Why choose Games Design and Development BSc at Middlesex?

Do you want to design and balance game mechanics to create emergent dynamic player experiences? On this hands-on course, you'll be making games with a mix of digital and paper prototyping and planning from week one.

Design and script games from day one. On this highly practical course, you'll be making games with a mix of digital and paper prototyping and planning. You will be introduced to a range of tools for bringing your ideas into reality, including Adventure Game Studio, RPGMaker, RenPy, Unity and Unreal.

As well as technical skills you will develop the communications and entrepreneurial skills needed to put together and manage a multi-disciplined team. You will get plenty of hands-on experience and opportunities for collaborating with other Middlesex students from our 3D animation, art and design, music, computing and graphics departments as part of our coordinated workshop activities.

You will learn design communication skills including writing, scripting, prototyping and storytelling. And learn the concepts and history of game design which will build confident communication skills so that you can explain what makes existing games successful and what players do in games that keeps them playing. You’ll also learn critical and analytical techniques for observing playtests, offering peer feedback, and iterating ideas.

There will be opportunities for experimental design to develop your ability to evaluate and adapt technologies to create new game experiences.

What you will gain

The games industry is complex, diverse and spans a variety of old and new technologies from print to computer software to 3D printed game pieces. This BSc gives you the skills and knowledge you need to become a successful games developer and designer in this fast-changing industry.

You will learn how to communicate a detailed game idea professionally across a range of modes including writing, prototyping, diagramming, speaking. We will develop your experience with a variety of game engines and teach you how to use them to produce digital prototypes to match industry briefs. You will gain hands-on experience of creating and publishing games using surprising mixtures of technologies and gameplay design

We'll help you build your portfolio, setting you up for a successful career in a range of creative industries. This degree's mix of in-person and online teaching will prepare you for the world of work.

You’ll develop your employability skills and industry connections with a range of work placements and internship opportunities. Year after year, students from this programme produce fantastic, high-quality game prototypes.

Take a look at some of the games created by our students (Itch.io) past and present.

Global experiences at Middlesex

We offer unique global experiences which could include studying part of your degree abroad and doing a placement or volunteering in another country, as well as many international opportunities in London. You'll build your cultural awareness and understanding and get a competitive edge in the job market. You may even qualify for grant funding under the Turing Scheme. Find out more about how studying at Middlesex will increase your global experience.

What you will learn

You will learn key technical skills such as programming, game engine scripting and technical game design and prototyping. You will also learn how to effectively communicate and present your experimental game ideas. This will involve developing skills in creating concept documents, pitching game proposals, and incorporating feedback from peers and industry professionals.

Careers

How can the Game Design and Development BSc support your career?

This degree equips you with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive as a game designer in a dynamic industry. Through hands-on experience, you will develop a portfolio that will set you up for a successful career in a range of creative industries.

Graduate job roles

This degree opens up a wide variety of different career options, including technical game designer, gameplay designer, level designer, interaction designer, app designer, developer and programmer.

Graduate employers

Graduates from the course have gone into a range of roles throughout the gaming and creative industries:

• Junior Open World Designer at CDProjeckt Red
• Game Designer at Outplay Entertainment
• Game Developer at Trick27
• Level Designer at Pixel Foundation
• QA Tester at Rockstar
• Account Assistant at PlayStation
• Assistant Producer at Square Enix

Transferable skills

This degree's mix of in-person and online teaching will prepare you for the distributed nature of the world of work. You will gain experience and skills in management and team collaboration.

MDXworks

Our employability service, MDXworks will launch you into the world of work from the beginning of your course, with placements, projects and networking opportunities through our 1000+ links with industry and big-name employers in London and globally.

Our dedicated lifetime career support, like our business start-up support programme and funding for entrepreneurs, has put us in the top 10 UK universities for students who want to be CEOs and entrepreneurs (Hitachi, 2021).

MDXcelerator Student Start-Up Support

Want to be your own boss? You'll have the chance to pitch your business to gain mentoring and grants of up to £15,000.

Global network

You’ll study with students from 122 countries who’ll hopefully become part of your global network. And after you graduate, we'll still support you through our alumni network to help you progress in your chosen career.

Work placements

Placements and internships can greatly improve your future job prospects after you graduate. They usually boost your confidence and academic results by giving you the opportunity to practice what have learned in a professional setting.

Our specialist employability service will help you find placement opportunities.