Higher Education Partners
Feature
May 2010
Futureworks offers a chance to get inside the games you play
Futureworks, Manchester’s school of media, is set to offer a pioneering industry-designed gaming Diploma from autumn this year.
Purposefully designed in consultation with some of the UK’s major games studios, the Diploma in Game Development will commence in September 2010 and will strengthen Futureworks’ position as Manchester’s only purpose-built media school.
The Diploma will be delivered by Futureworks’ games department and rising independent games studio Smashmouth Games. It has been created in accordance with the International Game Developers Association curriculum and aims to provide a head start into a gaming career with a project orientated study schedule requiring plenty of hands on experience.
The course will culminate in the production of a full release title on students’ platform of choice. It will run over a period of three years but students with previous games experience are able to enter at a higher level.
Zuby Ahmed of Smashmouth Games commented: “Futureworks have worked closely with Smashmouth Games over the last year to create this new course. The collaboration will take the synergy between academia and real-life game development to new heights ensuing the UK produces high-calibre candidates; skilled and equipped for a career in this dynamic industry.”
The course will consist of evening lectures and workshops with a flexible team-based practical study programme and students will be able to specialise in areas of design, artwork or programming. It will prove a cost effective option in the face of increasing tuition fees as it is being offered at 25% less than similar degree courses at other universities and is also substantially longer, with 16 extra study weeks provided a year. Students will therefore receive a 5 year degree programme in just 3 years.
Chris Mayo, Managing Director of Futureworks, added: “We’re conscious that increasing numbers of students are finding themselves without further education places as a result of rising tuition fees and cuts in university funding. This diploma has therefore been created to cover all the skills required by the UK games industry but in less time and at a reduced cost. It’s a fantastic opportunity to gain knowledge and experience ready for working in this industry.”
To find out more about our Game Development diploma click here
