Studying the University of the West of Scotland's BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology degree

Barry Wood, graduate of the University of the West of Scotland's Skillset Accredited BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology degree

Barry Wood

University of the West of Scotland
BSc Computer Games Technology graduate

What was it originally that attracted you to study there?

Being from Glasgow, its location was a major factor. The only other viable course was based in Dundee which would have meant moving out, which I wasn't so keen on at the time.

What was the most important thing you learnt:

a) conceptually?

My honours project, being left on my own to research and create a piece of software that I had previously no knowledge on how to accomplish, was of great benefit to me. It gave me the confidence in my own ability to be able to complete any task given to me once I had started my career in the games industry.

I was given the job and told that my game was one of the best 2-day interview games from a graduate programmer they had ever seen - yet I felt I had done nothing special, I had just implemented a few of the things I'd learnt at university

b) technically?

It's hard to pinpoint one technical aspect. To be honest, a combination of all the wide range of game-specific techniques that were taught on the course were the most important things I learnt.

When I went for my first interview after I graduated, we were given a 2-day task to create a mini game with a few meshes that were supplied to us (2 boats, a mine, and a water plane).

Once my task was completed, I was given the job and told that my game was one of the best 2-day interview games from a graduate programmer they had ever seen - yet I felt I had done nothing special, I had just implemented a few of the things I'd learnt at university (particle effects, collision detection, etc).
 
What was the toughest, most challenging thing you encountered?

The honours project was the toughest part. I'd never been that great at English in high school, so to think I was going to have to create a massive report, after reading countless pages of research, was a very daunting thought to me, but was ultimately worthwhile as I firmly believe my literacy skills improved dramatically during and after the project, which will stand me in good stead for the rest of my life.
 
What do you feel were the best parts of your course/university?

Most of the lecturers were all very approachable, they were the kind of people you could have a chat with, or go for lunch with or have a drink with after university. Having lecturers that I felt so comfortable with made the whole learning process that much easier for me.

once I had heard about it, and what the accreditation meant, I was very pleased I was studying there because I felt it would boost my chances of getting a job once I graduated, which we all knew is sadly not always a guarantee in this industry

What was the biggest achievement/success on the course for you?

I won't mention my honours project again this time! The 3rd year game project was the most successful achievement I think. Creating a game from scratch for such a long period of time, in collaboration with others, was not only a great deal of fun, but was extremely rewarding once we had finished.

Our game (Khaos) got me, and two others who worked on it, an interview with Blitz Games Studios as soon as they saw it, and we subsequently all got the job.
 
Did you know that your course was accredited before you went there? Did it matter to you?

I didn't know, but once I had heard about it, and what the accreditation meant, I was very pleased I was studying there because I felt it would boost my chances of getting a job once I graduated, which we all knew is sadly not always a guarantee in this industry.

Find out what Barry has since achieved at Blitz Games Studios.

And click here for further details of the BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology degree that Barry took.

Tags: Accredited Computer Games Course, Computer Games, Pick the Tick, Search all Courses