Develop your skills across a number of disciplines, including 2D illustration, 3D modelling and animation, games engine programming and visual effects. See your incredible ideas come to life and develop your portfolio with access to industry standard tech and support from experienced course teachers.
The core of our course is a year-long game development project, where you will be able to build a functioning game from the ground up. This experience is directly related to working as an independent games developer and gives you an inside look at how games are made from game art, game design, game development to finished prototype. You’ll be leaving with a portfolio full of excellent projects delivered to the standard potential employers and universities expect.
What you’ll learn
Course Breakdown
As a Games Design and Development student at Boomsatsuma you’ll gain technical skills and experience while developing a specialist area through a final game project. You’ll experience all aspects of the game-making process alongside broad areas that prepare you for a range of roles within the creative industries.
Equipment
Unity and Unreal Engine
Autodesk Maya and Mudbox
Substance Painter
Adobe Creative Suite
FL Studio
Studio Fee
The £150 Studio Fee is a one-off payment that covers both years of the course and covers extra costs that help to enrich the student programme, such as software licenses, online services, maintenance and use of equipment and to fund or subsidise additional trips and opportunities. In addition, it also includes a personal SD card for storage of captured film and photography, a Boomsatsuma ‘crew’ t-shirt, and full Adobe Creative Cloud license.
Year 1
Concept Art
Learn to develop original designs through digital and traditional techniques while exploring composition, colour theory and visual story telling. Create the visual style and feel for a game before entering the development stage, and begin to explore the world of character design.
3D Art and Modelling
Create your own game-ready 3D assets for a specified game. Students will learn how to model, unwrap and texture their own original models in industry standard softwares, Maya and Substance Painter. Learn about the industry standard process that 3D artists use, from animators to architects.
Game Engines
Students gain hands-on experience building immersive environments and game mechanics through industry standard tools and processes in popular Game Engines. Combine your imagination and technical skill with the power of Unity and C#.
3D Character Modelling
Model and texture your own original 3D character from concept to finished model, ranging from typical bipedal characters to something more stylised. Students will also have the opportunity to try sculpting for the first time, using Autodesk Mudbox.
Gaming App Development
Learn the tools and trade of a technical artist. In this unit you will get to understand how the artists connect with the programmers. Create your own unique art assets, whether 2D or 3D, and implement them directly into a game.
Game Design Document
One of the most crucial aspects of game development is planning. This project teaches students how to conceptualise, plan, and communicate game ideas clearly and professionally in the form of a Game Design Document, or GDD. Once you have created your document, you’ll learn how to pitch your game.
Passion Project
Students get the freedom to pursue a creative idea from everything they have learnt in year 1. This project encourages innovation, problem solving and personal expression. Learn professional workflows and pipelines for making games and interactive experiences.
Year 2
3D Environment
Students will design and create immersive digital spaces for games honing their skills already learnt in Year 1 to build believable worlds with industry standard tools and software. Learn about the way game developers design digital spaces to communicate information, from mission objectives to environmental storytelling.
3D and 2D Animation
Bring characters, objects and stories to life through movement. Students learn fundamental animation principles and industry techniques used in games, film and interactive media. Learn about the huge variety of animation types and styles, and be introduced to cinematography and software like Adobe Premiere Pro. Use the knowledge you build to create your own animatics and animations.
Audio Design for Games
Audio design introduces students to creating sounds that enhance gameplay and immersion Give your game a sense of realism with a unique soundtrack. Find and create music, foley and dialogue. Learn the basics of working in a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), working with samples, beats and instruments to create your own songs.
Game Merchandising
Game Merchandising explores how game worlds extend beyond the screen through physical products, branding and marketing. Design and bring to reality merchandise for your very own game, whether a poster, a plushy or a figurine.
Game Production
From concept to completion, Game Production introduces students to managing the process of game development. Industry workflow, teamwork and project planning skills are essential for delivering successful game projects. Specialise to create a final 2D or 3D game to showcase to employers and universities.
Student Work
See the bold, original projects our students are creating! From day one, they bring fresh ideas to life across film, photography, game design and digital media. From concept to final cut, experience the talent and creativity at the heart of Boomsatsuma.
Hear from the people living it – what it is like, how it feels and why it matters
“Boomsatsuma’s courses suited me perfectly, avoiding traditional exam pressure and large classes. Their supportive team taught me game development and related skills while providing a great pathway to university-level study.”
“The Games course pushed me to explore all areas of game development, helping me gain valuable insights and discover new interests like 3D modelling. This has improved my ability to collaborate with teammates and industry professionals.”
“I’m so glad I took the Game Design course at Boomsatsuma—it helped me grow in confidence, discover my strengths, and step outside my comfort zone in ways that wouldn’t have happened if I’d stayed at my school sixth form.”
“My time at Boomsatsuma has provided me with the skills and capabilities needed to to follow my dreams it has also supported me in my growth as a student and as a person moving on with my life and career.”
what makes us different
Why Study Game Design and Development at Boomsatsuma?
Create Your Own Game
Complete a full game project with your team
Industry Tools
Hands-on experience with software used by professionals
Define Your Path
Explore all areas of game development, then specialise.re your work with the public and industry professionals at our end-of-year exhibition
Where Are We?
Leadworks
One Millennium Square, Bristol BS1 5DB
Where can this course take you?
Graduates of Level 3 Games Design and Development could choose to apply for entry level roles in game studios, creative agencies and interactive departments in larger media organisations. This may include 3D modelling and texturing work, environment art, UI design, games testing and gameplay design. You might choose to continue your studies at university—Game Design and Production at Boomsatsuma could be your ideal next step.
How is this course connected to industry?
This course is designed to reflect how the games industry really works. You’ll collaborate with each other, just like in a professional studio. Take on the challenge of a four-day Game Jam, where you’ll create and pitch a game idea under real deadlines. Get direct industry exposure at EGX London, connecting with professionals and seeing the latest innovations. Step into a real-world environment with our Game Development Day, simulating studio roles and workflows. And throughout the course, you’ll build strong foundations by exploring gaming history through practical, hands-on projects and collaborate with students from the BA (Hons) Game Design and Production course.
Don’t miss this opportunity – come and see for yourself
Our Open Days are a fantastic chance to meet your tutors, your fellow students and see exactly what life will be like at Boomsatsuma.
All courses provide you with a Level 3 Extended Diploma worth up to 168 points. When you’ve completed the course, you’ll be awarded an overall grade of Distinction*, Distinction, Merit or Pass.
There are no exams for these courses. Instead you’ll be continually assessed through coursework.
You’ll need to be on track for at least five GCSE grades 4-9, two of which must be Maths and English. Alternatively you could be working towards a BTEC Level 2 Diploma and on track for a Merit or Distinction. We don’t offer level 2 courses but can recommend courses that you could do before studying at level 3 with us.
Absolutely! The Level 3 Extended Diploma award has equivalent UCAS points to A Levels, and the qualification is recognised by universities in the UK. Different courses have different requirements though, so we recommend that you check the entry requirements of the university course that you’re interested in.
Boomsatsuma College are responsible for over 500 learners in 10 centres and we have our own robust quality assurance procedures. We work in partnership with Olympus Academy Trust, one of the largest academy chains in the South West, who monitor our standards. Our students are enrolled as Olympus students.
Boomsatsuma further education courses adhere to the policies maintained by Digitech Studio School (part of Cabot Learning Federation) and Patchway Community School. You can find all policies here.
