Module Descriptors
VFX FOR VIDEO GAMES
GDEV50044
Key Facts
Digital, Technology, Innovation and Business
Level 5
20 credits
Contact
Leader: Jamie Nicholas
Email: jamie.nicholas@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
Sites
- Stoke Campus
Assessment
- COURSEWORK - VFX ARTEFACTS weighted at 80%
- COURSEWORK - DEVELOPMENT LOG - 1200 WORDS weighted at 20%
Module Details
MODULE LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Identify suitable game engine tools to solve VFX challenges
2. Demonstrate technical skills in artefact development, such as 3D modelling, animation, and shader creation, to support VFX development.
3. Compare the outcomes of chosen techniques and solutions to industry examples.
4. Summarize technical developments through work in progress breakdowns.
2. Demonstrate technical skills in artefact development, such as 3D modelling, animation, and shader creation, to support VFX development.
3. Compare the outcomes of chosen techniques and solutions to industry examples.
4. Summarize technical developments through work in progress breakdowns.
MODULE ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT DETAILS
Assessment Component 1 - (Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 4)
VFX artefacts weighted at 80% consisting of:
- Use of game engine tools to solve a range of VFX challenges.
- Video demonstrations of VFX solutions compiled into a portfolio showreel.
- Technical breakdowns showing production process and tools used.
Assessment Component 2 – (Learning Outcome 3 and 4)
A Development Log weighted at 20% consisting of:
- A forum thread that showcases the stages of development used to produce your artefact including planning, phased development, and a reflective critique.
VFX artefacts weighted at 80% consisting of:
- Use of game engine tools to solve a range of VFX challenges.
- Video demonstrations of VFX solutions compiled into a portfolio showreel.
- Technical breakdowns showing production process and tools used.
Assessment Component 2 – (Learning Outcome 3 and 4)
A Development Log weighted at 20% consisting of:
- A forum thread that showcases the stages of development used to produce your artefact including planning, phased development, and a reflective critique.
MODULE INDICATIVE CONTENT
Students will explore the following topic areas:
- Niagara,
- Nanite,
- Lumen,
- Chaos Engine,
- Shader Development HLSL,
- physics,
- cloth sim,
- destruction,
- fluid sim,
- hair physics,
- UI UX FX
- Niagara,
- Nanite,
- Lumen,
- Chaos Engine,
- Shader Development HLSL,
- physics,
- cloth sim,
- destruction,
- fluid sim,
- hair physics,
- UI UX FX
WEB DESCRIPTOR
A fast-paced and pretty module focusing on Visual Effects for Video Games within an engine. Here we focus on UE’s Niagara system, Nanite, Lumen, and Shader Development. The purpose of this module is to not only understand the technical development of the VFX but also analyse the development process to identify the purpose of tools to enhance productivity in the development pipeline.
MODULE LEARNING STRATEGIES
2 x 1-hour lecture per week
2 x 2-hour class per week which will include demonstrations, development periods, critiques and support opportunities.
Learning will be supported by a range of video and written tutorials available online via a VLE.
2 x 2-hour class per week which will include demonstrations, development periods, critiques and support opportunities.
Learning will be supported by a range of video and written tutorials available online via a VLE.
MODULE TEXTS
ANDURLEKAR, H., 2023. BUILD STUNNING REAL-TIME VFX WITH UNREAL ENGINE 5. Packt Publishing, Limited. ISBN 978-1801072410
Creating Stylized VFX in Unreal Engine 5 | The Gnomon Workshop. 2023. Creating Stylized VFX in Unreal Engine 5 | The Gnomon Workshop. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/creating-stylized-vfx-in-unreal-engine-5. [Accessed 23 April 2023].
Epic Developer Community. 2023. Ray Traced Cinematic Lighting for Exteriors | Course. [ONLINE] Available at: https://dev.epicgames.com/community/learning/courses/6EX/unreal-engine-ray-traced-cinematic-lighting-for-exteriors/YDLr/unreal-engine-introduction-and-overview-to-ray-traced-cinematic-lighting-for-exteriors. [Accessed 23 April 2023].
Epic Developer Community. 2023. Niagara Fluids Fundamentals | Tutorial. [ONLINE] Available at: https://dev.epicgames.com/community/learning/tutorials/588M/niagara-fluids-fundamentals. [Accessed 23 April 2023].
Creating Stylized VFX in Unreal Engine 5 | The Gnomon Workshop. 2023. Creating Stylized VFX in Unreal Engine 5 | The Gnomon Workshop. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/tutorials/creating-stylized-vfx-in-unreal-engine-5. [Accessed 23 April 2023].
Epic Developer Community. 2023. Ray Traced Cinematic Lighting for Exteriors | Course. [ONLINE] Available at: https://dev.epicgames.com/community/learning/courses/6EX/unreal-engine-ray-traced-cinematic-lighting-for-exteriors/YDLr/unreal-engine-introduction-and-overview-to-ray-traced-cinematic-lighting-for-exteriors. [Accessed 23 April 2023].
Epic Developer Community. 2023. Niagara Fluids Fundamentals | Tutorial. [ONLINE] Available at: https://dev.epicgames.com/community/learning/tutorials/588M/niagara-fluids-fundamentals. [Accessed 23 April 2023].
MODULE RESOURCES
Digital Academy Forum
Digital Academy Uploads
Unreal Engine
Internet access
Blackboard
C++
HLSL
Python
Houdini
Visual Studio 2022
Version control
Digital Academy Uploads
Unreal Engine
Internet access
Blackboard
C++
HLSL
Python
Houdini
Visual Studio 2022
Version control