Computer Game Applications Development - BSc (Hons)

Abertay University

Build on your knowledge of programming taught in earlier modules (e.g. arrays, structures, simple collections). Gain an introduction to the standard data structures and algorithms that form the core of algorithmic thought in computer science and to the idea of reasoning about the behaviour and performance of a computer program. Indicative content - Reasoning about performance: The idea of an algorithm, time and space complexity, abstract data types. - Basic data structures: Linked lists, stacks, queues, hash tables. - Sorting and searching: Exhaustive and binary search, common sorting algorithms. - Trees: Simple trees, tree search algorithms, tree representations (XML, JSON). - Graphs: Simple and directed graphs, graph algorithms.

This module introduces the core principles of 3D graphics programming, focusing on the theory and practice of rendering in real time. You will learn the fundamental techniques behind modern 3D graphics, including transformations, lighting, shading and interaction, and apply them in the development of an application that demonstrates real'time 3D graphics. By the end of the module, you will have both a conceptual understanding and practical experience of how 3D graphics are implemented in interactive environments. Indicative Content - The Graphics Pipeline: Examine the functionality and performance of hardware and software within the graphics pipeline. - Graphical Primitives: Understand the role of vertices and polygons as the building blocks of 3D graphics. - Coordinate Systems: Apply transformations, projections and hierarchical transforms to position and manipulate objects in 3D space. - Geometry Ordering: Explore depth sorting and blending techniques to correctly render overlapping geometry. - Lighting: Study different types of lights and the calculations required to simulate realistic illumination. - Texturing: Learn how to apply 2D image data to 3D geometry to enhance surface detail and realism. - Model Processing: Gain experience in loading and rendering geometry from external sources. - Procedural Generation: Investigate techniques for generating and storing 3D geometry data algorithmically.

This module builds on the foundations of Mathematics for Application Development 1, providing Computer Games Application Development students with the essential mathematical building blocks for 3'D graphics programming. You will develop knowledge of advanced mathematical concepts such as transformations, vector geometry, ray tracing, dynamics and numerical methods, and apply them directly to problems in computer graphics. By linking theory with practical implementation, the module equips you with the analytical and problem'solving skills needed to design and program complex 3'D game environments. Indicative Content - Viewing Transformations: Study 2'D viewing transformation matrices, scaling factors, aspect ratios, windows, normalised device coordinates and viewports. - Lines and Planes: Explore vector and Cartesian equations of 3'D lines and planes, including distances from points to lines and planes, projection of lines onto planes and intersections. - Matrix Transformations: Apply 3'D matrix transformations of scaling, rotation, reflection and translation using homogeneous coordinates, and combine them through composite transformations by matrix multiplication. - Projection Matrices: Analyse standard orthogonal and perspective projection matrices used in 3'D graphics. - Ray Tracing: Investigate collision detection methods for rays intersecting with boxes and spheres. - Newtonian Concepts: Examine Newton’s laws of motion, momentum and impulse, collisions of bodies (elastic and inelastic), kinetic and potential energy, elastic strings, and the principles of work and power.

Please note: If you are a Direct Entrant (new student) to this year of study and have not previously taken module ABE101, then you MUST take ABE201 as your Term 2 microcredential module. If you have previously taken ABE101, then you are NOT permitted to take ABE201 in Term 2. Starting university brings new opportunities and challenges, and every student’s journey is different. This microcredential helps you settle into life at Abertay and build the habits that lead to success. You’ll hear from current students sharing their own tips, and reflect on the areas you most want to develop. You’ll get to know Abertay’s systems, explore what makes a successful student and practise core skills such as time management, referencing, academic writing style and using support services. By the end, you’ll have the tools and strategies you need to thrive at university. Indicative content - Navigating Abertay Systems: Get to know the key systems you’ll use at Abertay—such as MyLearningSpace, MS Teams, OASIS and MyAbertay—and learn how to use them effectively. - Expectations of University and You: Explore what’s expected of you as a student and what you can expect from the university. Topics include the code of conduct, independent and blended learning, how courses are structured, health and safety, and the Abertay attributes. - Abertay Discovery Tool: Complete the Discovery Tool to identify your strengths and areas for development across five themes: studying at university, academic skills, digital skills, careers and employability, and wellbeing. - Fundamentals of University: Learn how modules work, how assessments are set, and how to use assignment briefs and feedback to improve your work. - Understanding, Searching and Evaluating Information: Develop strategies for finding and assessing reliable information, building your confidence in research and study skills. - Successful Student Behaviours: Practise the habits that help you succeed: managing time, avoiding procrastination, effective note-taking, preparing for classes, developing a growth mindset, and making use of student support services. - Referencing: Understand academic integrity and why referencing matters. Learn how to avoid plagiarism, create in-text citations and reference lists, and use digital tools to manage your sources. - Sounding Academic: Discover what lecturers mean by “academic style” and how to use the right language in your writing. Learn the rules of academic writing, how to paraphrase effectively, and how expectations differ between school/college and university. You’ll also explore how assessments, marking and feedback work.

