This module introduces computer programming using a procedural problem-solving approach. It will focus is on the design and implementation of programs using the procedural facilities of a programming language which are widely used for developing graphical and other large-scale software applications. 

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Procedural programming concepts: problem solving, top-down design and functional decomposition 

• Development processes: specification, design, implementation, testing 

• Algorithms and control structures 

• Procedures and functions 

• Variables and data structures 

• Data types 

• Input/Output: string, file handling, basic use of objects 

• Program quality: production of correct, understandable and maintainable code, documentation and readability, and testing  

• Software tools and integrated development environments (IDEs): compilers, debuggers, libraries 

• C/C++ programming language 

• UML, flowcharts and design techniques 

• Prototyping, progressive enhancement, refactoring, and approaches to implementation 

This module introduces the fundamental principles and features that underpin all modern computing system design and describes how the execution of software is influenced by the processor architecture being used.  It will develop your awareness and understanding of the relationship between software and the hardware on which it executes. 

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Hexadecimal and binary number systems 

• Basic logic gates 

• Elementary Boolean algebra 

• Combinatorial and sequential logic circuits 

• Applications of logic circuits 

• Floating point and other number systems 

• The Central Processing Unit (CPU) and how code is executed 

• Machine code and programming in a low-level assembler language 

• Improving CPU performance 

• General Purpose Graphical Processing Units (GPGPUs) 

• Device controllers 

• Memory systems, cache memory and buses 

• Input & output methods and devices 

• Device controllers 

This module will provide a foundational knowledge of numerical, mathematical and statistical knowledge.  It will focus on the skills and concepts you will need for applications in computer graphics and emphasise the fundamental mathematics in computing. 

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Numerical and algebraic processes 

• Geometry 

• Standard functions: polynomials, trigonometric functions, logarithms, exponential functions  

• Computer arithmetic 

• Introduction to set theory and logic 

• Probability and statistics 

• Trigonometry and trigonometric functions 

• Vectors in 2- and 3-dimensions and vector algebra  

• Tangents and normals, line, curve and plane intersections 

• Matrices for 2- and 3-dimensional transformations, including homogeneous co-ordinates 

• Simple differentiation techniques 

This is the Work Experience module for this level of study. The type of Work Experience students will do is an applied project. 

Students will study varied, up-to-date and industry-standard game-making solutions, with due consideration given to LSEPI (Legal, Social, Ethical and Professional Issues). They will apply course relevant skills in team-based and individual project work, under staff supervision, where students are encouraged to form cross-disciplinary teams to work on course relevant projects. The projects’ aims will be selected to ensure they are appropriate for the students’ portfolio and directly relevant to graduate employment. Students will follow a project-based learning approach and have some control over the type of projects they work on with guidance from staff and the involvement of Steel Minions, a digital clinic within the department that works with research, industrial and student client projects for commercial release. 

In this module you will develop your programming skills, building on the material covered at Level 4. Here, you will learn and apply the OO programming paradigm for the development of larger-scale games software systems, using an appropriate and industry-oriented programming language. 

This is the Work Integrated Learning module for this level of study. The type of Work Experience you will have the opportunity to do is an applied project (type 2), during which you will be given the opportunity to work with the commercial game studio ‘Steel Minions’. This studio is part of Sheffield Hallam University and has completed and published a series of commercially successful products, but is a wholly separate commercial entity and one that is contracted to undertake work for external and commercial clients. As such, you will be given the chance to work with an external client, understand and work towards fulfilling their requirements, and evaluating the appropriateness, performance and effectiveness of any resulting product. Such work will provide a critical opportunity to develop experience with working in a professional environment and working to tight deadlines with clients, and will provide an ideal platform for adding a potentially impressive project to your CV. 

Indicative Content  

• Fundamental OO programming techniques: Use of key software techniques like data hiding, inheritance, polymorphism, abstraction. Features available within an object-oriented language (such as C# or C++) to support software reuse. 

• Evaluation of OO systems: Testing, evaluation and verification of simple OO components.  

• Apply appropriate agile approaches to manage their own work, and that of colleagues, in a co-operative, focussed team. 

• Professionalism: crafting a CV; applying for placements; interview techniques. Write a short report, critically reflecting on past and future performance based on a discussion with your academic advisor.  

• Learn an appreciation of the complete iterative game development pipeline: code, art, design, testing.  

• Use graphical terminology definitions, basic concepts and the characteristics and features of platforms to design and implement 2D and 3D games.  

