"Britain has always been acknowledged as a world leader in the field of computer games development and in order to continue and maintain this reputation, it is vital that future employees receive the correct education and training. I am convinced that this MSc course from Hull University will provide students with the right advantages to gain entry into the exciting and rewarding world of Computer games development." - Mike Rawlinson, Deputy Director General (ELSPA) European Leisure Software Publishers Association.
Aims
The aims of the MSc in Games Programming are:i. To provide students with a broad education in computer game design, development and technology, with a special emphasis on the programming of computer games.
ii. To equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue a successful career in industries specialising in the creation and distribution of leisure and entertainment computing technologies.
iii. To use computer games development methods and techniques as a vehicle for introducing the theoretical, intellectual, creative and dynamic aspects of computing.
Objectives
During the last twenty years,
electronic games have gone from a curiosity to one of the most popular
forms of entertainment for children and adults alike. For a number of
years the computer games industry has made more money than the film
industry; about £4.03 Billion in 2008 in this country alone.
As games become more commonplace and more accepted, the demand grows
for people with the knowledge and skills to design and produce games.
Developing computer games is now a complex process. A 3D computer game
generally takes over 12 months to produce and costs around £1.5 million
to produce. Experts from many disciplines are required to produce a
game: these include programmers, mathematicians, physicists, artists
and musicians/sound engineers.
The MSc is designed to give a broad introduction to games development
combined with an in depth study of the technical aspects of game programming
and production. Students will learn advanced programming methods and
apply them to computer game problems. These will include real time graphics,
artificial intelligence and the use of applied physics. In addition
to these specialist game related areas students should understand, and
be able to implement many fundamental algorithms relating to 3D graphics,
including ray tracing, radiosity, lighting, shadows, reflections, transparency,
texture mapping and rendering. Specific programming methods for different
gaming platforms will be covered.
It is generally true that the personal computer or games console is
the most advanced item of technology kept in the family home. The software
that uses this advanced hardware to its maximum capabilities are the
games that are played. For these reasons experts in computer games programming
are highly regarded in the field of software engineering and graduates
from this computer games MSc. will have a skill set in demand across
the whole of the software development industry and technology sector.
The Department of Computer Science has had an interest in computer games
and the technologies used to create them for many years. We have active
research groups in Neural, Emergent and
Agent Technologies and Simulation
and Visualization which are directly applicable to the games development
industry.
