New Zealand Diploma in Screen Production (Game Design) (Level 6)

Study the new zealand diploma in screen production (game design) level 6 and be a part of a creative team that designs and develops rich immersive 3d gaming experiences. You will develop skills in worldbuilding from concept to production.

• Learn skills in 3D production so you can realise your world and characters to the fullest. Design and produce interactive immersive gaming experiences. You will be able to work on both solo and collaborative projects so you are exposed to a wide variety of skills and experiences which will prepare you for rewarding and creative future.
• Build, grow and produce your 3D Game Art and Design skills in the New Zealand Diploma in Screen Production (Game Design) Level 6. You will develop skills in designing and world building. 3D production from hard and soft body modelling to texturing and animating. You will apply these skills to developing and building your own 3D game projects. You will also build project management and team building skills in collaborate papers where you will work with other specialties to develop exciting interactive experiences.

This qualification is designed for people who have already completed a level 5 qualification or equivalent.

• Learn and develop skills in design using 2D and 3D skills to create full interactive worlds.
• Learn effective 3D skills to develop optimised 3d assets for games and cut scenes.
• Design build and animate 3D characters and environments.
• Design and create rich user centric gaming experiences
• Develop skills in communications, project management, leadership, and team building.

Course Content

BSA603 Cross-Disciplinary Workshops 2

• Students will participate and collaborate across disciplines to engage in a series of innovative and contemporary creative industry driven projects. Students will collaborate developing skills in versatility and adaptability within a visually creative environment. Students will research and develop an analytical understanding of emerging disciplines within the creative industries. Students will research and develop communication skills in leadership, decision-making, and group dynamics.

BSA642 Studio Digital 2

• Students will extend their understanding of project-focused research through creative industries practices. Within these fields, students will develop a body of work that reflects an in-depth investigation relevant to their research focus. Students will gain an understanding of the practical and theoretical implications of proposing, developing, and resolving a creative    industries project. Students will engage in historical and contemporary research relevant to their research focus. Students will demonstrate experience evaluating a range of practical and digital materials and processes to engage with target audiences. Students will also utilise documentation as a key research method.

BSA626 3D Animation Production

• Students will develop and manage a story and character driven 3D project for a short film or a game cut scene. Students will research and develop a workflow management strategy to ensure an effective, quality-driven, production pipeline. Students will develop and apply a range of current best practices from the gaming and animation industries. These will include techniques such as hard and soft surface modelling, look development, rigged and dynamic animation, and traditional and Realtime rendering. Students will develop their creative thinking and analytical problem-solving skills to deliver a complex project in a time-intensive environment.

BSA615 Studio Drawing 2

• Students will develop both physical and digital drawing skills. Students will explore their drawing methods by participating in a variety of group and individual exercises such as mural design, life drawing, and prompt illustrations. Students will produce a narrative-driven illustrated project, such as a graphic novel, children’s book, motion comic, manga, or comic, that distinguishes their own creative voice. Students will also examine relevant existing and emerging practises, and document project progress through self-reflective commentaries.

BSA 628 Gaming Art and Design 2

• Students will develop the skills to design and produce a 3D game with a defined user experience. Students will gain skills in the latest technology and techniques used within the 3D game development industry. Students will research best practises in asset optimisation to ensure peak performance on a chosen platform. Student will engage, design, and implement a management system to ensure reflective and iterative practises are developed into quality user experiences.

BSA612 World Building

• Students will develop their narrative and conceptual art skills to create an original fictional world. Students will be introduced to tools to articulate and demonstrate their world to an audience. Students will also examine relevant existing and emerging practices, and document project progress through self-reflective commentaries.

Career Opportunities

Graduates will be equipped with skills and knowledge to make a professional contribution to the screen and game development industries either as a specialist or across a range of roles.

• Game Design
• Game Animation
• Game Art 
• Level Design 
• Interactive Project Management 
• Production

All applicants should have previously completed New Zealand Diploma in Screen Production (Game Design) (Level 5) or equivalent skills and knowledge, and demonstrate a keen interest in screen production; applicants are also required to submit a portfolio of their work with their application. 

Mature Applicants

• Applicants of 20 years of age or over, at the time of programme entry, should demonstrate an interest and aptitude for screen production which demonstrate potential for success.  Examples may include completion of a programme of study at Level 2 or above in a related discipline and/or employment in a related field for two or more years. They may be admitted subject to programme regulations approved by the Head of Faculty in consultation with the Programme Manager as appropriate.  Personal commitment and a belief in one’s own ability to succeed are important personal traits and will always be taken into consideration during the selection process.

Additional Criteria - Portfolio Requirements

Applicants are required to submit a portfolio of their work with their application as follows:

• A paragraph introducing yourself and your interests in your chosen field.

A link or digital samples of your creative work, for example:

• 5-10 pieces of digital or traditional artwork, or 
• A short film, or animation,  or game you have worked on, or
• Photographs of a small garment collection or design spec sheets.
• You may be asked to do a short interview with the programme manager or appropriate staff member.

English Language Requirements

• Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following
• NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or
• An International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or
• Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or
• Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
• Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
• Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or
• Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment
• IELTS test - Academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5
• TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score 5 TWE)
• TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18)
• Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill.
• OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
• NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 4 (Academic) b) Level 4 (Academic)
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 50 with no band score lower than 42
• Language Cert - C1 Expert International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS
• Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than distinction in any band

To satisfactorily complete the New Zealand Diploma in Screen Production (Game Design) (Level 6), and be awarded this qualification the student must successfully achieve:

• A minimum of 120 credits in accordance with the programme schedule for the New Zealand Diploma in Screen Production (Game Design) (Level 6)
• The student will normally be expected to complete the New Zealand Diploma in Screen Production (Game Design) (Level 6) full-time over one year or part-time over four years

Please Note: Students failing to attend for 80 percent of the timetabled programme hours may forfeit Zero Fees entitlement.