5B077E - Studio Simulation 01 Sep 2027 - 31 Aug 2033 | Version 0

Associated Module Information

Module Code: 5B077E
Module Title: Studio Simulation
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Games and Design
Faculty Sub Group: Design
Module Leader: Pierre Laffoux
Module Team: Simon Reed, Gina Carpenter
First Intended Intake: SEP 2027 Final Year of Intake: 2032
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 30 Credit Level: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 101019 - computer games graphics
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 0
Valid From 01 Sep 2027
Valid To 31 Aug 2033

Module Aims

  • Develop collaborative pre-production skills aligned with professional studio environments.  

  • Enable students to research, ideate, and define a clear creative direction for a game concept.  

  • Foster structured planning, pitching, and communication skills for game development projects. 

Content Summary

Studio Simulation immerses students in a pre-production environment that mirrors professional game development studios. Working in multidisciplinary teams, students will respond to a defined industry brief by developing a game concept, establishing creative direction, and producing a structured pitch. The module emphasises ideation, research, and planning, enabling students to define visual identity, gameplay intentions, and production scope. 

Students will generate concept art, prototypes, and supporting documentation, including style guides and production plans, informed by research into audience, genre, and industry trends. Collaboration and role allocation are central, encouraging students to adopt specialist responsibilities while contributing to a shared vision. Iteration, feedback, and critical evaluation underpin the development process. 

Students will explore AI-assisted pre-production workflows, applying emerging technologies to research, planning, budgeting, scheduling, and concept development. Emphasis is placed on critical evaluation and informed decision-making, enabling students to understand how AI can support contemporary studio practice while maintaining creative ownership and professional responsibility. 

By the end of the module, teams will present a resolved pitch that demonstrates a clear, viable game concept and a coherent plan for production, preparing them for full development in subsequent studio practice. 

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 4
Seminar 8
Practical Classes and Workshops 18
Project supervision 8
Groupwork 18
Summative Assessment 60
Guided Study 10.5
Problem/Challenge based learning 173.5
Total Hours Selected 300

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Produce a cohesive game pitch, including concept development, visual direction, and supporting documentation, demonstrating collaborative working practices.
LO2 Research, analyse, and apply contextual and industry influences to inform design decisions and project planning.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment  Project Output  Online 0 6000 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Project Output 

Reading List

Essential 

Gahan, A. (2011) Game Art Complete: All-in-One. Focal Press.Ahearn, L. (2012)  

3D Game Textures: Create Professional Game Art Using Photoshop. Focal Press. ISBN: 9780240817682 
 

Birn, J. (2013) Digital Lighting and Rendering. 3rd ed. New Riders. ISBN: 9780321928986 Spencer, S. (2009)  

ZBrush Character Creation: Advanced Digital Sculpting. Sybex. ISBN: 9780470456705 

Light for Visual Artists: Understanding & Using Light in Art & Design Richard Yot. ISBN -0754635775 

Supplementary 

Derakhshani, D. (2023) Introducing Autodesk Maya 2024: Autodesk Official Press. Sybex. 
ISBN: 9781394204069 

DiGRA Digital Library: http://www.digra.org/digital-library/ 

Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals 

Games and Culture: http://journals.sagepub.com/home/gac