1. Apply problem solving techniques to games development challenges in order develop tools intended to improve productivity within the team and project
2. Produce tools using a mix of visual scripting and coded approaches
3. Demonstrate improvements to the development cycle through sufficient testing.
4. Reflect upon development processes, implemented solutions and their benefits

Assessment Component 1 - (Learning Outcomes 1,2 and 3)
Tool Development, weighted at 80% consisting of:
- Planning, design and creation of a games engine tool to solve a workflow challenge in a games engine to support a set area of games development such as art, design or animation.
- Follow standard industry design and programming practices in the implantation and delivery of the tool.

Assessment Component 2 – (Learning Outcome 4)
A Development Log weighted at 20% consisting of:
- A forum development log that showcases the stages of development used to produce the tool.
- A reflective critique and technical video breakdown of completed tool.

Students will explore the following topic areas:
- Mechanic Design and Balancing,
- Local Multiplayer Design,
- Agile Map Construction,
- Tool design and Implementation,
- Animation Systems
- Procedural Content Generation,
- Shader Construction,
- Player Controllers,
- AI Design Techniques,
- UI UX

This module will focus on tool development within Unreal Engine. The prerequisite for this module is C++ for Engines. Students will be asked to design and develop a game mechanic of their choice on a chosen topic, that has been approved, which demonstrates industry standard techniques.

2 x 1-hour lectures per week presenting key topics and concepts.
2 x 2-hour lecture/tutorial sessions 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.

Lightbown, D. (2015) Designing the user experience of game development tools. 1st edition. Boca Raton, FL: A K Peters/CRC Press, an imprint of Taylor and Francis. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1201/b18051.
Ansari, M.Y. (2011) Game development tools. Boca Raton: A K Peters. ISBN: 978-1568814322
Roberts, P. and Dent, N. (2023) Artificial intelligence in games. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press.

Digital Academy Forum
Digital Academy Uploads
Unreal Engine
Internet access
Blackboard
C++
Visual Studio 2022
Version control