Module Descriptors
GAME ENGINES AND ANIMATION SYSTEMS
GDEV50019
Key Facts
Digital, Technology, Innovation and Business
Level 5
20 credits
Contact
Leader: Benjamin Rimmer
Email: ben.rimmer@staffs.ac.uk
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 48
Independent Study Hours: 152
Total Learning Hours: 200
Pattern of Delivery
- Occurrence A, Stoke Campus, UG Semester 1 to UG Semester 2
- Occurrence B, Digital Institute London, UG Semester 2
- Occurrence D, Digital Institute London, UG Semester 1 to UG Semester 2
Sites
- Digital Institute London
- Stoke Campus
Assessment
- PLAYABLE CHARACTER weighted at 80%
- REFLECTIVE PORTFOLIO - 500-1000 WORDS weighted at 20%
Module Details
INDICATIVE CONTENT
During your time with us you will tackle the following topics:
Animation Blueprint Creation
State Machines
Montages
Animation Blendspaces
Unreal Engine Blueprinting
Motion Capture Data Handling
Animation Enhancement
Animation Blueprint Creation
State Machines
Montages
Animation Blendspaces
Unreal Engine Blueprinting
Motion Capture Data Handling
Animation Enhancement
ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT DETAILS
Assessment Component 1 – (Learning outcome 1 and 2)
A Playable Character weighted at 80% consisting of:
Game project files which demonstrate the use of animation Blueprints, motion capture data and Motion Builder enhancement.
The character must make use of a Blendspace, AimOffSet and Montages and include Idle, Walk, Run, Strafe, Jump and Emote animations.
Assessment Component 2 – (Learning outcomes 3 and 4)
A Reflective Portfolio weighted at 20% consisting of:
A showreel of the work completed.
A critical reflection of the work completed with comparisons against industry work.
A Playable Character weighted at 80% consisting of:
Game project files which demonstrate the use of animation Blueprints, motion capture data and Motion Builder enhancement.
The character must make use of a Blendspace, AimOffSet and Montages and include Idle, Walk, Run, Strafe, Jump and Emote animations.
Assessment Component 2 – (Learning outcomes 3 and 4)
A Reflective Portfolio weighted at 20% consisting of:
A showreel of the work completed.
A critical reflection of the work completed with comparisons against industry work.
LEARNING STRATEGIES
2x 3hr Workshops
LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of animation systems within a game engine.
2. Apply animation data into a game engine for real time applications.
3. Demonstrate problem solving skills by solving a range of technical game engine challenges.
4. Reflect critically upon the creative and technical work created.
RESOURCES
Office 365
Unreal Engine 5
Autodesk Maya
Autodesk Motion Builder
Digital Academy Forums
Unreal Engine 5
Autodesk Maya
Autodesk Motion Builder
Digital Academy Forums
REFERENCE TEXTS
Game Anim: Video Game Animation Explained (Jonathan Cooper)
ISBN 9780367707651
The Animators Survival Kit (Richard Williams)
ISBN 9780571238347
Tracer & Pose Design 101 – The Animation of Overwatch (New Frame Plus)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EJSAm6OFOs
How Overwatch Conveys Character in First Person (New Frame Plus)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dga-UqdBR8
ISBN 9780367707651
The Animators Survival Kit (Richard Williams)
ISBN 9780571238347
Tracer & Pose Design 101 – The Animation of Overwatch (New Frame Plus)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EJSAm6OFOs
How Overwatch Conveys Character in First Person (New Frame Plus)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dga-UqdBR8
WEB DESCRIPTOR
You will learn and understand how to create playable characters with dynamic animations inside of Unreal Engine, making use of Motion Capture and real-time technologies.