Assessment Component 1

Industry-Driven Vertical Slice Project (shared group grade) weighted at 60% consisting of:

Working as a member of a team contributing to a live brief set by industry. You will be expected to:

Synthesize advanced collaborative and project management strategies to structure and execute the project effectively.

Engage actively with partners and project team members, utilizing professional communication and feedback to refine the project.

Produce high-quality assets and documentation that reflect industry standards and the project’s objectives.

Critically evaluate team dynamics and processes throughout the project, making adjustments and improvements as needed.

Industry will also give feedback on student work as part of this assessment component. It is expected that the college partner will establish an industry link to make this possible.

(Learning Outcomes 1, 3, 4)

Assessment Component 2

Individual Portfolio of Contribution weighted at 40% consisting of:

Produce an individual portfolio that includes:

Documentation, showreels, and relevant artifacts that showcase your individual contributions to the industry project.

A critical analysis reflection (500 words) of your professional practice throughout the project, evaluating the skills and techniques you employed during the project, with a focus on industry perspectives, and continuous development.

Considerations for your future professional development based on insights gained from the project and feedback received.



(Learning Outcomes 2, 3)

Since this module is industry-driven, students will engage with a live brief provided by industry partners, which will serve as the foundation for their group work. Unlike the Level 4 module, where students choose from multiple briefs, this module will focus on a single, complex live brief that all student groups will work on simultaneously. This approach simulates real-world industry conditions, requiring students to adapt to evolving project requirements and constraints.

Student groups will be composed of individuals from various disciplines, including artists, designers, programmers, and animators. These interdisciplinary teams will collaborate to develop a comprehensive project solution, addressing the multifaceted challenges presented by the live brief. The complexity of the brief will demand a higher level of critical thinking, problem-solving, and synthesis of advanced techniques.

Throughout the project, students will be expected to:

Analyze and integrate feedback from industry professionals at multiple stages, adapting their approach to ensure the project aligns with industry standards and expectations.

Critically evaluate and refine their collaborative strategies, making data-driven decisions to optimize team performance and project outcomes.

Demonstrate leadership and initiative within their roles, contributing to the development of high-quality assets and documentation that meet the rigorous demands of the live brief.

The teaching team will provide ongoing support, adopting the role of project supervisors. They will guide the students in navigating the complexities of the brief, offering insights and advice that reflect current industry practices. This mentorship will be crucial in helping students not only meet but exceed the expectations set by the industry partners.

In preparation for this module, students will attend a series of lectures and workshops designed to deepen their understanding of advanced industry practices and professional development. The topics covered may include, but are not limited to:

Advanced Collaborative Group Dynamics: Exploring sophisticated techniques for team collaboration, including leadership roles, conflict resolution, and optimizing group performance in professional settings.

Strategic Communication for Industry Projects: Enhancing communication strategies to facilitate effective collaboration and engagement with industry partners, including the use of professional feedback loops.

Advanced Project Management Tools and Methodologies: A deep dive into advanced project management frameworks, such as Agile, Scrum, or Kanban, with a focus on adapting these methodologies to real-world industry projects.

Version Control and Source Management in Professional Contexts: Mastering the use of advanced version control systems (e.g., Git) to manage complex project files, maintain version integrity, and ensure seamless collaboration among team members.

Development Review and Iterative Improvement Processes: Training on conducting and participating in development reviews, including code reviews, design critiques, and iterative feedback processes, with an emphasis on continuous improvement and quality assurance.

Advanced Quality Assurance Techniques: Emphasizing rigorous testing methodologies and quality assurance practices to ensure the final product meets or exceeds industry standards.

Implementing a live brief that has been set by industry, students will work in a group comprised of mixed disciplines to mimic a games development studio. They will work together to create the project’s vertical slice.

This module should include introductory lectures as well as development days per week onsite for group working.

Learning will be supported by a range of collaboration and project management tools where students will be expected to engage.

Ramos, B.B. and Pimentel, K. (2023) Unreal Engine 5 shaders and effects cookbook¿: over 50 recipes to help you create materials and utilize advanced shading techniques. 2nd ed. Birmingham: Packt Publishing, Limited.

Tan, T.W. (2024) Game Development with Unreal Engine 5 Volume 1: Design Phase. 1st edn. Berkeley, CA: Apress L. P. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-9824-4.

Romero, M., Sewell, B. and Cataldi, L. (2022) Blueprints Visual Scripting for Unreal Engine 5: Unleash the True Power of Blueprints to Create Impressive Games and Applications in UE5. 3rd edn. Birmingham: Packt Publishing, Limited.

Portny, S.E. and Portny, J.L. (2022) Project management. 6th Edition. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Shi, Q. and Chen, J. (2006) The Human Side of Project Management: Leadership Skills. 1st edition. Project Management Institute.

Adams, E. & Dormans, J. 2012, Game mechanics: advanced game design, First edn, New Riders, Berkeley, Calif. ISBN 0321820274

Fullerton, T. 2014;2008;, Game design workshop: a playcentric approach to creating innovative games, 3rd edn, CRC Press, Boca Raton ISBN 1482217163

Mitchell, B.L. & Books24x7, I. 2012, Game design essentials, 1. Aufl.;1; edn, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, Indianapolis, IN. ISBN 1118159276

Todd, D. 2007, Game design: from blue sky to green light, A K Peters, Wellesley, Mass ISBN 156881318X

Schell, J. 2015; 2008;, The art of game design: a book of lenses, 2nd edn, CRC Press, Boca Raton. ISBN 0123694965

Gazaway, D., 2021. Introduction to Game Systems Design. Pearson. ISBN 0137440847

Schreiber, I. & Romero, B., 2021. Game Balance. CRC Press. ISBN 1498799574

Game Engine Software

Autodesk Suite

Adobe Suite

Microsoft Word

Digital Academy Forums

Digital Academy Uploads

Blender

Marvelous Designer

Z-Brush

1. Synthesize and implement advanced collaborative strategies within a project team to meet the requirements of a live brief set by industry.

2. Evaluate and enhance your personal and professional skills through critical reflection, focusing on contributions to the team and project outcomes.

3. Analyse and critically assess a range of advanced techniques, selecting and adapting the most effective approaches to address complex problems within a live industry brief.

4. Utilise sophisticated communication strategies within a team to drive successful project completion.