TRAINING SPOTLIGHT This month: Brunel University
BRUNEL UNIVERSITY offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in games that can be combined with other subjects from the school of arts such as sonic arts or creative writing. The courses aim to teach students
theory, design and application. Students study practical game design and reflect on this practice through concepts and methodologies used in the academic study of games. Course convener Douglas Brown says
that an “emphasis is placed on applying theory in a design context to develop a range of creative, analytical and design skills relevant to the contemporary games marketplace”. He adds: “An insider’s view of the
industry is complemented by all the benefits of a traditional arts degree, including the understanding of a range of conceptual models to aid in the process of critical, independent thought and problem solving.
“Brunel's game students also have the
opportunity to pitch their design ideas to industry experts.” Speakers on the courses have included
“regular appearances” from industry professionals such as Media Molecule’s Mark Healey and Brunel lecturer and founder of Games Workshop Steve Jackson. Ian Livingstone and Peter
Epic
Molyneux have also spoken at the university, who have both received the development legend honour at the annual Develop Awards. Brown claims that around 60 per cent
of graduates from the courses get into the industry, joining studios such as
An insider’s view of the industry is
complemented by all the benefits of a traditional arts degree.
Douglas Brown, Brunel
Ubisoft, Rebellion, and Creative Assembly, credited with working on games including Brink, Fable 3 and LittleBigPlanet 2. As for how the courses train students
up for an ever-changing industry, Brown says the ethos of the Brunel games programme is to educate students to become confident, creative designers with a broad understanding of games as a media type with their own unique features.
+1-919-870-1516
www.epicgames.com “Core to all our programmes is the
development and practice of the skill in creating rules to make a game that people will want to play,” he says. “Design, analytical and communication skills never date or expire, and equip our
Fork Particle
graduates to meet the demands of the games industry.” Looking to what the university could
provide in the future for its games students, Brown says that Brunel hopes to run a broader choice of joint degrees
1(925) 417 1785
www.forkparticle.com
52 | NOVEMBER 2011
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