Course description
COURSE CONTENT
Two decades ago, electronic games were a curiosity; now they are one of the most popular forms of entertainment. For a number of years the computer games industry has made more money than the film industry, and as games become more commonplace, the demand grows for people with the knowledge and skills to design and produce them.
The department has a long-held interest in computer games and the technologies used to create them. We have active research groups in Dependable, Reliable, Intelligent Systems and in Simulation and Visualization, whose work is directly applicable to the games development industry.
This MSc combines a broad introduction to game development with an in-depth study of the technical aspects of game programming and production. You study advanced programming methods and apply them to computer game problems. These include real-time graphics, artificial intelligence and the use of applied physics. In addition, you gain an understanding of and the ability to implement fundamental algorithms relating to 3D graphics, (including ray tracing, radiosity, lighting, shadows, reflections, transparency, and texture mapping and rendering) and specific programming methods for different gaming platforms.
The personal computer or games console is generally the most advanced item of technology in the family home, and game software uses this advanced hardware to its maximum capabilities. Computer games programming experts are therefore highly regarded in software engineering, and graduates from this MSc have a skill set which is in demand across the software development industry and technology sector.
CORE MODULES
-C++ Programming and Design
-Real-Time Computer Graphics
-Game Development Architectures
-Simulation and Concurrency
-Advanced Rendering and AI for Games.
-Development Project
ASSESSMENT
Students are assessed through exams, portfolios, programming and design exercises and team work. The MSc includes a project dissertation.
SPECIAL FEATURES
The programme is studied over one year on a fulltime basis and consists of two semesters of taught modules followed by an individual project/dissertation.
Our Masters programmes are accredited by the British Computer Society.
The course starts in September each year.
RESEARCH AREAS
Research within the department is organised into two research groups: Dependable, Reliable, Intelligent Systems (DRIS) and Simulation and Visualization (SIMVIS). See the ‘Research’ section for more details about these areas.
