Course Information for the Computer Game Development Degree at University of Wollongong Malaysia (UOWM)

Find Out More About the Game Development Degree Programme at UOWM

Students who love gaming and have a passion to design them can consider studying the Bachelor of Games Development at the best university for this course in Malaysia at University of Wollongong Malaysia  (UOWM), Utropolis Glenmarie campus. In this article, you will learn more about the course details like the subjects, fees, intake dates, facilities and more. You will also find out why you should study the game development degree at UOWM.

A First Rate Computer Games Development Degree Programme in Malaysia at Wollongong  Malaysia (UOWM) KDU

Electronic games is one of the fastest growing industries in the world economy with net earnings surpassing that of the film industry. The global market for electronic games is expected to grow to US$102 billion in 2017. In light of this incredible growth and with the pressing need for game developers with very specialised skills, this degree programme aims to cultivate high quality graduates familiar with production processes and aware of what is needed to produce successful games.

UOWM lecturers are actively involved in the industry and are experts in their respective fields. In this unique Bachelor of Game Development (Hons) programme, students are given the opportunity to specialise in one of three game development disciplines.

For those who have a keen eye for visual aesthetics and 3D Modelling, consider being a game artist. Students who enjoy analysing, writing stories and crafting experiences, can opt to be game designers. For those who love mathematics, problem-solving and going through lines of codes, they can make game technology their preferred specialisation.

1. GAME ART handles the visual components of games. Game Artists have to learn how to create 3D and 2D art assets for various types of games ranging from simple pixel-based graphics to hyper-realistic graphics for total player immersion.
2. GAME DESIGN handles the gameplay, mechanics, level and world design as well as storytelling/narrative of electronic games. Game Designers have to learn how games function to construct experiences, including play mechanics, game balancing, social game interaction and the integration of visual, audio, tactile and textual elements into the total game experience.
3. GAME TECHNOLOGY focuses on the technical aspects of Games such as physics engines, graphics engine, artificial intelligence and networking. Game Programmers have to learn the optimisation of mainstream algorithms such as path-finding and sorting, and real-time 3D rendering for a ground-up games engine or modification of an existing engine.

Awards won by the Computing & Game Design Students at University of Wollongong (UOW) Malaysia KDU

• KPMG Cyber Challenge 2019: University of Wollongong (UOW) Malaysia KDU Wins Top University Award
•  Level Up KL 2019 -SEA Game Awards 2019 Nominees – Echoes of You and House of Ignotus by KDU Glenmarie Games
• Best of Tertiary Student category at the MSC-Malaysia Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APiCTA) 2018
• SCCM’s game development students made headlines during the recent South East Asian game developer’s conference – LEVEL UP KL 2018, by walking away as winner in the ‘Best Student Game’ award category. Eight Game Development students conquer the ‘Best Student Game’ award category with their winning game called Terminus: Lockdown. The award recognizes the overall best game developed by students from the Southeast Asia region. Terminus: Lockdown, is a third-person survival shooter game where the players play the role as a lone Technician trapped in a world filled with deadly parasitic plants infesting the halls of an abandoned space station.
• UOWM KDU Team EzSense, the second runner-up winner for the 23rd International ICT Innovative Services Awards (InnoServe Awards). Their innovative product, EzSense, an IoT- enabled commercial aquaponics monitoring kit using an Arduino microcontroller and LoRa wireless technology.
• Three KDU’s Game Development Alumni walked away with a seed grant worth RM 50,000 and an Adobe Create Cloud license when they came out top as the winner of Intellectual Property Creators’ Challenge (IPCC) 2018 – Commercial Ready Game
• Level Up SEA Game Jam 2017 -Teo Jia Luen, a Bachelor of Game Development student; Lai Ze Ren, a graduate of the same programme, were both in the same team that won the first place and walked away with a cash prize of RM8000. The game which their four-member-team made was a ‘clicker’ type that focused on building the entrepreneurial spirit.Apart from that, Ms Nabilah Raihan Binti Zakaria, a Game Art Lecturer was part of the team that won third place, by providing the visuals for a multiplayer pixel art game.
• Level Up KL 2016 – the largest and most prestigious regional game conference in Malaysia – by being crowned as the top three winners in the SEA Game Jam 2016 together with the inaugural Industry Recognition Award 2016
• MSC- APICTA 2016’s Best of Tertiary Student Category – Creative Multimedia prize for their First Person Co-Op Shooter Game called Combat Infiltration Droid (C.I.D)
• Awarded an Entry Point Project under the Malaysian Government’s Economic Transformation Plan (ETP), spearheading the Game Development Industry in Malaysia.
• MyGameDev2020 is an initiative spearheaded by University of Wollongong (UOW) Malaysia KDU that represents the start of a strategic collaboration between educational institutions and industry sectors.
• University of Wollongong (UOW) Malaysia KDU collaborates with Codemasters Studios to develop talent and to build national awareness.
• Bachelor of Game Development (Hons) programme student won The Merit Award for the MSC-Malaysia APICTA 2013 awards under the Best of Tertiary Student Project Category (Creative Multimedia)
• Bachelor of Computing programme won the central zone category for the MyInovasi 2012 competition, a competition organized by the Ministry of Higher Education to promote innovation and creativity.

