Careers Brief - Computer Games Design FdSc
Overview
The Foundation degree in Computer Games Design (full-time + part-time) offers you the opportunity for progression onto an Honours degree Top-up programme and direct job entry.
Computer gaming within the interactive entertainment industry, is a dynamic, fast moving and expanding market with increasing sophistication. It is essential to keep up to date with relevant software and be able to adapt to change.
A good games designer needs to be multi-talented with an all-round knowledge: technical understanding, able to use software packages and demonstrate creativity and imagination. You are likely to be working in a large multi disciplinary team and could be involved in both the initial concept design and the more lengthy development design stage. You will need to be able to effectively communicate ideas, information, problems and solutions.
A sound knowledge base of programming and gaming software is essential to get into computer games design. Despite a shortage of skills within the computer games and leisure software industry, computer gaming is a popular career and there are a large number of colleges/universities producing graduates from gaming-related courses. Few employers are able to train new entrants and without the right skills and a passion for games, you are unlikely to break into this competitive career.
Use the Resources links below for industry overview, job profiles and how to get in.
Further Study
Top-up degree programmes are designed as a direct progression from Foundation degree to Ordinary or Honours degree.
Use the HE Home link for information on the BSc (Hons) Computer Generated Imagery (Top-Up) course studied at Bournemouth & Poole College.
Other related Top-up courses:
The Arts Institute at Bournemouth 'Digital Media Production'; Doncaster College 'Illustration & Animation'; Glasgow Caledonian University 'Games Software Development'; East Lancashire Institute of Higher Education at Blackburn College 'Digital Media Design'; Leeds Metropolitan University 'Multimedia and Entertainment Technology'; University of the Arts London 'Animation' 'Interactive Games Design';
The Norwich School of Art & Design 'Games Art & Design'; University of Portsmouth 'Creative Computing Technologies'; University of Plymouth 'Computing & Games Development'; Plymouth College of Art & Design 'Design for Games'; Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication 'Animation'; University of Wolverhampton 'Computing Games Development'.
Progression to the final year of a BSc (Hons) degree is possible. Entry point would depend on your grades, experience and overlap between courses.
To find suitable courses use www.ucas.com/ (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for the UK). Use the university/college links for course details.
You will need to use UCAS to apply for courses. Contact the Course Tutor of your chosen course to find out your position, before you make your formal application.
Find out how much this will cost you. Where is your funding coming from? Use the website www.direct.gov.uk/uni/ for information on student support.
Go to the main section Further Study in this Careers Guide for more information and help.
Resources
Blitz Games Studios - for 'a career in the games industry'
Engineering and technology careers and news - read 'Games design defined'. Click on 'Jobs' for 'Jobs and careers in games'. Check out 'Role Models' and 'Job Profiles'.
www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles/
Learn Direct Careers Advice - click on 'Info Technology & Info Management' for 'Computer Games Developer' and 'Computer Games Tester'
The Sector Skills Council for the Creative Media - specialist careers information and advice for broadcast, film, video, interactive media, photo imaging and publishing.
The British Computer Society - click on 'Careers' for 'Job Profiles' see 'Games Programmer' and 'Software Engineer' (BBC). Also go to 'Careers in IT Leaflets' 'Selling Yourself' 'Your First Job'.
Graduate Prospects is the careers website for higher education students in the UK:
- Drop down 'Careers advice' and click on 'Use your qualification' for 'Your Foundation degree...what next?'
- Drop down 'Communities' and click on 'Publishing, media and marketing'
- Drop down 'Jobs & work' and click on 'What jobs would suit me?' for Prospects Planner
www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u/
Jobs4U Careers Database - click on 'Job Families & Articles' and go to 'Design, Arts and Crafts' 'Computers and IT' 'Media, Print and Publishing' for job profiles on 'Animator' 'Computer Games Designer' 'Technical Illustrator' '3D Visual Effects Artist' 'Interactive Media Designer'
Careers database and links to jobs nationally. Search by either clicking on 'careers' and choose a category or type in job title.
Games Industry Online Careers Magazine designed for those with little or no games industry experience
Games Industry online magazine with news, features, jobs - click on 'Education'
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/computergames.htm
University of Kent Careers Service - 'I want to work in...Computer Games'
http://targetjobs.co.uk/graduate-jobs/
GTI publication Graduate jobs and careers intelligence - go to 'Careers intelligence' - Sector profiles 'IT and telecoms' for 'Games development'
Inside Careers publication graduate jobs and career guide
Hobsons publication Graduate Employment and Training
The Global Game Industry Network magazine online
Computing magazine online
Computer Weekly magazine online
IT Jobs Watch tracking the IT Market
The Independent Games Developers Association representing games software developers in the UK and Europe
International Game Developers Association
Blizzard Entertainment - a major maker of computer games. Go to 'How to get a job' and look at the profiles of employment opportunities.
Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association
