Game Production and Design

Game production and design is the discipline that brings together creative vision, technical skills and project management to make interactive experiences. Games are now one of the most culturally significant and economically substantial forms of entertainment globally, spanning major studio productions, independent games, mobile platforms, serious games and immersive experiences. The people who make them need to understand both the craft of design and the realities of production.

At the University of Plymouth, this three-year full-time programme includes a sandwich year and a work placement, giving you direct professional experience in the games industry or related creative technology sector. The sandwich placement is a distinctive feature of the programme, placing you in a real production environment where you will contribute to live projects, develop professional skills and build industry connections that can prove valuable when you graduate.

You will study game design principles, prototyping and playtesting, level design, narrative and world-building, project management, production pipelines and team collaboration. Technical skills in game engines and relevant software are developed alongside design thinking and the critical understanding of how games work as creative and interactive systems. The programme develops your ability to move from concept to playable product through iterative design processes, working both independently and in teams.

Graduates go on to careers in games development as designers, producers, level designers, writers, quality assurance testers and project managers, as well as in related fields including interactive media, virtual reality, simulation and serious games. Some build independent studios or freelance careers, while others go on to postgraduate study in game design, interactive media or computer science. The project management and creative problem-solving skills developed through the programme are also valued in sectors beyond games, including advertising, education and technology.