Southampton Solent University offers two major videogame degrees, a BSc (Hons) in computer games development with a focus on software engineering and a BA (Hons) in computer and video games for artists. A close relationship between them means that students benefit from working with, and learning from, other disciplines throughout their degrees. Here, computer games development course leader Chris Bryson and computer and video games course leader Adam Barton detail the university’s cutting edge facilities, internal Video Games Academy, and the challenges facing students today.
Could you outline the two courses?
Chris Bryson The computer games development course is designed to prepare students for careers as software engineers, with a particular emphasis on working in the game industry. A design strand gives the technically minded an understanding of the work done by people they will end up working alongside. It also gives indie developers a chance to take their basic design ideas further with coders available to help at the implementation stage, and opens up the possibility of a role as a technical artist.
Adam Barton The computer and video games course is designed for artists who want to work in games. Students will learn art aesthetics, professional techniques and graphics technology, but most importantly they will develop independent skills.
Course leader, Adam Barton
What makes Southampton Solent stand out from other institutions?
AB Southampton Solent University aims to prepare students for a lifetime of learning. I’m always learning, developing and enhancing, games technology is constantly changing. It’s what makes the industry so exciting. What we enable our students to do is solve problems, to think creatively and be self confident.
CB The team has experience of working at Codemasters, ATI and Nvidia, plus we have a Usability Suite where the eye-movements and reactions of players can be recorded and analysed. There’s also access to mo-cap equipment – Solent is a professional facility that’s frequently used by commercial software developers. Plus, our Video Games Academy allows students from the two courses to make games together, giving them opportunities to develop their portfolios, work in multi-disciplinary teams and gain an understanding of other roles in the industry.
How do you keep the course relevant?
CB The range and quality of mobile applications has blossomed over the last two to three years. The course responded by modifying the two existing mobile development units to make them more relevant to the latest platforms, and further changes are planned. We’re also always on the lookout for ways to increase the number of external companies involved with course development and assessment. The programme is always under review and the content of units changes to take account of trends in the industry. Our current plans include the introduction of a separate strand for those who plan to become indies, and a new sub-degree, probably an HND, in games testing.
What are the challenges for students hoping to enter the game industry?
CB They are competing in a very challenging and demanding job area, so they must be prepared to work extremely hard for all three years, including holidays, in order to have any chance of getting their first critical position in the industry. We try to leave graduates in a position where they can be confident that if they apply for non-games posts they have also covered most of the non-programming areas of a software engineering degree.
AB They face plenty of challenges, but they are young, ambitious and talented and they will not only overcome these challenges, but thrive.