by two short portfolios, which will help you start building a professional portfolio throughout the programme.

Portfolio: 50% (2250 words or equivalent)

GA4003

Introduction to 3D Modelling and Game Graphics

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This module will introduce you to industry-standard modelling software and 3D modelling techniques including texture mapping, scene lighting and material editing/setup. You will have opportunities to develop your creative approach by using reference images to create initial concept drawings which will then be developed into models. By the end of the module you will have a collection of in-game 3D models and textures that form a portfolio of work demonstrating a broad range of skills relevant to 3D modelling and texturing. The module is assessed by two short portfolios.

Portfolio: 50% (2250 words or equivalent)

GR4001

Fundamentals of Game Art

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This module introduces you to the design, development and production of digital video games, including 2D, and the initial stages of the production pipeline process. You will enhance your knowledge and understanding of video games and genres as well as development and production methodologies. You will undertake a broad range of traditional drawings, primarily from life, to develop fundamental anatomy, depth and perspective drawing techniques. This module includes an introduction to industry standard software and equipment, as well as the use of traditional art tools.

Portfolio: 70% (3150 words or equivalent)

Written Essay: 30% (1350 words or equivalent)

SH5003

Work Experience

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This module will give students an insight into the professional responsibilities and practical expectations required of practitioners in the creative industries. Building upon investigation of workplaces and through seminar discussion, students should identify an appropriate context for a work placement / placements, undertake their placement / placements and then critically reflect on their experience and any changes to their future goals. This module will initially introduce students to a range of industrial/professional issues for employment in the creative industries through a series of seminar lectures and lectures by visiting professionals, building on knowledge already gained. Topics will include: professional and environmental ethics, legislation and opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship. Students will also consider opportunities for educational progression. They will undertake a body of research into their chosen profession in order to prepare for future progression.

Assignment: 75% (2,250 words or equivalent)

Assignment: 25% (750 words or equivalent)

GR5001

Technical Art

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Technical Artists are the bridge between the art and programming teams; the role encompasses many advanced game art techniques such as smart materials, particle effects, lighting and post-processing. This module will introduce you to essential skills in modern game development, which when mastered, are competitively sought after, particularly by larger companies and triple-A studios. this module can include many different concepts, including but not limited to: Materials / Shaders, Video Game FX Creation, Optimization, Lighting and development of tools used in assist creation. Technical Art requires a fundamental understanding of how 3D computer graphics work and how games engines render an image to a screen. You'll be able to research a wide range of different / new technologies and techniques to come up with solutions to technical art-based problems.

Portfolio: 100% (3000 words or equivalent)

GR5003

Game Environments

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In this module, you will be given the opportunity to refine and expand your skills by designing and creating a small game environment or diorama. You will explore more advanced processes for environment conceptualisation and production. You'll create higher end works, compared to your previous study within this subject area, by delving into modular level design, photobashing, and terrain tools. By the end of this module, you will be able to plan, design and develop a game environment using industry standard techniques and practises. Skills that should be practised?include; rapid concepting, advanced modelling and texturing, and terrain generation techniques. You will also apply art and design theory to game assets and concept art, enabling effective presentation for the purposes of professional development, as part of a portfolio of work.

POrtfolio: 100% (3000 words or equivalent)

GR5002

Advanced Game Art Practices

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In this module, you will have the opportunity to refine your skills and expand your knowledge of industry practices, by exploring more advanced techniques of visual communication and game art creation. You will operate with limited supervision and apply your own artistic direction. You'll use peer and tutor feedback to assist in visual problem solving and adapting to an intended audience. The module will guide you in the continued, extensive practice of both traditional and digital art techniques, culminating in the creation of a refined, skilfully developed collection of portfolio pieces.? By the end of this module, you will have a command of specialised Game Art techniques and processes. You'll build upon the art skills acquired during your first year, by incorporating broader fundamental concepts such; as colour theory, composition, and design methods into your work. You'll adapt and use more advanced industry tools and software to supplement and enhance your creative capability, for example using 3D software packages to efficiently block out digital paintings or painting over 3D models.

Portfolio: 70% (4200 words or equivalent)

Written Essay: 30% (1800 words or equivalent)

GA5005

Sector-based Work Placement

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You will have opportunities to enhance your developing creative, technical and professional position in the market by identifying a suitable work placement that will facilitate reflections relating to employability skills. You will take part in a placement of 20 hours and produce a Personal Development Plan (PDP). This will include communication, team work, organisation, independence, initiative, technical skills and wider employability skills, based on feedback and personal reflections whilst on placement. To facilitate your placement experience, sessional content will prepare you for a career in the gaming sector with a clear focus on professional standards, including the Independent Games Developers Association (TIGA), the Business Software Alliance (BSA), the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) and the Pan European Game Industry PEGI) and underpinning knowledge of fundamental aspects of independent work and employment such as an understanding of Gantt charts and budgeting. By the end of this module you will have acquired valuable professional skills and a comprehensive portfolio that can be used for progression into industry or further studies. ; Although it is the responsibility of the student to identify and manage their work placement, your progress will be overseen by a tutor.

Portfolio: 100% (3000 words or equivalent)

GA5003

Extended 3D Modelling, Sculpting, Lighting and Rendering

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By the end of this module you will have further developed the skills introduced in module GA4003, including lighting and rendering methods.?There will be a clear focus on low to hi-poly asset modelling and texturing for game content. You will use these techniques to create sculpted organic components in the building of video game characters.This module will introduce you to industry standard modelling software and 3D modelling techniques including texture mapping, scene lighting and material editing/setup. You will have opportunities to develop your creative approach by using reference images to create initial concept drawings which will then be developed into models. By the end of the module you will have a collection of in-game 3D models and textures that form a portfolio of work demonstrating a broad range of skills relevant to 3D modelling and texturing.

Portfolio: 50% (3000 words or equivalent)

GA5002

Emergent Technology

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You'll develop your research abilities and investigative skills in the context of emergent technologies and industry trends. Exploring the production pipeline and processes, you will have an opportunity to explore various innovations in the sector. This reflects industry structure and expectations in both content and practical application. Following a period of broad experimentation and negotiating with your team and your tutors - you will identify a specific technology for further research. You will select appropriate methodologies to investigate, and experiment with it, and draw conclusions based on your project findings. Your team will then create an innovative aspect of a game based on your research and experimentation. You will also enhance your prospects for employment through studying the legal and social contexts for your chosen emergent technology.

Portfolio: 100% (3,000 words or equivalent)

There are no modules at this level.

Course Video

Stephen Barton

Programme Lead: Game Design, Development, Art & Production, CDO Get Kraken Games

*Programme subject to validation by the University of Gloucestershire

APPLICATIONS OPEN IN SEPTEMBER 2023 APPLY ON UCAS_(FULL-TIME)APPLY ONLINE_(FULL-TIME)APPLY ONLINE_{(PART-TIME ONLY)}

Campus:

University Centre WISE

Level:

Foundation Degree

Full-time Duration:

2 Years

Full-time Fee (Per Year):

£7,995

Part-time Duration:

4 Years

Part-time Fee (Per Year):

£3,995

UCAS Application Code:

GA80

UCAS Entry Tariff:

Entry Requirements

The minimum UCAS tariff entry points from a level 3 qualification, GCSE Maths and English at grade C/4. Please submit a portfolio to be reviewed by Programme Lead. Once your portfolio has been reviewed, you may be invited for an interview. Mature students over 24 without the relevant qualifications will be required to demonstrate previous experience and evidence of academic ability.

CONTACT ADMISSIONS

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