A new computer games course that seeks to equip students with the skills they need to enter the world of game development has been unveiled by Heriot-Watt University.
Led by the Scottish BAFTA-winning games developer, Dr Thomas Methven, the BSc (Hons) Games Development and Production programme promises to, according to the University, ‘not only foster game design expertise, but also cultivate transferable skills relevant across multiple sectors, such as software engineering, film, and extended reality (XR) applications.’
Its arrival marks a further foray into the games industry for the University, which already offers a range of games-orientated courses. Heriot-Watt is aiming to become the UK’s top university for videogames education following significant investment in technologies including Virtual Reality labs and a Games Design Studio at its Edinburgh campus.
The new course follows the Scottish Government’s public backing to become the first country in the UK to introduce a national games strategy in support of this rapidly evolving sector. Gaming contributes over £188.5 million to the Scottish economy each year, making it as large as fintech, data, cybersecurity and space.
Dr Methven, from the School of Mathematics and Computer Sciences at Heriot-Watt University, said: “In setting up this course, we have consulted with staff from some of the biggest names in UK gaming including the likes of Unity and Build A Rocket Boy.
“We wanted to create a course tailored to the needs of industry. What we learned is that companies want graduates who have the entire skillset needed to design, plan, and finish a game.
“It’s easy for some indie developers to do the fun bit and design a game but when it comes to designing more complicated parts like save system, or actually putting the game up for sale they either don’t have the knowledge or the inclination to finish it.”
Dr Methven won a Scottish BAFTA in 2021 for his role in developing the critically-acclaimed game, SOLAS 128. He is working alongside Dr Stefano Padilla who is the deputy programme director, and they are set to welcome the first cohort of students next month.
Dr Methven continues: “In the past, parents tended to be a bit sceptical when their child said they wanted to study gaming. But it’s not a case of playing games all day – rather it’s about learning highly sought after skills in computer science.
“This means students don’t just have to work in the games industry, they can move into practically any other sector that requires expertise in software engineering.”
Source: DIGIT