We hold two Games Jams each year, and this first one acts as a rehearsal for an industry-sponsored one that we run in the Summer. The theme this time is hunger – so there’s lots of cooking games, zombies and even a Pac-Man inspired game,”

explained BSc Games, Design and Animation Course Leader Jay Shin.

Games Jams are open to students from all three year groups. Lecturer Ryan Callard said:

This year we’ve had a lot of first years taking part, dipping their toes in what is a high stress games design environment for the first time.”

Career success in games development and design is very much about what’s in your portfolio – showing potential employers what you can do. Students have two opportunities a year to complete a game alongside their coursework, and they also produce games within course modules.

It is the first time we’ve linked with music students, and we are keen to expand relationships across different Schools. Going forward we are exploring giving students a year-long development time for games, with acting and music students getting involved,”

Jay said.

Games enhance everything – there’s absolutely no subject that it can’t potentially collaborate with, Ryan added:

Nursing uses virtual reality simulations for example, and aviation has its FlightPad simulator.”

Third year student Michal said that for him, while making games is the best bit of the Games Jam, it has many benefits.

Games Jams give you the most experience. It’s like working in an actual job and really forces you to try new things and be better because you need to do everything fast,”

he explained.

• Find out more about studying for a BSc in Games, Design and Animation