Transform your passion for games into a career with leadership from industry pros

Harness and hone the skills to plan, develop, and implement immersive and interactive video games in Unreal Engine. Following industry-standard workflows and practices, master game development tools and techniques and understand relevant concepts and theories that will help you evolve and thrive along with the industry.

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Why study game design at Bletchley Institute, powered by CG Spectrum:

• Gain the creative, technical, interpersonal, and conceptual skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the industry
  
• Study with more flexibility (100% online)
  
• Create industry-level work that recruiters will notice
  
• Graduate in less time than a typical degree - 2 years instead of 3
• Join a global community of 4000+ students, grads, and industry artists

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This degree is offered through CG Spectrum Institute. CG Spectrum Institute (Provider ID PRV12023) is registered with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), ensuring students receive a high-quality education and graduate with reputable qualifications.

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Game Design Major

An industry-approved curriculum to help launch your creative career

The Bachelor of Game Development majoring in game design will teach you how to create a game from scratch using industry-standard software. You will also build vital interpersonal skills and industry knowledge in both a practical and conceptual capacity.

• Explore combat and action gameplay development for PC and consoles.
• Implement advanced interactive level blueprints in Unreal Engine and script complex artificial intelligence behaviours for user interaction.
• Discover industry-standard practices, procedures, and workflows.
• Build valuable interpersonal skills such as communication and problem-solving.
  
• Dedicated time to building your professional showreel and getting job-ready.

The below course outline reflects a full-time course load, which comprises three subjects per trimester and three trimesters per year over a two-year duration. Part-time study options are also available.

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Course Pathways

Develop industry foundations with our 6 month Diploma, or continue into the full Bachelor's Degree to build more comprehensive skills.

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Curriculum

By industry. For Industry.

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Trimester 01

Game Design Foundations ‍

This subject introduces you to game design theory, the core elements of video games, and the design principles and processes that make digital games unique, playable, and successful. You’ll explore diverse game genres, examining their unique attributes and playability, and investigate how game platforms and the formats for game consumption impact design possibilities and constraints while also developing written, visual, and playable concepts.

Film and Games Principles, Concepts and Innovations: Learning from History

A firm grasp of the historical foundations, theories, innovations, and principles shaping contemporary practices is vital for film and game artists. This subject uses case studies and documented evidence to delve into the historical, social, technical, and theoretical factors impacting the creative industries. You will analyze how innovations and technologies from one sector (e.g., games) are applied to the other (e.g., film), driving continuous transformation and progress.

Industry Overview: Pipeline and Production Processes

Game designers require a thorough understanding of production pipelines and processes to ensure efficient and timely project development. This subject introduces you to essential terminology, frameworks, and stages of these creative fields, emphasizing their interconnectedness. Examine the entire production journey, from inception to distribution, and delve into workflow frameworks unique to animation, VFX, and game studios, facilitating industry comparisons.

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Trimester 02

Designing and Implementing Game Systems

Art and Design Concepts and Principles

Delve into the theories and principles of color, light, and composition and their relevance in art movements, film, and video games. Analyze compositions and artworks, examining the integration of line, shape, space, depth, content, and style, recognizing their significance in creative endeavors. Through collaborative online discussions, you will get to compare and contrast historical and contemporary artworks, shedding light on the evolution of art and design theories and practices.

Communicate! Mode, Purpose and Context

This subject offers a broad overview of professional, ethical, and culturally sensitive communication in both oral and written contexts. Explore the significance of mode, context, and purpose, and investigate communication theories, models, and frameworks for facilitating interactions, transactions, and critiques. You'll gain insights into paralanguage, responsive listening, active collaboration, and delivering and receiving respectful feedback.

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Diploma Exit

Students can choose to exit the bachelor's degree after trimester 02 with a diploma or continue their studies through to trimester 06 and earn their bachelor's degree.

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Trimester 03

Action Gameplay Development

Learn to design and create AAA combat and action games for PC and console. Merging the theory of design for fast-paced gameplay with an understanding of the principles and processes associated with creating a game vision in Unreal engine, you will be tasked with creating an elaborate and detailed gameplay prototype for a first-person combat game. You’ll have opportunities to analyze what contributes to player enjoyment by focusing on game mechanics, player quests, enemy intelligence, and level layout.