Build on the earlier module, Data Structures and Algorithms 1. Gain an introduction to parallel programming on shared-memory and GPU architecture, and the design techniques underpinning parallel applications. Use a range of case studies drawn from typical real-world applications. Indicative content - Parallel Programming: Explore the motivations for parallelisation, the concepts of parallelism and concurrency, Amdahl’s Law, high'level approaches to parallelisation and principles of parallel design. - Low'Level Programming with Threads: Learn how to start and join threads, share data safely, apply mutual exclusion, use synchronisation objects, and understand lock'free techniques. - High'Level Parallel Programming: Study task'based and message'passing parallelism, address data'parallel problems, and exploit locality in programming. - Instruction'Level Parallelism: Examine SIMD instructions and automatic vectorisation for performance optimisation. - GPU Programming: Understand GPU architectures, identify algorithms suited to GPUs, and apply GPU profiling techniques. - Parallel Patterns: Apply design patterns for parallel and concurrent programming, with awareness of sorting, numerical, image processing, searching and optimisation algorithms that benefit from parallelisation

This module builds on prior study in graphics programming, data structures and algorithms, and computer architecture to introduce the essential components required for developing a 3D physics'based game application. You will explore how hardware considerations influence design and implementation, and learn how to integrate graphics, physics and computational techniques to create interactive real'time applications. By the end of the module, you will have both the theoretical understanding and practical experience needed to design and implement a physics'driven 3D game environment. Indicative Content - Games Hardware (Introduction to Consoles): Explore device memory and CPU/GPU architecture characteristics, including cache architectures, locality, alignment, virtual memory, memory allocation techniques, pipelines, superscalar architectures, branch prediction, out'of'order execution, hyperthreading, multicore systems and NUMA. - User Interfaces: Learn methods to exploit touchscreen and controller pad inputs for effective user interaction. - Audio Engines: Study 3D positional audio, considering the position, orientation and velocity of both listener and emitter. - Physics Engines: Apply collision detection and rigid body dynamics using an appropriate physics library. - Character Animation: Examine different types and techniques of character animation for realistic movement. - Polish and Optimisation: Bring all components together, identifying opportunities for parallelisation while recognising console architecture constraints. - Multithreading: Cross'reference memory and CPU architectures to implement effective multithreading strategies.

In this module, you will develop a critical understanding of the computer graphics programmable pipeline and explore a range of graphics techniques. You will learn how to design, implement and evaluate methods for manipulating 3D graphics in real time, gaining both theoretical knowledge and practical skills that are essential for modern graphics programming and interactive applications. Indicative Content - Graphics Programming: Gain an introduction to the graphics programmable pipeline and understand its role in modern computer graphics. - Shaders: Learn how to create and use shaders within the programmable pipeline to control rendering and visual effects. - Vertex Processing: Explore standard vertex processing techniques alongside advanced methods such as height mapping and algorithmically controlled manipulation. - Pixel Processing: Develop post'processing techniques, including effects such as blur and depth of field, and learn how to use alternative render targets. - Lighting and Shadows: Study how lighting and shadows are processed within the programmable pipeline to achieve realistic visual effects. - Tessellation: Examine the dedicated pipeline stage for geometry subdivision and its role in creating detailed and efficient 3D models

