Welcome. Guide BA (Hons) Computer Games Arts

Transcription

1 Welcome Guide 2014 BA (Hons) Computer Games Arts

2 2 Contents A welcome from your course leader 3 Induction week timetable 8 Equipment list 5 Student checklist 9 Cover: Jack Eaves Above: Jamie Jamieson

3 3 From your course leader We are delighted that you have chosen to study with us and warmly welcome you to UCA at Farnham. You will be encouraged to explore and develop innovative games art and design, as you work with like-minded students and enthusiastic and experienced staff that share a common passion for creating work of a high standard. As well as your own personal skills development you will gain the experience of working as a member of a games development team that is as close to industry practice as possible. We simulate the working criteria and mix of development skills that are required to produce a computer game. A creative culture and discourse is something that we strongly believe in, and consider our working environment to be very important in providing positive conditions to encourage, motivate and assist you in the process of art and design. Our goal is for you to be creative and successful, throughout your degree and in your subsequent career. Students learning from each other is a powerful tool and we encourage you to help your fellow students and yourself to learn as much as you can over the three years at Farnham. You will find the course staff to be extremely approachable and helpful in support of your learning but ultimately it is your own personal ambition and determination that will decide how well you will progress and develop with your studies, using the wide range of expertise, facilities and resources that are available to you. The course staff and I look forward to working, guiding and helping you over your time with us. Kind regards, Steve Brown Course Leader BA (Hons) Computer Games Arts Sbrown7@ucreative.ac.uk

4 4 This page: Alex Collins

5 5 Equipment list Sketchbook Although much of the art for computer games is created digitally, this is underpinned by traditional skills and the practice of making drawings, studies and notes regularly in a sketchbook is vital. You will need a hardback A4 sketch book and eventually a selection of drawing and painting media. Initially you will only need the sketchbook, pencils (2B or HB) and liner pen (0.5, 0.3). Graphics tablet You will need a graphics tablet for digital painting and drawing, creating and enhancing textures. Wacom tablets are the professional standard and the drivers for these are installed on UCA machines. The model we advise for students is the Wacom Intuos Pen (CTL480). This is available from many suppliers, the cheapest deal at the time of writing is from Tablet/dp/B00EO0R2IU If you already own the previous Wacom model (Bamboo) that is fine too. Storage You will need a portable USB 3 hard drive and a USB memory stick, both to back up and transfer project files. Go for a 500GB or 1TB drive (around 33-46, check that it is USB powered rather than a separate power supply), and a 32GB memory stick (around 8).

6 6 Equipment list Computer A good specification computer for working outside of class is essential. We do not recommend a Mac as most game development is PC-based and some key software will only run on Windows. The majority of our students find Windows 7 is a better choice of operating system than the current Windows 8. A good sized laptop is ok although many of our students have found a desktop PC is preferable as you generally get twice the amount of performance out of a desktop for the same price as any laptop. Also you are not limited to a smaller screen size. Companies that supply components and can put together custom builds are a good choice when working to a budget. They supply a range of desktops and laptops, or you can choose a system to your own specification. Also you can choose the operating system that is installed. Example companies are: As regards specification, this is a typical desktop PC configuration that has worked well for many of our students this year: Budget option: Processor: AMD Piledriver series Motherboard: any AM3+ socket compatible motherboard. Graphics card: AMD R7 Series (R7 250 upwards). RAM: 8GB Power supply: W Hard drive: 1TB Operating system: Windows 7 Home Premium

7 7 Equipment list Faster, but more expensive: Processor: Intel i5 or i7 (i upwards). Motherboard: any intel 1150 Haswell socket compatible motherboard. Graphics card: nvidia GeForce 700 series (GTX 750 upwards). RAM: 8-16GB Power supply: W Hard drive: 1TB plus a Solid State Drive (SSD) for fast boot of PC and programs Operating system: Windows 7 Home Premium If you want to go the laptop route, the Novatech nspire is an example of a typical laptop spec currently recommended by our students: Jack Eaves

8 8 Induction week timetable Monday 15 September 10am Meet in the central quad (outdoor square near reception) 10am 12.00pm Room W612 Course welcome from Steve Brown, Robin Ledger and Bill Balaskas 2pm 2.15pm Induction to Health and Safety 2.15pm - 4pm Orientation 4pm 6pm Refectory / courtyard All Students: campus welcome visit the refectory for your free drink and meet staff and students on campus Tuesday 16 September 9.30am am WO2 Lecture theatre Introduction to IT Services and Gateway services 4.30pm 5.30pm Room W02 International welcome for all new European and overseas students from Izabela Benisz 10am 4pm Refectory All students: Welcome to UCA Fayre drop in throughout the day for more information about our services. There will also be short introductory talks in W02 and W612 lecture theatres (which will be advertised on the day) Wednesday 17 September 10am 1pm Room G27 Workshop with Steve Brown and Robin Ledger 3pm 4.30pm Room G27 Workshop with Steve Brown and Robin Ledger

9 9 Induction week timetable Thursday 18 September 10am 1pm Room G14 Presentation with Steve Brown and Robin Ledger 2pm 4.30pm Workshop with Steve Brown and Robin Ledger Friday 19 September 10am 1pm Room G14 Presentation 2pm 4.00pm Room to be confirmed Workshop with Steve Brown and Robin Ledger Right John Barber

10 10 Student checklist Please use this as a guideline: If your offer is still conditional, a copy of your qualifications/results to admissions@ ucreative.ac.uk (unless you have applied via UCAS and are currently studying A Levels) Apply for accommodation Apply for student loans (if you want to) Read this welcome guide Complete your online enrolment Attend your physical enrolment session (remembering to bring your original exam qualifications/results and photo ID) Attend your induction sessions Upload a photograph for your Student ID Card/Library Card Pay your tuition fees and additional charges using the online payment facility Once you have fully enrolled you may also want to: Collect your Student ID Card/Library Card from the Library Obtain a letter to open a student bank account from myrecords in myuca Obtain a letter for council tax exemption from myrecords in myuca Register with a local doctor