Games Design and Development Masters

Overview

Do you want to create your own games? Could you run your own games company?

NFTS Games aims to give you everything you need to make high-quality games across a range of styles, formats and platforms.

The two-year MA course has an ‘games innovation’ ethos, giving you the opportunity to create complete games in a unique environment, collaborating with students from across the School – from composers and sound designers to marketing and distribution students – learning not only how to create games, but how to release them and promote them across indie games and Triple-A.

The course covers practical knowledge of games software development and provides the ability to experiment with evolving technologies and techniques. Every student gets access to high-spec gaming systems and related tools. They work on both solo and group projects, with plenty of opportunities to experiment, innovate and excel – with all production costs for development met by the School.

What you will study

The video games industry is continually innovating and evolving, and new platforms and technologies have created fantastic opportunities for technical invention and artistic innovation. This course provides the practical skills and creative knowledge to design, devise and build games, from inception to delivery. We strive to develop the creative leadership necessary to become a leading innovator and practitioner within the industry.

Students work alongside film, television and animation practitioners, developing creative and technical skills in games design, code, art, animation, production, audio and interface. The NFTS is a uniquely creative environment, enabling students to benefit from numerous collaborative opportunities across our production studios.

We welcome students from a range of backgrounds – recent students have included a neuroscientist, a kickboxing instructor and a copy-writer – all you need is a passion for games, a creative spark and a willingness to learn new skills. Games development experience is welcome, but by no means essential.

Students also have the opportunity to develop industry contacts through events and visits from professionals and experts.

Games design and development students at the NFTS come from a wide range of backgrounds and prior experiences, and have demonstrated an excitement, aptitude, creativity and willingness to learn new skills. We actively seek a diverse and interesting group of people who have something new to bring into the games development fold. Successful applicants have come to us with previous qualifications from across the arts, sciences and humanities; and from all walks of life as far as profession and practice is concerned. Games development experience is welcome, but by no means essential. While many applicants will have a degree from a British or overseas university, we will consider applicants who do not have a degree if they have an impressive portfolio, a creative track record or an alternative qualification.