In this module, you will develop a critical understanding of how to formalise, implement, test and iterate on functional game mechanics within a game engine. You will learn how to move from a designed mechanic to a finalised implementation, using testing, metrics and iteration to refine your work. You will also explore how to generate and analyse statistics from mechanics and gameplay to support the iterative design and balance process, enabling you to design, develop and critically evaluate complex game mechanics in practice. Indicative Content - Modern Game Functionality Programming: Review modern game development practices, focusing on the use of game engines and the different methods and levels at which functionality can be implemented. - Aspects of Game Design: Explore both theoretical and practical aspects of the game design process, drawing on established conventions. Analyse game systems from a game'theoretical perspective and learn how to construct and maintain related documentation. - From Design to Function: Develop skills in interpreting and extrapolating design documentation into formats suitable for engine implementation. Apply correct object'oriented standards within scripting, visual scripting and code. - Maintainable Design: Evaluate approaches to developing game functionality that support iteration and evolution of mechanics, and understand how this integrates with the work of other team members. - Hardware Integration: Learn how to align hardware with a game engine and integrate it effectively with specific game functionality. - Development Best Practices: Apply best practices in data logging, debugging and testing gameplay, with a focus on techniques specific to gameplay functionality. - Numerical Analysis and Data for Game Balancing: Review and apply mathematical techniques to analyse gameplay data and support the balancing of game parameters.

In this module, you will be introduced to a range of Artificial Intelligence techniques that are currently used, or are emerging, to enhance the development of intelligent systems. You will explore how these techniques can be applied across different domains, gaining both theoretical understanding and practical insight into how AI can be harnessed to solve real'world problems and shape future applications. Indicative Content - 'Traditional’ AI: Explore foundational approaches such as rule'based systems, finite state machines and behaviour trees, and understand how they are applied in intelligent system design. - Academic AI Techniques: Study advanced methods including fuzzy logic and fuzzy state machines, genetic algorithms, reinforcement learning, probabilistic techniques, artificial neural networks and clustering algorithms, and evaluate their strengths and limitations. - Applications of AI: Learn how different AI techniques can be combined to create artificial life (A'life) and intelligent systems across a range of domains. - Machine Learning as a Subset of AI: Examine how machines can learn from their environment, adapt to data and improve performance over time. - Evaluating AI/ML Applications: Investigate the range of metrics available to assess AI and machine learning performance, and understand how evaluation informs system improvement. - AI/ML Pitfalls: Develop awareness of the risks and challenges associated with inappropriate application of AI and machine learning, including ethical, technical and practical considerations.

Through a series of practical sessions and recorded Q&A with industry professionals, you'll be exposed to the expectations of professional games programmers. Practical sessions will model elements of job interviews and developing an appealing portfolio for entry-level positions in industry. Indicative Content - Technical assessment: Forms of assessment used in job interviews for game development. - Individual needs assessment: Probing personal skillset. Identifying opportunities for further development. - CV and portfolio development: Development of personal outreach documentation. - Industry expectations: Analysis of requirements for programming careers. - Career paths: Consideration of specialisms in games programming and alternative career paths, such as software engineering.

This module develops a critical understanding of the principles of computer networks as they are applied to the development of various types of online multiplayer computer games. You'll develop and evaluate the techniques used to implement networked computer games with a particular emphasis on real-time fast action games. Indicative Content - The Internet and Multiplayer Games: Computer networks, sockets and TCP/IP protocol stack. How all of this is used in and affects the performance of multiplayer computer games. - Network Protocols and Architectures: Main network protocols (TCP and UDP) and their relevance to the development of various types of networked computer games. Client-Server and Peer-to-Peer network architectures. - Data Storage and Message Passing: Data storage, serialisation and passing data between network endpoints. Network bandwidth, cross-platform data compatibility and communication reliability. - Network Synchronisation: All network data in games is outdated - how do we hide this from players? Implementing robust time-based communication between game instances. - Latency Mitigation: The effects of, and potential solutions to dealing with, latency in multiplayer computer games. Prediction and smoothing techniques for hiding latency and maintaining the user experience in multiplayer games. - Testing and Debugging: Methods for testing the functionality and performance of networked computer games in order to evaluate robustness against network variations. - Network Infrastructure: Overview of the world's network infrastructure and different types of networks from home LANs to 5G. Complex games networking architectures, matchmaking and networking for MMOs. - Security: Cheating and hacking in multiplayer games - how it works and how to protect games against it. Overview of common vulnerabilities and secure software engineering techniques. - Networking in Game Engines: Overview of advanced networking techniques used in modern game engines.