University of Wollongong Malaysia (UOWM) offers a Top Rate Bachelor in Game Development (Hons) Programme

UOW Malaysia has always been recognized as one of the premier Game Development Institutes in Malaysia and is the forerunner for producing the best graduates in this field. As one of the earliest private educational institutions in Malaysia, the university not only pride themselves with delivering quality education, they are also championing the nation’s digital content initiative in Game Development.

As they continue to grow and evolve, UOW Malaysia has now taken the role as one of the primary movers in the space of Game Development for both education and industry collaborations. The UOW Malaysia Bachelor of Game Development Program is one of the biggest talent suppliers to the industry at the moment.

UOWM lecturers are actively involved in the industry and are experts in their respective fields. In this unique Bachelor of Game Development (Hons) programme, students are given the opportunity to specialise in one of three game development disciplines. For those who have a keen eye for visual aesthetics and 3D Modelling, consider being a game artist. Students who enjoy analysing, writing stories and crafting experiences, can opt to be game designers. For those who love mathematics, problem-solving and going through lines of codes, they can make game technology their preferred specialisation.

UOW Malaysia is offering the Bachelor of Game Development (Hons) and Foundation Studies (Art and Technology) programmes. The Bachelor’s degree programme allows students the option to specialise in any one of the three discipline tracks in Game Development — Game Art, Game Design and Game Technology. The school is pioneering the concept of ‘technological artistry’ in Malaysia, an approach to incorporate creativity into technology in order to produce graduates who will be the bridge between the two fields.

1. GAME ART handles the visual components of games. Game Artists have to learn how to create 3D and 2D art assets for various types of games ranging from simple pixel-based graphics to hyper-realistic graphics for total player immersion.
2. GAME DESIGN handles the gameplay, mechanics, level and world design as well as storytelling/narrative of electronic games. Game Designers have to learn how games function to construct experiences, including play mechanics, game balancing, social game interaction and the integration of visual, audio, tactile and textual elements into the total game experience.
3. GAME TECHNOLOGY focuses on the technical aspects of Games such as physics engines, graphics engine, artificial intelligence and networking. Game Programmers have to learn the optimisation of mainstream algorithms such as path-finding and sorting, and real-time 3D rendering for a ground-up games engine or modification of an existing engine.

What will I study in Game Development at UOW Malaysia?

The Bachelor of Game Development syllabus at UOW Malaysia is a direct result of in-depth analysis and collaborations with industry partners and game development pioneers to ensure our graduates are not only employable but desirable talents that can integrate seamlessly into the industry. The syllabus evolves to stay relevant to current industry needs, trends and practices.

