Games Production – Level 3

Required qualifications

For the Level 3 Diploma and Extended Diploma you will need 4 GCSE’s at a Grade 4 or more including maths and English.

What skills will I develop?

This course offers you a pathway into this exciting career and you will learn a multitude of skills that include:

• Game engine editing skills (Unreal Engine)
• Graphic design skills (Adobe Photoshop)
• Audio production skills (Adobe Audition / Cakewalk)
• Programming in Blueprints (Unreal Engine (Visual Scripting)
• 3D Modelling
• Game Design Fundamentals
• Video Production skills (OBS & Adobe Premier Pro)
• Individual and group projects

Careers

#CreateYourCareer with us and learn the skills needed to become a programmer, indie developer, sound designer, UI/UX designer, level designer or technical director within the games industry.

There are 120 active games companies in the West Midlands with 1995 active games companies in the UK. Computer games contribute £2.1bn to the UK economy with the creative and digital sectors contributing over £269bn.

In the UK the video games industry employs 27,000 people, 16,000 (59%) of whom are aged 16-39, with the remaining 11,000 people (41%) aged 40 and over. With over 3.6 million people employed in the wider creative and digital sectors.

Work experience

Our dedicated work experience team are here to help and support you in finding a meaningful work experience opportunity.

Recent studies have shown that employers consider work experience to be extremely desirable. Whilst qualifications are hugely important, employers also require candidates to have skills and experience necessary for the workplace.

Preparing you for the working world is very important to us, so that you may be successful in your next step.

Work experience placements provide you with the opportunity to develop your skills; have a better understanding of the industry you want to work in and give you an insight into what it is like to be employed. They can also be great fun and very rewarding and you may even be offered a great reference, a part–time job, holiday working hours, apprenticeships or full-time jobs.

Once you start your course you will be provided with further information about work experience programmes, but it is never too early for you to start thinking about work experience placements and finding an employer who will offer you an opportunity.

Work experience is an opportunity for you to gain experience in your chosen career path in order to develop relevant skills. Equally, it also helps you to acquire employability skills, attitudes and behaviours that are essential for future employment. There will be an opportunity for you to reflect on your performance during work experience and you will receive some form of reference/feedback from the employer.

English and maths

If you have not achieved your intended grade for maths and English, you will have the opportunity to continue studying these at the college.

You will also be developing these skills within your study programme. Some examples of extending your English and maths skills include:

Maths

• Learning how to code using various variable types including integers and floating point numbers
• Working with audio production using BPM measurements and various time signatures
• Using the Unreal Game engine – using visual programming blue prints as well as the use of x, y plotting.
• Working in 3 space (X, Y and Z)

English

• Research skills and essay writing are key attributes that will be used extensively throughout the course.
• Presentation skills will also be sued throughout certain course projects. Therefore, your communication and listening skills will be utilised and enhanced as you progress.

Other important information

When joining the college, you will be given free access to Adobe Create Cloud with access to software such as Adobe Premiere Pro CC, Photoshop, After Effects.

You will be using Industry software, Unreal Engine, and will learn how to develop your own blueprints and games.

You will also have access to the college’s facilities such as the video studio with green screen and gallery, music studios full HD cameras and equipment.

You will be required to bring the following equipment to College with you.

• Pens and pencils
• Sketchbooks as you will be designing and sketching out ideas
• Headphones (with a 35mm audio jack connection)
• A USB stick or portable hard drive are not essential but may prove useful.

 Note: Level 3 is a 2 Year Study Programme.