This module will take a deep look in to the available games engines currently popular with developers. You will be supplied with two different games designs and ask to develop games which fulfil the specifications.

Foundation concepts covered:
Benefits of using an ‘Engine out of the box’ opposed to writing one from scratch.
Available engines, giving an overview of the games that were constructed with them.
Comparisons between available engines.
Programming in an engine at low level.
High level scripting.
Importing resources – Sound effects, 3d models, textures, etc.
Animations.
Built in physics components and their use.
Basic artificial intelligence systems.
Exporting to devices.
Game engine cameras.
Creation / modification of game entities.
Source control using engines.
Particle systems.
The Gameplay loop.
Game mechanics and events.

Advanced techniques covered:
Node construction in UDK
Engine GUI manipulation and enhancements
Shaders.
Linking to existing components within the engine.

The game engines used in this module are subject to change given market trends.

BLACKMAN, S. (2011), Beginning 3D Game Development with Unity 4, Apress Academic. ISBN: 978-1430248996

BUSBY, J., PARRISH, Z., & WILSON, J. (2009), Mastering Unreal Technology - Volume I: Introduction to Level Design with Unreal Engine 3, Sams. ISBN 978-0672329913

BUSBY, J., PARRISH, Z., & WILSON, J. (2009), Mastering Unreal Technology - Volume II: Advanced Level Design Concepts Using Unreal Engine 3, Sams. ISBN 978-0672329920.

BUSBY, J., WILSON, J., & OWENS, D. (2010), Mastering Unreal Technology Vol III : Introduction to UnrealScript with Unreal Engine 3, Sams. ISBN-13: 978-0672330827

CREIGHTON, R. (2010) Unity 3D Game Development by Example Beginner's Guide, Packt Publishing. ISBN: 978-1849690546

EBERLY, D. (2005), 3D Game Engine Architecture, Morgan Kaufhann, ISBN: 978-0122290640

A laboratory with access to the Unity Game Engine and C#, UDK development engine and C++, and the Sony Phyre Engine or equivalent.
3DS Studio Max
Photoshop

Prior study of COSE40577 Introduction to Software Development, COSE40576 Introduction to Programming or equivalent

1) INVESTIGATE AND CRITICALLY EVALUATE COMPONENTS OF GAME ENGINES AND SELECT SUITABLE APPROACHES FOR CREATING A SPECIFIED GAME
(Enquiry, Analysis)

2) APPLY GAME DEVELOPMENT TECHNIQUES AND EMPLOY PROBLEM-SOLVING STRATEGIES TO IMPLEMENT SPECIFIED GAME DESIGNS IN A GAME ENGINE AND DEPLOY TO A DEVICE
(Problem Solving, Application)

3) CRITICALLY EVALUATE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GIVEN GAMES ENGINES, AND ASSESS THEIR SUITABILITY TO GIVEN SCENARIOS
(Knowledge & Understanding, Learning)

Game prototype created in Unreal Engine. (Learning Outcomes 1 and 2) 35% weighting

Game prototype created in Unity Engine. (Learning Outcomes 1 and 2) 35% weighting

Report which critically discusses the pros and cons of different game engines and determines their suitability different projects. (Learning Outcome 3) 30% weighting

26 hours lectures and 52 hours of practicals over 26 weeks.

A deep dive look into game engines that will facilitate the creation of two different games using two different engines.