Game Design and Production

Game design and production is a creative and technical discipline concerned with the entire process of bringing interactive experiences to life, from concept and design through development, production management and release. It is not simply about programming or art: it encompasses the design of rules, mechanics and player experiences, the management of multidisciplinary production teams, the analysis of what makes games engaging, and the creative and commercial decisions that shape finished products. As the games industry has grown to become one of the largest creative sectors globally, the demand for people who understand the full production pipeline has grown with it.

At Abertay University, which has a long-established reputation as a centre for game education in Scotland, this four-year full-time programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study at a partner institution overseas and experience how the games industry operates in a different national context. You will study game design theory and practice, production management techniques, player psychology, narrative design, prototyping, project management and the business of the games industry. The programme develops both your creative and conceptual design skills and your ability to manage complex, team-based production processes effectively.

Graduates work across the games industry in roles including game designer, producer, project manager, narrative designer, quality assurance lead and studio manager, as well as in adjacent creative industries including film, animation, interactive media and experience design. The project management and production skills the programme develops are also valued in technology companies and other sectors where multidisciplinary creative and technical teams work together. Postgraduate study in game design, interactive media, digital arts or creative computing provides a route for those who wish to develop their practice or move into research.