Northumbria University

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Northumbria University

Computer Games Software Engineering Degree Programme at Northumbria University, Newcastle, England.

Contributed by: Dan Hodgson

BSc (Hons) Computer Games Software Engineering at Northumbria University combines traditional computer science disciplines with modules specifically about games development. In the main the programme is aimed at producing high quality graduates for programmer roles within the industry, backing up the subject-specifics with a broader range of computing disciplines. Introductory games design and asset production are also taught so that graduates would appreciate the jobs of those around them.

The programme is delivered over 4 years. Here is an outline of the modules studied

Year 1

  • Programming for games 1 & 2 : starting from scratch in C++ with the principles of programming, working through to development of small 2D games in DirectX
  • Maths for Computer Games 1: Trig, complex numbers, matrices, vectors, calculus and particle dynamics
  • Computer games Design: principles of good game design, nature of the industry, industry issues & ethics, Creation of a game design document
  • Relational Databases: SQL and database design using Oracle
  • Web design: HTML, Javascript, PHP etc.
  • Computer Systems Fundamentals: basic processor architecture & assembler

Year 2

  • Programming for Games 3&4: More 2D programming in DirectX, compiler writing, 3D programming on a GameCube devkits
  • Maths for Computer Games 2: Differential Equations, rigid body dynamics, Numerical techniques, 3D representations and affine transformations in 3D
  • Game Systems Architecture: Intermediate processor architecture & assembler (pong on 6800)
  • Foundations of HCI: Interaction principles, interface design, use of peripherals, presentation of information
  • System Design and Architecture: Top-down system design using UML
  • Object-oriented game development: bottom-up look at O-O design patterns for game systems using UML
  • Project Management and Professional Skills

Year 3 Industrial Placement

Year 4

  • Games Case Project: Group project creating a significant game demo
  • Advanced Architecture for Game Systems: advanced game systems architecture, including GameCube and ARM architecture.
  • Advanced Programming issues for games: An advanced module looking at relevant programming techniques for up-to-date game development. At time of writing this focuses on distributed and network programming
  • Multimedia assets for computer games: 3D modelling and video production
  • AI for computer games
  • Level 3 option module

For more information please see http://www.gamesdegree.com

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