Games Design and Film and Television Studies

Description

This course is aimed at students who want to develop a comprehensive understanding of the factors which shape the games industry and the techniques and principles used in the design of games, while at the same time gaining a broader understanding of film, television and screen-based media. You will have the opportunity to design and analyse digital games as well as studying Film and TV Studies at a high level and exploring the ways in which film and television relate to history, culture and identity.
About the College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences at Brunel The College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences at Brunel includes single and joint honours degree courses in English, Journalism, Music and Creative Music Technology, Film and Television Studies and Modern Drama. This is a vibrant, friendly and creative place to study. Research conducted by staff provides the basis for much of our teaching, ensuring that modules are connected to debates and issues that are current within these interdisciplinary areas.
Each programme develops basic skills within its discipline but allows you to explore your own particular interests through a range of optional modules.

Aims

Taught by a team who specialise in research into the theoretical analysis of digital games or who are professionals in the games design industry, this new degree will introduce you to ideas and practices at the forefront of game studies and game design.

Your second subject will also provide ideas and concepts that you can use in your study and design of games. The primary aim of the Film and Television Studies course is to provide you with the conceptual and theoretical skills necessary to engage with film and television products, and to understand how they work at aesthetic, social-cultural and institutional levels.

Detailed Course Facts

• GBP 9000 Year (EEA)
• GBP 13000 Year (Non-EEA)

• English

Course Content

In each year of your degree, you will study theory modules aimed at developing your analytical understanding of the cultural and social significance of games and their historical contexts. Design modules will aid your ability to produce creative, realisable strategies in relation to set briefs. Application modules will provide you with a comprehensive knowledge of the communication skills currently used in the games industry, including presentation and prototyping skills. You will also study a selection of core and optional modules from your chosen second subject.

Games Design

At each level you take modules in:

• Theory, which develops your understanding of methods and approaches used in the analysis of games, their cultural and social significance, and historical contexts.
• Design, which will aid your development of creative strategies for generating game design ideas and game design projects. You undertake design projects, developing a practical understanding of creative game design.
• Application (industry relevant skills and contexts), which will provide you with a comprehensive knowledge of the skills used currently in the games industry.

Film and TV Studies You explore a range of film and television forms and the social and industrial contexts in which they are produced and consumed. You will undertake practical modules in addition to theoretical studies, and have many opportunities to explore you own ideas and interests in a programme taught by staff who have published widely in their subjects.

Typical Modules

Level 1

• Theory 1: ‘Reading’ Games – methods for, and practice of, analysing the formal components of games
• Design 1: Introduction to Game Design – practical exercises, working to set briefs
• Application 1: Methods for, and practice of, communicating design concepts and ideas
• Academic Practice
• Film Style

One module from:

• Film Practice and Theory
• Critical Methodologies
• Television Genres

Level 2

• Theory 2: Approaches to analysing games and players
• Design 2: Large game design projects, working to a brief
• Application 2: Prototyping game designs and understanding the games industry
• EITHER New Hollywood Cinema OR Television Forms and Meanings

Three modules to be selected from the following:

• Science Fictions
• British Film and Television
• The Western
• New Hollywood Cinema
• European Cinema
• Hong Kong Cinema

Level 3

• Theory 3: Socio-Cultural Contexts – analysing the social and cultural implications of games
• EITHER Major Design Project
• OR Major Theoretical Project
• OR Medium Design Project AND Medium Theoretical Project
• Film and Television Studies Project

Two modules from the following:

• American Independent Cinema
• Quality American Television
• Gender and Sexuality
• Horror
• Media Freedom and Regulation
• Third Cinema
• Analysis of Work Experience

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6.5 CAE score : 60(Grade C) TOEFL paper-based test score : 580 TOEFL iBT® test : 92

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

• GCE A-level BBB.

• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma DDM in a related subject.

• BTEC Level 3 Diploma DD in a related subject with an A-Level at grade B.

• BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma D in a related subject with A-Levels grade BB.

• International Baccalaureate Diploma 32 points.

• Access to Higher EducationDiploma Complete and pass a related subject Access course with 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2 with Merits in all units.

GCSE Mathematics grade C and GCSE English grade C are also required.

Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants as well as our full GCSE requirements and accepted equivalencies in place of GCSE’s.

English Language Requirements

• IELTS: 6.5 (min 5.5 in all areas)

• Pearson: 58 (51 in all subscores)

• BrunELT: 65% (min 55% in all areas)

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than Brunel University.