The Game Development degree program at UOW Malaysia is endorsed by a major UK-based game development studio and stalwarts in the local industry. The program’s streamlined syllabus and industry insights produces sought-after talents, drawing many a studio to headhunt and handpick talents before they even graduate. With three specialised streams to choose from, our program is one of the most comprehensive Game Development programs out there.

Bachelor of Game Development Program is also endorsed by Codemasters Studios. The collaboration entails the adoption of industry benchmarking and standards for curriculum and assessment methods in the program delivery. Codemasters is one of Britain’s oldest video game development companies and is considered Europe’s largest independent games company with nearly 700 employees in the UK alone. The Bachelor of Game Development Program is also one of the first programs outside North America and Europe to be an Unreal Academic Partner. The Unreal Academic Partner Program recognizes universities and schools that have committed to providing high-quality educational opportunities with an experienced faculty, proven curricula, sufficient facilities, and resources to meet the demands of the global game development industry.

3 Areas of Specialisations in Game Development at UOW Malaysia

The Bachelor of Game Development (Honours) program is specially crafted and development by industry professionals and pioneers. Students entering this program are presented with the opportunity to specialize in three distinct areas:

1. GAME ART handles the visual components of games. Game Artists have to learn how to create 3D and 2D art assets for various types of games ranging from simple pixel-based graphics to hyper-realistic graphics for total player immersion.
   • Art has come a long way from the first video games with little pixels to represents character or objects to today’s showcase of high-end visually stunning graphics. Game Artists today are a specialized breed of talents with not only an eye for visual aesthetics but also a strong degree of technical knowledge. Nowadays many games rely on hyper realistic graphics to pull players into an immersive and engaging world of digital games. Game Artist have to be good in their observation skills, have a sense of aesthetics and have a keen mind to explore the known world. if you enjoy drawing, reading comics, watching anime, appreciate art in various forms or medium; then the path of a Game Artist is indeed for you.
2. GAME DESIGN handles the gameplay, mechanics, level and world design as well as storytelling/narrative of electronic games. Game Designers have to learn how games function to construct experiences, including play mechanics, game balancing, social game interaction and the integration of visual, audio, tactile and textual elements into the total game experience.
   • Game Design is the art of crafting experiences. It is often the first step in making a game, but a game designer’s job doesn’t stop by just thinking of ideas. Game Design covers the gameplay mechanics, level design, narrative, documentation and interactions within a game. Game Designers also needs to know a little bit of marketing and business in order to monetize their games. There is no shortage of ideas for cool games, but ideas are free. Game Designers are tasked with taking that idea and turning it into something tangible and commercial. Game Designers have to be creative yet analytical, observant yet curious. They need to be able to propose a theory and put that theory to the test through rigorous playtesting and perform quality checks before the product is ready to be shipped.
   • If you love reading, have a creative mind and are interested in crafting worlds and experiences, then maybe Game Design is the path for you.
3. GAME TECHNOLOGY focuses on the technical aspects of Games such as physics engines, graphics engine, artificial intelligence and networking.
   • Game Programmers have to learn the optimisation of mainstream algorithms such as path finding and sorting, and real-time 3D rendering for a ground-up games engine or modification of an existing engine. Behind every game, behind those dazzling special effects, the intriguing dialogues, or even the enjoyable game-play system, they are bound together by strict and complex lines of codes. These codes govern how the game functions, when certain sounds are meant to happen and more importantly, help makes the game play smoothly.
   • Students will explore new technologies like 3D graphics, animation, game mechanics, user interface designing for games, gaming software development, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and interactive design.

What are the Subjects that you will Study in the Bachelor of Game Development (Hons) Programme at UOW Malaysia?