Concepts and Principles of Story and Visual Narrative

Discover the ways stories are crafted through single, multiple, or moving images. Beginning with the origins of storytelling, you will examine the fundamental concepts and principles that underpin visual storytelling. Literary elements like story arcs, hero's journey, Aristotle's three-act structure, linear and non-linear plots, visual metaphors, motifs, and symbolism are explored, and you'll get to analyze plot structure and character development.

Identifying and Solving Problems

In Identifying and Solving Problems, you will tackle everyday challenges with a foundation in theoretically sound problem-solving. Delve into the principles of creative reasoning, encompassing argument presentation and addressing unconscious bias. You will also explore frameworks for analyzing and reviewing artistic works, along with identifying and resolving creative, technical, and ethical issues in creative projects.

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Trimester 04

Level Design Pre-Production

Delve into advanced level design, integrating complex player movement, expanded combat mechanics, and detailed quests. Explore the conceptual frameworks underlying game playability, user interface navigation, visual coding, and level design theory. Focusing on level and game design, you will craft visually stunning and engaging levels with photorealistic terrains, real-world lighting and weather systems, and 'kitbashing' assets for rapid gameplay development.

Concepts and Principles of Lighting and Cinematography

Delve into two essential elements of compelling storytelling in film and games: cinematography and lighting. Cinematography and lighting are used to evoke specific moods or aesthetics; cinematography employs shot framing and camera angles, while lighting uses direction, quality, color, and environment. You will study the theoretical concepts and principles of lighting and cinematography, applying them to visual storytelling and photography in both real-world and digital contexts.

Managing Projects and Creative Assets

Realizing and delivering a film or game — on time and within budget — requires strategic thinking and strong organizational skills. Build your knowledge in complex management processes, asset pipelines, and project management systems that streamline the delivery of complex creative projects. You'll also study the processes and tools used to pass digital information through the pipeline, including how assets and shot sequences are managed.

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Trimester 05

Level Design Production

Build an understanding of what makes game environments feasible, readable to the player, and aesthetically pleasing to explore. Study the underlying principles of playability and concepts relating to artificial intelligence as well as user navigation through large maps, interiors, and exteriors. You will also develop a range of NPCs—non-playable characters—to interact with the player on a level and script complex artificial intelligence behaviors for user interaction.

Leading with Integrity

This subject delves into self-assessment, team dynamics, conflict management, performance optimization, and effective leadership. With a creative business emphasis, examine ethical, inclusive practices and their impact on the performance of a business. You will also analyze case studies, hypothetical scenarios, and leadership strengths and weaknesses, learning from others' experiences to define success for individuals and companies.

Establishing and Sustaining Your Business

Gain valuable insights into the financial and legal obligations and responsibilities associated with running creative businesses and projects. Examine case studies and simulated scenarios representative of sole trading enterprises, partnerships, and large studios. You will also learn about budgeting and finance, taxation, superannuation, cashflows, profit and loss, bidding, IP, trademarking processes, and how to quantify your creative value.

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Trimester 06

Game Design Capstone Portfolio

Throughout your degree, you will have built a comprehensive body of theoretical, technical, creative, and cognitive disciplinary knowledge and skills pertaining to game design and development. In Capstone Portfolio, you'll reflect critically on and review your catalog of work to plan, edit, and curate your best pieces into a cohesive portfolio/showreel that showcases your professional, artistic, and technical abilities and helps you confidently prepare to apply for roles in the video game industry.

Stepping Into Industry: Becoming a Proactive Practitioner

Adaptability and openness to new technologies are crucial in the dynamic industry of film and games. In Stepping Into Industry, you will employ a PESTLE (political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental) analysis to explore current and future trends in the creative sector and identify potential career paths. You are encouraged to reflect on their strengths, values, and adaptability, helping shape your future career choices.

Marketing Yourself and Your Work

Learn essential marketing concepts and how to shape a personal brand that aligns with your beliefs and values in order to stand out in a global digital market, whether working as a freelancer or at a studio. Acquire an understanding of target markets, customer needs, integrated marketing, handling challenges, and exploring motivations for success. You will also gain insights into managing the diverse, cross-cultural landscape of film and games.