In this interview, we sit down with Dr Chris Child, Programme Director of the MSc in Computer Games Technology with VR.
Academic interests and expertise
Can you tell us about your academic and research background?
My research is in AI, with a games focus, building reinforcement learning agents that model their computer game environment and learn to act in the model before taking action in the real environment.
I’ve been a games technology lecturer since 2005 and became course director for Computer Games in 2008. This has been an incredibly rewarding course to teach as I’m always working with creative students who have a passion for games. Since 2020 I’ve also taken on the role of Associate Dean for Employability and Engagement, helping our students get jobs and start their own businesses.
What inspired you to specialise in your current field of study?
I’ve been writing games since I was 8 years old, starting on a Vic 20 and then a ZX Spectrum. I’ve always loved making and playing games and am fascinated by the mechanics of games. Computer game courses didn’t exist when I was an undergraduate, but I managed to make games wherever there was an opportunity. My final year project was a cricket game that would eventually evolve into the Cricket Captain game series, which has now been running for 27 years. It’s been a great challenge building the game on different platforms, starting with PC and PlayStation One, and now mobile, tablet and Switch versions.
My research has recently had several breakthroughs, which has been great fun and very rewarding. AI is such a vibrant area to work in at the moment. When I started my PhD in 2000, there were very few opportunities to work in the area and academia was the only way to indulge my passion. Now AI is everywhere, but the ability for agents to model environments and make plans is still a huge and exciting challenge.
What do you enjoy most about teaching and mentoring students?
I love the creativity of our students. The course is very technical, but students are trying to develop their dream games rather than just learn a skill. It’s great to see the technical aspects click and then release this wave of creative output. Our game demo days are a celebration of the work our students do and everyone cheers each other on.
Why this course?
What makes this postgraduate programme unique within its field?
The course teaches programming skills from the ground up. In the games industry companies hire programmers or artists. Most courses try to teach a bit of each which makes you a jack of all trades but master of none. We focus entirely on programming, with that as the career goal. There are some elements of game design methodology so that students can understand how to turn their vision into reality, but the focus is programming, programming, programming.
What support is offered to help students transition from undergraduate to postgraduate study?
We require some programming skill before starting the course, but if that is not part of your undergraduate course, we suggest programming modules to get up to speed before the course starts. We then teach C++ from a fairly basic level which allows anyone to get up to speed with coding before the serious game programming starts.
Are there opportunities for networking with alumni or industry professionals during the course?
Networking is a key focus of the course. We have regular meetups with alumni, many of whom are now working at companies like Rockstar and Razorworks, as well as those who have built their own start-ups. All students are invited to these, and the atmosphere is always fun. It’s a great chance to get to know your own cohort better too. Several of our modules are now taught by alumni of the course, who are working in industry and teach in their own time.
Career paths
How does the programme help students develop skills for their future careers, whether in academia or industry?
There are several career paths available to our students. Most are looking to work in programming roles in the industry (e.g. AI, audio, graphics, or game engine development). The ability to make games from the ground up, also means that it’s easy to build your own game and release it to the market or create a new start-up.
What career paths have graduates from this programme typically followed?
Most of our graduates are in programming roles in games companies. There are also students making VR experiences or using game technology to build 3D design tools. Others have started companies using the skills they have learnt and even employed other students from the course along the way. The network and teamwork aspects of the course often mean that our graduates look to their old classmates when they’re hiring new staff.
Tips for offer holders
If you could highlight one thing that students should look forward to in this programme, what would it be?
Having fun. The course is very hard work, but also incredibly rewarding. The friends you’ll make, all with a passion for games, will be friends for life, and the skills you’ll learn will be a fantastic asset, whether you decide to stay in the games industry or just make games for the joy of it.
What advice would you give offer holders as they prepare to join this course?
The better your coding skills before you join the course, the more you’ll enjoy it and get out of it. Spend some time brushing up on your C++, C# or Java skills before you join. It’s not a requirement, but it will help you hit the ground running.