How to get into the games industry
In Final - links and resources
- Introduction
- The games development process
- A perspective from Eurocom
- The Project Manager
- The Producer
- The Designer
- The Artist and Animator
- The Programmer
- The Sound Designer
- The Games Tester
- In Final - links and resources
This document only scratches the surface, but we hope you have found it useful. We would be pleased to hear your comments on how we might develop and improve this section, so any feedback would be gratefully received.
Keep in touch with our website for future vacancies!
Here is a useful and comprehensive list of educational sources as well as suggestions for software to get to grips with, which you may find helpful on your quest to enter the games industry:
Universities & HE College Course Information:
University of Abertay Dundee
- BA (Hons) Computer Arts
- BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology
- BSc (Hons) Computing (Games Development)
- MSc Computer Games Technology
Queens University Belfast
Bournemouth University
- BA (Hons) Computer Visualisation & Animation
- BA (Hons) Interactive Media Production
- MA Computer Animation (Games)
University of Bradford
- BSc Computer Animation and Special Effects
- BSc Interactive Systems and Video Games Design
- BSc Virtual Design and Innovation
- MSc Computer Animation with Special Effects
University of Brighton
University of Derby
University of East London
University of Hertfordshire
University of Huddersfield
University of Hull
Leeds Metropolitan University
University of Lincoln
Liverpool John Moores University
- MA Digital Games
- BA (Hons) English Literature & Creative Technology
- BA (Hons) Interactive Design for Entertainment Media
- BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology
- BSc (Hons) Software Design for Entertainment Media
Middlesex University
Northumbria University
Nottingham Trent University
University of Paisley
University of Portsmouth
University of Salford
Sheffield Hallam University
University of Southampton
Staffordshire University
- BA (Hons) Design Animation / Technology
- BA (Hons) Interactive Multimedia
- BSc (Hons) Computer Science
- BSc (Hons) Computer Games Design
University of Teesside
- BA (Hons) Computer Animation
- BA (Hons) Computer Games Design
- BA (Hons) Creative Visualisation
- BSc (Hons) Computer Games Programming
- BSc (Hons) Virtual Reality
- MA Computer Animation
- MSc CAGTA (Computer-Aided Graphical Technology Applications)
University of Westminster
University of Wolverhampton
- BA (Hons) Animation
- BSc (Hons) Computer Science (Games Development)
- BSc (Hons) Virtual Reality Design
Design:
- Games Design/
- Wolf's Unreal Engine Editing - some nice clear tutorials on Engine editing.
- Planet Unreal
- A comprehensive list of design-related links here, ranging from site and map making and texture creation through to scripting, tools and mod sites.
- Gamasutra
- The Art & Science of Making Games – a very thorough and detailed website that covers all aspects of the industry with a detailed selection of links, articles and employment prospects.
- Game Design
- Forums talk about games design – invaluable resource for meeting and discussing concepts with other designers.
- Vancouver
- An interesting dissection of game design reproduced online, originally published in 1982.
Here’s a list of the computer software packages you are likely to use as a designer in the games industry:
- Freehand
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Photoshop
- 3Ds Max
Artist/Animation:
- Alias Wave Front
- Maya.
- Discreet
- 3D Studio Max.
- Adobe
- Photoshop.
- Gamasutra
- The Art & Science of Making Games.
- Fine Art
- Human anatomy pictures for artists.
- 3D Cafe
- 3D Café: free models, tutorials, textures, software, plugins, and web tools.
- Turbo Squid
- Resource sharing site for artists.
- Raph
- 3D artists’ website.
- CG Channel
- All-round computer graphics site.
- Max Underground
- Good 3D Studio Max site
- Highend 3D
- All round 3D program site.
- 3D Lurvr
- A good, comprehensive site for 3D art and animation.
Here’s a list of the computer software packages you are likely to use as an artist and/or animator in the games industry:
- 3D Studio Max
- Maya
- Photoshop
Programming:
- About AI
- Thorough coverage of all aspects of artificial intelligence.
- Stanford
- Broad-ranging discussion of various programming fields.
- Lupine Games
- A brief expose of various AI forms.
- Game Dev
- A Practical Guide to Building a Complete Game AI – Volume 1.
- Game Dev
- A Practical Guide to Building a Complete Game AI – Volume 2.
- Game Dev
- Game Programming 101 – Part 1.
- Game Dev
- Game Programming 101 – Part 2.
- 3D Rad
- All round site dedicated to 3D games programming.
- Talula
- A free programming library for C/C++ developers.
Here’s a list of the computer software packages you are likely to use as a programmer in the games industry:
- C
- Microsoft Visual C++
- OpenGL
- Direct 3D
Sound Design/Music:
- Steinberg
- The creators of Cubase – music production and audio equipment.
- Sony Pictures
- Resource for music production and editing software, including SoundForge.
- 1212
- Large and broad-ranging database of online music-related information.
- Apple
- Website for Logic – Apple Mac’s dedicated professional music software.
- Future Producers
- Thorough site covering aspects of music production, including an invaluable forum for discussions.
Here’s a list of the computer software packages you are likely to use as a musician or sound designer in the games industry:
General:
- IGN
- All round site for news, reviews, previews and everything else games related in this online magazine.
- Gamespot
- Another good, all-encompassing site for keeping up to date on the gaming world.
- Game Informer
- More news, reviews, previews and current trends in the gaming community.
- MCV UK
- Home computing and video games website for the trade paper. The movers and shakers in the business world of the games industry.
- Games Industry
- Another industry-orientated website, focusing on business aspects of the gaming world.