Games Design and Creative Writing BA

About the Course

The combination of Creative Writing and Games Design is a relatively new but flourishing field.  The connection between these two disciplines—whether in novels like Tim Etchell’s The Broken World or in the increased writing quality which coupled with design and programming skills produces ever more exciting games—has never been stronger and by studying these two disciplines together you will receive a uniquely contemporary education which will increase your employability and put you to the forefront of a new and expanding field.

This course is aimed at students who want to develop a comprehensive understanding of the factors which shape the games industry and the techniques and principles used in the design of games, in addition to developing their creative skills through the analysis, interpretation and creation of literary texts. You will have the opportunity to design and analyse digital games as well as studying Creative Writing at a high level and developing an informed understanding of current debates in the subject.

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Aims

Taught by a team who specialise in research into the theoretical analysis of digital games or who are professionals in the games design industry, this new degree will introduce you to ideas and practices at the forefront of game studies and game design. Your second subject will also provide ideas and concepts that you can use in your study and design of games.

Enquiries

Douglas Brown
Subject Leader, Games Design
School of Arts
Brunel University
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 3PH

Email: douglas.brown@brunel.ac.uk

Related Courses

• Games Design and English BA
• Games Design and Sonic Arts BA
• Games Design and Film and Television Studies BA

Special Features

• The programme is taught by a team who specialise in research into the theoretical analysis of digital games or who are professionals who have worked or who currently work as game designers in the industry. The composition of the teaching team will introduce you to ideas at the forefront of the discipline as well as providing a knowledge and understanding of professional practice.
  
  
• The flourishing creative writing scene at Brunel is led by experienced staff including highly acclaimed authors and screenwriters such as Fay Weldon.
  

Facts and Figures

About the School of Arts

The School of Arts at Brunel offers single and joint honours degree courses in Music and Creative Music Technology, Film and Television Studies, English and Modern Drama. Our staff are active in both research and practice, and provide expertise in a wide range of topics.

Our undergraduate programmes are designed to sharpen creative and analytical skills, develop confidence in working in teams and in problem-solving techniques. Each programme develops basic skills within its discipline but allows you to explore your own particular interests through a range of optional modules. Research conducted by staff  provides the basis for much of our teaching, ensuring that modules are connected to debates and issues that are current within these three interdisciplinary areas.

Our annual Open House festival showcases new performance work by students and visiting artists. We also benefit from the activities of the Arts Centre, which organises tuition, performances and exhibitions across a range of arts. The student radio station B1000 offers an additional extracurricular outlet for interested students. 

With its rich mix of programmes, this is a vibrant, friendly and creative place to study.

Course Content

In each year of your degree, you will study theory modules aimed to develop your analytical understanding of the cultural and social significance of games and their historical contexts. Design modules will aid your ability to produce creative, realisable strategies in relation to set briefs. Application modules will provide you with a comprehensive knowledge of the communication skills currently used in the games industry, including presentation and prototyping skills. You will also study a selection of core and optional modules from your chosen second subject.

Games Design

At each level you take modules in:

• Theory, which develops your understanding of methods and approaches used in the analysis of games, their cultural and social significance, and historical contexts.
• Design, which will aid your development of creative strategies for generating game design ideas and game design projects. You undertake design projects, developing a practical understanding of creative game design.
• Application (industry relevant skills and contexts), which will provide you with a comprehensive knowledge of the skills used currently in the games industry.

Creative Writing

This course is designed to develop your knowledge, understanding, and analytical and creative skills through the analysis, interpretation and creation of literary texts. The range and choice of modules ensure that you will achieve a sound understanding of creative writing while at the same time developing your own creative skills.

Typical Modules

Level 1

• Theory 1: 'Reading' Games - methods for, and practice of, analysing the formal components of games
• Design 1: Introduction to Game Design – practical exercises, working to set briefs
• Application 1: Methods for, and practice of, communicating design concepts and ideas
• Academic Practice
• Introduction to Writing Fiction
• Introduction to Writing Drama
  

Level 2

• Theory 2: Approaches to analysing games and players
• Design 2: Large game design projects, working to a brief  
• Application 2: Prototyping game designs and understanding the games industry
• EITHER Screenwriting or Writing Journalism
  

One from:

• The Nineteenth Century Novel
• Shakespeare
• Modernism
• Romanticism and Revolution
  

Level 3

• Theory 3: Socio-Cultural Contexts – Analysing the social and cultural implications of games
• EITHER Major Design Project
• OR Major Theoretical Project
• OR Medium Design Project AND Medium Theoretical Project
• English Special Project
• Critical/Creative Writing
• Creative Writing and the Creative Industries

Teaching and Learning

Lectures, workshops, seminars, play sessions and tutorials will provide you with different ways of engaging with relevant materials. Use will be made of the programme’s online forum to aid in the development of knowledge and to solicit discussion.

Assessment

Practical work is assessed by a range of projects throughout the programme, some of which are done in groups. Throughout the programme, assessed practical exercises and projects require increasingly more complex knowledge of markets, parameters and techniques. Written essays which accompany projects require evaluation of your own work using a range of theoretical and critical tools. The project modules enable a more sustained engagement in which detailed knowledge and understanding is tested.

Employability

You will acquire core transferable skills of effective communication, leadership, self-management, initiative and personal responsibility.

Careers

The course will prepare you for a career in the digital games industry or allow specialisation within the field of Digital Games in combination with Creative Writing.

Fees for 2013/14 entry

UK/EU students: £9,000 full-time; £6,750 part-time

International students: £12,000 full-time

We are introducing over 700 scholarships for 2013, meaning that one in five applicants who join Brunel next year will receive financial support from the University. See our fees and funding page for full details

Fees quoted are per annum and are subject to an annual increase.

Entry Requirements for 2013 Entry

• GCE A-level Typical offer ABB, including Grade B in English (General Studies/Critical Thinking accepted). Applicants who have already achieved at least BBB at A-level and have Personal Statements showing a strong interest in the course and transferable skills will also be considered. Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants within this range.
  
• Irish Leaving Certificate AABBB, including English.
• Scottish Advanced Highers ABB, including English.
• Advanced Diploma Progression Diploma grade A in Creative and Media, including A-level English at grade B for Additional and Specialist Learning
• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma D*DD in a related subject (Applicants without A-level English will be required to submit a written sample of work on request).
• IBDP 33 points, including Higher Level 5 in English.
• Access Complete and pass a related subject Access course with 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2 with Merits in all units. All English units must be Distinctions at level 3 and must provide a sample of creative writing.

For all of the above, 5 GCSEs or equivalent at Grade C or above are also required, to include English and Maths (please note that these must have been gained by the time you submit your UCAS application).

English Language Requirements

Brunel also offers our own BrunELT English Test and accept a range of other language courses. We also have a range of Pre-sessional English language courses, for students who do not meet these requirements, or who wish to improve their English.