Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computer Games Development CW208

Department of Computing & Networking

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Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computer Games Development CW208

What is the Course about?

Games development is one of the most exciting areas of software development that you can work in. This course will provide people with all the skills they need to become professional games software developers. Students will develop skills and expertise in areas such as software development (software design and programming), game design, graphics programming, modelling, simulation and animation, and will have produced several complete game concepts in a playable form. Graduates of this course will be able to develop games software for all the major gaming platforms, including PC, console (e.g. X-Box 360) and mobile (iPhone/iPad, Android, and Windows Phone 7).

What will I be able to do when I finish the course?

The games industry is a multi-billion euro industry and it is expected to increase even more over the next few years. There are excellent employment opportunities for computer game programmers to find work with game publishers or game development studios at home and abroad. Students will also be able to fulfill any roles normally filled by graduates of computing or software engineering degrees if they so wish.

Skills

Students develop for a range of platforms including console (e.g. Xbox 360), PC and mobile (e.g. Android and Windows Phone 7).

Technologies covered are relevant to the needs of industry today and include:

Languages such as C#, C++, Java, Javascipt, Python and HTML 5;
Engines such as Ogre3D, Havok and PHysX;
Frameworks such as XNA, Open GL and DirectX.

Students have the opportunity to make their own technology selection for the final year project. Some examples include iOS (iPhone/iPad development), PSP development, many games engines (e.g. Unreal SDK, CryEngine 3) and development with peripherals (e.g. Kinect, 3D glasses etc.).

What follow-on study opportunities are available?

Graduates of this programme can progress to postgraduate study at either Masters or Doctoral level.

What exemptions will I receive?

Graduates will be eligible to join various professional computing bodies, eg. IEEE, ACM, ICS.

What subjects will I study?

Year1	Year 2
Mandatory Subjects: Computer Games Computer Graphics Applied Mathematics Programming Computer Architecture	Mandatory Subjects: Programming 3D Graphics and Audio I Games Engineering I Applied Physics I Human Computer Interaction Animation

Year 3	Year 4
Mandatory Subjects: 3D Graphics and Audio II Applied Physics II Project I Programming for Game Devices Web Development & Databases Data Structures & Algorithms Industrial Placement	Mandatory Subjects: Games Engineering II On-line Gaming Technologies Real World Modelling and Simulation Artificial Intelligence for Games Project II

What are the minimum entry requirements?

Leaving Certificate:2 subjects at Higher Level grade C3 or better. 4 subjects at Ordinary Level grade D3 or better. Subjects must include: Mathematics at Ordinary Level grade B3 or better and English or Irish at Ordinary level grade D3 or better.

Mature applicants will be interviewed and assessed on an individual basis.

Special Features:

This course was developed with Microsoft, the makers of the X-Box®. This is the only degree course in Gaming that Microsoft has helped to develop and given its backing to. This course also includes a six-month work placement.