BA (Hons)
GAME Design
and PRODUCTION.
An Introduction.
Unlock the potential of games in this studio-led course. Join us to make interactive experiences that are playful, purposeful, and most importantly, fun.
The games industry continues to thrive both commercially and artistically. From AAA and indie studios to sole developers, people are (right now) crafting titles that push the envelope and are loaded with creativity. But this is only part of the story - the very role of games is expanding. With ever deepening value beyond entertainment, games are being harnessed across multiple sectors to inform, inspire, persuade, share important stories, and encourage meaningful change.
BA (Hons) Game Design and Production at boomsatsuma takes a hands-on approach to games - whether they be market-driven, socially motivated, or purely for fun. You’ll explore the artistry and technologies behind a well-designed game, as well as how gameplay can be applied in areas like science education, fitness, cultural heritage, and environmental conservation. With input from industry specialists, our aim is to help you build the knowledge, skills and experience needed to shape a rich and varied career in the games industry.
Across the course you’ll critique and modify existing games, build new playful experiences for multiple platforms (including tabletop, web, mobile and XR), and learn to understand player motivations, expectations and behaviours. You’ll also discover routes to commercialising ideas, alongside methods for documenting and showcasing your games professionally and with flair - all within a supportive studio environment that celebrates experimentation and imagination.
Attendance 3 years / Full time
UCAS code GDP1
Year of entry 2022
Location Tobacco Factory, Bristol
Validated by Bath Spa University
The Structure.
This course guides you through how games are made, what makes them fun, and how they can offer benefits beyond entertainment. Through making sessions and critical discussions, we cover everything from visuals and sound, to rules, level design and world-building. You’ll also test and evaluate a variety of games and playful experiences, as well as explore a wide range of game genres, mechanics, and creative applications.
There are no exams. Instead you’ll be assessed on the quality of your games and the ideas that drive them, alongside essential communication and commercialisation skills. Classes are largely studio-led and aligned with the workflows and practices found in indie game studios. You’ll learn by making - through ideation challenges, game jams, development sprints and more - with theory helping to inform and add meaning to your design decisions.
Year One
Year Two
Year Three
Why boomsatsuma?
Our vision is to fuel creative industries with a confident and talented workforce of diverse and empowered individuals. If you want to be part of that revolution, we need to talk…
We’re doing education differently; closing the gap between your degree and the creative industries you want to work in by giving you realistic and honest pathways. We work directly with key industry partners to construct agile and relevant courses designed to fill true industry gaps.
Our course leaders are talented and inspiring industry professionals who give you the edge with powerful insights and training. With capped course sizes, we don’t just tick boxes, we put YOU first; letting you focus on your passion with bespoke and tailored learning in open and inclusive, creative environments. You’ll get the qualifications you need to progress into your career, but you’ll also enter your creative industry with the work ethic, confidence and skill to absolutely smash it.
The Space.
You’ll be studying in Tobacco Factory, Bristol - a creative and innovative hub in the heart of the city. The building is one of the last survivors from the vast Imperial Tobacco site; saved from demolition by architect George Ferguson.
Today, it is a multi-purpose building that is home to not only boomsatsuma Degrees, but also a lively Cafe Bar, Makers Market, meeting spaces, the offices of several creative organisations, a performing art school. The building is also home to Tobacco Factory Theatres – one of the most exciting performance venues in the country.