This module gives you the chance to design, develop and deliver a substantial individual project related to your programme. You’ll normally propose your own idea, carrying out initial research and proof-of-concept work in Term 1 to produce a detailed project proposal. In Term 2, you’ll focus on the main development phase, applying your knowledge and skills to complete the project to a professional standard. Indicative Content - Investigation, Research and Selection: Initial investigation of project topic, Background research of project topic and Selection of project topic - Evaluating: Methods of evaluating a project. - Legal, Social, Professional and Ethical Issues: Consideration of Legal, social, ethical and professional issues. - Proposal: Production of a project proposal. - Project Feasibility and Proof of Concept: Demonstrate Feasibility of Project - Self-directed problem solving, Originality and Creativity - Self Motivation, Initiative and Insight - Software Design Skills - Recording, Reporting and Communication Skills - Employability and professional development

This module gives you the opportunity to present a major individual project as a formal dissertation. You’ll normally propose your own topic, drawn from a current industry or research problem within your field. You’ll be expected to present your work in a clear, structured and academically rigorous way, demonstrating critical insight and evaluation of both your project and the artefact produced. The final dissertation will be written in an academic style appropriate to your discipline. Indicative Content - Introduction: Introduce the topic of the project and the problem area with and appropriate research question. - Investigate: Investigate previous work in the chosen project area, and show how the work of the project relates to it. - Justify: Demonstrate a sound justification for the approach and methodology adopted. - Document: Document the output of the project with some originality. - Evaluate: Critically evaluate the output, using third party evaluation where appropriate, and recognise the strengths and limitations of the work. - Communicate: Demonstrate an ability for independent learning and linkage to future work and career aspirations.

This module introduces you to the theory and practice of game audio, equipping you with the technical knowledge and creative skills to design, implement and evaluate sound and music within games. You’ll explore how audio is represented and processed digitally, how the human ear perceives sound, and how different types of audio—from effects and ambience to dialogue and music—contribute to immersive gameplay. You’ll also gain practical experience using audio tools, middleware and game engines to integrate, manipulate and optimise sound assets, developing a professional understanding of how game developers and audio specialists collaborate to create engaging player experiences. Indicative Content - Introduction to Audio: How the ear works, frequency and pitch, amplitude, phase, sampling, aliasing, Nyquist, time vs. frequency representations, sinusoids, effects of basic operators. - Digital Audio: Digital representations, sample rate, bit depth, numerical computation concerns for audio ADCs and DACs, processing latency. - Audio Processing: Basic processing techniques and their implementations: normalisation, mixing, distortion, digital fillers, IIR/FIR, pitch and frequency shifting, ring modulation, reverb. - Audio Design for Games: Types of sounds used in games - sound effects, ambient sound, dialogue, music - sound editing, sound design in game environments, creating immersive environments. - Audio Compression: Lossless codecs, perception and masking, perception of quality, perceptual codecs, streaming audio, audio processing for real-time chat, producing audio assets for games. - Audio in Game Engines: Audio facilities in real-world game engines and middleware, linking sound to animation, configuring audio events and music, effective scene switching, comparing widely-used engines. - Digital Music: How music theory relates to audio basics, structure of music and basic compositional techniques, sequencing and MIDI, streams of notes, streams of control messages, synthesis vs. sample playback, waveforms, envelopes. - Spatial Audio: Perception of spatial audio, multichannel audio vs. binaural audio, environmental audio design, realistic reverb, characteristics of materials, reproducing an environment through interaction with a game engine, plugins for spatial audio. - Dynamic Audio: Uses of dynamic audio in games, case studies of complex dynamic effects, guiding the player, notifications, voices, dynamic audio middleware and integrating it with a game engine.