• Use game development platforms, such as DirectX 11, Unity or Unreal, to implement computer game systems. 

• Discuss and apply Social, Legal, Ethical and Professional aspects of software development, with the aim of preparing you for your sandwich placement and employment when you complete your studies. 

This module extends your knowledge of mathematics, graphics algorithms and programming. It introduces a range of modelling, viewing and rendering techniques that underpin all graphical representations including games.  

You’ll study topics such as: 

• 2D and 3D geometry: vectors, points, lines, planes, polyhedra, and normals  

• Transformations: homogeneous co-ordinates, rotation, translation, reflection, scaling and shear in 2- and 3-dimensions, combined operations, and viewing transformation  

• Coordinate systems: model, world, normalised coordinates  

• Mathematics of projection: perspective, parallel, centre of projection and view plane  

• Culling and clipping algorithms  

• Mapping into a viewport  

• Rendering: scan conversion, hidden surface removal  

• Mathematics of illumination models and shading techniques: Flat, Gouraud and Phong shading  

• Quadtrees and Octrees  

• 3D object representation  

• Simulation of the physical world: modelling motion and collisions in one and two dimensions  

• Graphics programming: implementation of mathematical operations in software 

This module will continue to develop your programming skills, using the object-oriented programming paradigm for the development of larger-scale games software systems. 

You’ll study topics such as: 

• Object-oriented programming techniques: encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, abstraction 

• Software reuse 

• Evaluation of object-oriented systems: testing, evaluation and verification of simple object-oriented components 

• Agile approaches to software development 

• Professionalism: specifications, schedules, technical designs, and peer code reviews 

• Iterative game development pipeline: code, art, design, testing. 

• Characteristics and features of platforms to design and implement 2D and 3D games. 

Game development platforms, such as DirectX 11, to implement computer game systems 

Software executes on hardware, and an understanding of the synthesis of these two technologies - often mediated by programming language compilers - allows software engineers to optimise their programs' behaviours in a variety of ways and for different motivations. 

This module aims to make students aware of the most common methods of applying optimisation methods in practical situations. 

Indicative Content 

• Hand-made and compiler generated optimisation methods. 

• Optimising C++ code on Intel x86 (CISC) platforms. 

• Using compiler switches. 

• Using inline assembler to improve performance. 

• Performance monitoring and measurement 

• Hardware facilities for code execution optimisation 

• Concurrent execution introduction. 

• Further tricks and tips for optimising code on a RISC processor. 

This module is an applied project of work experience, enabling you to develop a successful game prototype – a ‘full vertical slice’ and a portfolio piece with industry-standard documentation. You’ll work with one or more game development platforms for handling real-time graphics rendering and simulation – using programming and scripting languages, editing tools, a viable asset pipeline and core gameplay code.  

You’ll apply skills and learning such as: 

• Rendering, collision management and particle systems 

• Scene management and data-driven development  

• Asset pipelines, shader technologies and gameplay 

• Principles of design for contemporary computer games 

• Creation and development of concept design documentation 

• Designing and building a game prototype 

• Evaluating design and evaluation paradigms and techniques 

• Planning, testing, marketing, publishing and support 

• Quality assurance, requirements engineering and configuration  

• Version control, git-flow, agile methods, scrum and extreme programming 

Students who enter this module typically have experience creating and developing low-level rendering applications for Windows-based PCs using frameworks such as DirectX 11. This module will expand the student's skill set by preparing them to work on additional games industry-standard platforms such as DirectX 12, and PlayStation 4 and 5. 

Indicative Content:

• Low-level rendering techniques & concepts in the context of games console application development

• Diffuse lighting and ambient lighting with materials

• A range of light types such as point, spot, directional and the underpinning mathematics

• Texture mapping using UV coordinates and advanced techniques such as texture tiling and scrolling/animated textures

• Transparency-based techniques such as semi-transparency, clipping and fog effects

This module is a research project of your choice – you’ll identify a computer-based problem, investigate the requirements, analyse results of research undertaken and design, and develop and evaluate a solution to that problem. You’ll then evaluate the project’s success, your learnings and opportunities for further work. 

You’ll apply skills and learning such as: 

• Ideation and planning a larger-scale project 

• Information gathering and literature reviews 

• The selection of tools, techniques or methods 

• Implementation, testing and user evaluation 

• Critical reflection on project deliverables, success or failure 

• Referencing and citation techniques 

• Legal, social, and ethical considerations  

• Security and confidentiality 

• Sustainable development and deployment 

• Employability skills and attributes