Year 1 

• Oral Communication
• Fundamentals of Game Design
• Fundamentals of Game Technology
• Fundamentals of Game Development
• Fundamentals of Game Art
• Professional Development and Leadership Skills
• Specialisation (4 Subjects)

Year 2 

• Game Project Studio 1
• Game Project Studio 2
• Human Computer Interaction for Games
• Game Business & Marketing
• Research Methodology
• Specialisation (6 Subjects)

Year 3 

• Final Year Project 1
• Final Year Project 2
• Internship
• Electives (4 Subjects)

Specializations

Game Art

• Digital Drawing
• Digital Imaging
• Animation Principles
• Introduction to 3D Modeling
• 3D Game Modelling and Texturing 1
• 3D Game Modelling and Texturing 2
• 3D Game Animation 1
• 3D Game Animation 2
• 3D Game Art Development
• Advance 3D Game Art

Game Design

• Game Genre Studies 1
• Game Systems Analysis and Design
• Game Level Design
• Game Social and Culture Studies
• Game World Creation
• Games Narrative
• Multiplayer Game Design
• Game Genre Studies 2
• Game QA and Testing
• Game Support Documentation and Review

Game Technology

• Fundamentals of Programming
• Logic, Math & Physics for Games
• Data Structures & Algorithms
• Object Oriented Programming
• Game Programming
• Graphics Programming
• Mobile Game Development
• Object Oriented System Analysis and Design
• 3D Game Programming
• Data Communication & Networking

ELECTIVES

• Digital Audio for Games
• Concept Art for Games
• 2D Game Art Development
• Artificial Intelligence for Games
• Game Engine Architecture and Design
• Integrated Game Commercialisation Project 1
• Integrated Game Commercialisation Project 2
• Presentation Skills
• Motion Graphic Design

Highly Experienced Game Development Lecturers

To study games, you must learn from people who produced games. All of UOW Malaysia’s game development lecturers have worked or are still actively involved in the video game industry; and are experts at their respective fields. Learning from their insights and industry-experience would greatly enhance your learning experience. The lecturers include a healthy mix of full-time and part-time staff, some of whom are currently CEOs and CTOs of their respective game studios but have dedicated their time to ensure that the degree program is of the highest standards. Our teaching staff includes people who has worked on games on the PS3 such as SEGA ALL STARS Racing and Afro Samurai; Stormriders Online (one of Malaysia’s first MMO); concept artist for Dark Souls; one of the founding members of the Women-in-Games Malaysia (WIGout); the founding chairman of the Game Development Association of Malaysia and many more.

Our students have or are working in the following studios:

• CD PROJECT RED, POLAND
• CODEMASTERS STUDIOS MALAYSIA (INTERNATIONAL STUDIO)
• PLAYSTATION STUDIOS MALAYSIA (INTERNATIONAL STUDIO)
• DOUBLE ELEVEN MALAYSIA (INTERNATIONAL STUDIO)
• STREAMLINE STUDIOS (INTERNATIONAL STUDIO)
• LARIAN STUDIOS MALAYSIA (INTERNATIONAL STUDIO)
• NAMCO BANDAI STUDIOS MALAYSIA (INTERNATIONAL STUDIO)
• VIRTUOS STUDIOS (INTERNATIONAL STUDIO)
• PASSION REPUBLIC
• LEMONSKY GAMES
• METRONOMIK GAMES
• KAIGAN GAMES
• APPXPLORE
• FORUST
• MAGNUS GAMES STUDIO
• And many more.

Game Lab at UOW Malaysia

This is where Game Development students will be spending most of their time at.

Equipped with powerful equipment necessary for your education, the Game Lab in UOW Malaysia has everything that you’ll need to play the latest and greatest titles on the market currently. Of course, playing won’t be everything you’ll do in this lab. You’ll be developing games from the ground up.

The Game Lab offers 11 units of Alienware Aurora gaming desktop systems. In a room found next to this, is the Game Console Area, where there’s Sony PlayStation 3, one Special Edition Gears of War themed Xbox 360, and a Nintendo Wii.

What are the career options of a Game Developer?

The video game industry is a multi-billion dollar industry with many game development career options to choose from, both on the highly technical and creative sides of the field. If you have the commitment, skills and drive to immerse yourself in the world of video games, the possibilities are endless. The image shows some of the career possibilities in this fast-growing sector.