BSc Computer Games Technology

Abdennour El RhalibiSchool of Computing and Mathematical

Sciences

a.elrhalibi@livjm.ac.uk

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Content

• Computer Games Industry

• Programme Motivation

• The programme structure

• Job Opportunities in UK

• The School and its facilities

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Computer Games Industry• The computer games industry has grown to become one of the world’s largest entertainment fields.

• In 1999, it passed Hollywood box-office receipts in terms of annual turnover. In the same year, Europe overtook America and Japan as the world’s largest consumer of computer games hardware and software with sales of $6.4bn.

• One quarter of Sony Corporation’s profits world-wide come from Playstation.

• The world video games market is growing at about 20% each year…

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Computer Games IndustryRapidly growing market

Source: Datamonitor, IDG

1 Includes console, PC software and online gaming

• The launch of nextgeneration consolesis the catalyst for growthin the gaming market

• Online and wireless gaming will open up newrevenue streams and market opportunities.

• Distribution by download will become commonplace,leading to higher margins for publishers

• The gaming industry will becomea global mass market

Gro

wth

dri

vers

£16.4 billion world-wide software1 gaming market in 2004

£8.2 billion world-wide software1 gaming market TODAY

Online opportunities

Next Generation consoles

Broadening demographic

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Computer Games Industry2002 - For the 1st time…

3 console platforms in the market

• 15 million already sold.

• Fastest selling electronic

consumer product ever.

• DVD and online capability.

• 200 game titles

already available.

• PS2 has sold 3 times faster

than PSX since launch.

• Launches November 2001

in US. Spring 2002

in Europe/Japan.

• DVD and online capability.

• £350 million marketing spend

• All major software developers

committed to producing

games in launch year.

• Launched in Japan. Autumn

2001 in US

Spring 2002 in Europe.

• High quality, proprietary

game portfolio.

• 8-16 year old target.

• Longest established video

games hardware company.

• GBA connectivity.

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The Programme Motivations

• BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology aims to develop professional and transferable skills in a wide range of methods, techniques and practices appropriate for the task domain of a professional computer game developer.

•The programme also aims to provide students with an education and learning experience that will equip them to operate as autonomous computing professionals.

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Current programmes offered by CMS

• HND Computing– Computing– Multimedia

• BSc (Hons)– Computer Studies– Multimedia Systems– Software Engineering– Information Systems

Management– Maths, Statistics &

Computing– Applied Statistics &

Computing– Business

Mathematics

• MSc Interactive Multimedia Systems

• MSc Computing and Information Systems

• MSc Computer Games Technology

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The programme Structure

• Four year sandwich Honours degree• Year 3 is spent in professional placement• Themes developed during studies:

– Software development– Game Architecture and Design– Multimedia authoring and development– Computer systems

• Transferable core skills

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Programme structureLevel 1

• Semester 1– Introduction to

computer systems– Introduction to

computer programming

– Personal development and IT

– Introduction to HCI – Introduction to

Games Technology – ELECTIVE

• Introduction to multimedia technology

• Semester 2– Computer architecture– Computer

programming and problem solving

– Introduction to HCI– Maths for Games I – Game Programming

Workshop I – ELECTIVE

• Introduction to computer audio

• Web Development workshop

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Programme structureLevel 2

• Semester 1– Principles of

interactive graphics– Object-oriented

systems– Data structures– Maths for Games II – Computer Games

Design – ELECTIVE

• Internet programming using Java

• Multimedia authoring

• Semester 2– Computer Animation– Object Oriented

Design for Games – Game Programming

Workshop II – Computer systems– ELECTIVE

• Multimedia applications workshop

• Systems software • Database design• Low Level

Programming

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Programme structureLevel 3 - Core modules

• Project– Run over both semesters (24 credits)

• Semester 1– Advanced Computer Games development– Advanced Computer Graphics – User Interface Design

• Semester 2– Advanced Computer Games Technology – Game Programming Workshop III

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Programme structureLevel 3 - Options

• The design of algorithms• Distributed systems• Expert systems• Software reuse• Computer networks • Computer supported co-operative working• Virtual reality• Sound as a communication medium• Multimedia networking• Multimedia development workshop • Multimedia databases

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Potential careers for graduates

• Computer games development

• Software engineering Analyst/Programmer

• Multimedia authoring• Multimedia systems

development• Web site development

• ‘Infotainment’ / ‘Edutainment’ software development

• Interactive TV development

• E-commerce development

• Interactive electronic publishing

The course prepares the graduate for a career in computer games and associated computing

technologies. Many of the skills that will be developed in the computer games programme will be applicable

in a number of complementary areas :

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Outstanding career prospects in IT

• 772,000 extra staff needed in USA during 1999

• In Europe, there will be 1.4 million more IT vacancies than staff to fill them by 2002

• Fortune Magazine estimates that 4 of the top 5 paying jobs in the next ten years will be in the IT industry

• Sandwich degree gives a 10% edge over full-time degree when applying for jobs (source JMU Careers Service)

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Job Opportunities in GamesClusters in UK

– Guildford: has the European headquarters of the largest publisher, Electronic Arts and development studios, including Lionhead Studios, Big Blue Box, Lost Toys, Mucky Foot, Simis, Creative Assembly, Criterion Studios.

– The North West (Liverpool and Manchester) has major studios such as Rage, Psygnosis-Sony and Warthog.

– The West Midlands has some of the biggest UK studios –– Codemasters, Blitz and Rare.

– Yorkshire has a number of studios such as Infogrames (formerly Gremlin) and Krisalis.

– Cambridge has Creature Labs and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.

– London has over 30 development studios plus the offices of Sony, Sega, Eidos, Hasbro and Virgin.

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Summary• Computer Games Technology is a highly

sought after discipline

• New programme provides academic grounding, practical skills and good job opportunities

• Further study prospects within the School– MSc Computer Games Technology– MPhil and PhD by research