1. Produce an original, high-quality artefact or portfolio of work that evidences advanced discipline-specific skills and professional standards. Personal Development & Entrepreneurship

2. Critically evaluate the processes, methodologies and outcomes of the project using academic literature, professional benchmarks and reflective analysis. Reflection Research Skills

3. Communicate project intentions, methods and results effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences, demonstrating autonomy and professional project management throughout. Communication

Assessment 3: Practical Artefact (Option A) or Dissertation (Option B) [Learning Outcome 1, 2]
Weighting: 70%

Description:
Students choose one of two routes
Option A (Practice Route): Develop a substantial practical artefact such as a game prototype, technical tool, visual development portfolio, or design system grounded in advanced research and professional methods.
Option B (Dissertation Route): Produce a written research dissertation that demonstrates rigorous academic inquiry into a theme relevant to games development, design, art, or computing.

Both options must demonstrate originality, methodological rigour, advanced discipline-specific expertise and clear alignment with Level 7 research expectations.

Assessment 4: Development Report (Option A) or Presentation (Option B) [Learning Outcome 3]
Weighting: 30%

Description:
Students must communicate and critically evaluate the development of their Major Project evidencing advanced professional practice within relevant industry or professional contexts and communicate its impact to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Option A (Practice Route): A written Development Report documenting further research, decision-making, methodology, technical or creative processes, iterations, evaluation, and reflection. This supports the Practical Artefact and must demonstrate the rationale behind the work, articulating how the project reflects advanced professional practice and is positioned for appropriate industry or professional application.

Option B (Dissertation Route): A formal presentation that communicates the research aims, methods, literature, findings, implications and limitations of the dissertation. Students must articulate and defend their work to specialist and non-specialist audiences, articulating its professional relevance, potential application, and contribution to contemporary games practice or research.

Both forms require critical reflection, evaluation of outcomes, and demonstration of autonomy as a Level 7 practitioner.

Project Scoping and Proposal Development
-Defining a research question or creative/technical aim
-Establishing project scope, constraints and feasibility
-Literature, precedent and context review
-Ethical considerations in games research and practice

Project planning, scheduling and risk management
-Research Methods for Creative, Design and Technical Practice
-Qualitative and quantitative research approaches
-Practice-based and practice-led research methodologies
-Technical investigation, prototyping and experimental studies
-Visual, aesthetic or computational analysis -Data gathering, interpretation and evaluation

Advanced Professional Workflows- (Adapted to individual routes: Games Design, Games Art, Concept Art, Games Computing)
-Design iteration, systems exploration and playtesting frameworks
-Technical pipelines, tool development, optimisation and implementation
-Advanced 2D/3D art production, visual storytelling, style development and presentation
-Rapid prototyping using game engines and contemporary toolsets
-Professional documentation, evidence gathering and development logging

Critical Analysis and Reflective Practice
- Critical literature review evaluating the state-of-the-art in academic and industry theory and practice -Evaluating design decisions, artworks, prototypes or technical artefacts
-Benchmarking against industry standards and academic literature
-Identifying limitations, biases and areas for refinement
-Integrating feedback from supervisors, peers and user testing
-Reflective commentary and iterative development

Dissertation Research (Option B)
-Structuring and writing a postgraduate dissertation
-Academic argument construction and evidence synthesis
-Critical philosophical and theoretical framing
-Research ethics, data validity and methodological justification
-Presenting findings to specialist and non-specialist audiences

Professional Presentation and Communication
-Communicating intentions, processes and outcomes with clarity
-Preparing artefact documentation, design logs or technical breakdowns
-Structuring academic or professional presentations
-Portfolio integration and demonstrating industry readiness

Development of the Major Project Output
-Creation of a final artefact (Option A) or dissertation (Option B)
-Integration of research, methodology and critical insight
-Demonstration of autonomy and advanced discipline-specific expertise
-Evaluation of processes, outcomes and implications for future practice

In this module, you will realise and complete a substantial, self-directed Masters project, producing either a professional-quality practical artefact or an academic dissertation. Building on the foundations established in Part One, you will apply advanced discipline-specific skills, research methods and professional workflows to deliver a coherent, original and well-evaluated outcome.

Through iterative development, critical evaluation and regular supervision, you will demonstrate autonomy, problem-solving and research-informed decision-making. The completed project forms a central component of the postgraduate portfolio and prepares students for advanced professional or research-focused roles within the games industry and related fields.

Students will engage in a range of learning strategies, including tutor-led presentations, supervisory tutorials, workshops and self-directed study. Formal sessions introduce advanced research methods, project design principles and examples of good practice relevant to technical, creative or design-focused project work.

Supervision and development support sessions provide individual guidance, methodological advice and demonstrations of appropriate tools, workflows and analytical approaches. Students are expected to undertake substantial independent research and iterative development, documenting progress and applying feedback to refine their project direction and outcomes.

Formal supervision, assessment support and structured feedback for the Masters Project are provided only during the scheduled delivery period of this module. Independent development activity undertaken outside of the module timeframe is not supported through formal supervision, ensuring equitable access to academic guidance for all students regardless of study mode.

Creswell, J.W., Creswell, J.D., 2023. Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches, Sixth edition, international student edition. ed. Sage, Los Angeles London New Delhi Singapore Washington DC Melbourne.

Drachen, A., Nacke, L.E., Mirza-Babaei, P. (Eds.), 2018. Games user research, First edition. ed. Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Funk, T., 2022. Video Game Art Reader: Volume 4. Amherst College Press, Erscheinungsort nicht ermittelbar.
Kara, H., 2015. Creative research methods in the social sciences: a practical guide. Policy Press, Bristol.
Wisker, G., 2010. The postgraduate research handbook: succeed with your MA, MPhil, EdD and PhD, 2. ed., [Nachdr.]. ed, Palgrave study guides. Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, Hampshire

Study guidance through one-to-one supervision with academics.

Access to the University of Staffordshire Library with compiled reading, case studies, postmortems and industry-influential materials relevant to professional game development and studio production.

Blackboard VLE for accessing module materials, production documentation, formative feedback and development resources.

Relevant software towards the goal of producing industry standard concept artwork including (but not limited to): Zbrush, Photoshop, Blender, Unreal Engine, Unity

Relevant Hardware related to the goal of experimentally incorporating methods to developing concept artwork: 3D printing, Laser Scanning, Motion Capture, Playstation Development Kits