Edinburgh Napier University

Tell us a bit about yourself 

My home is in a village in Midlothian, not far from Edinburgh. For as long as I can remember, I have had an interest in animation and 3D modelling, particularly for video games. On leaving school, I studied for the HND in Computer Games Development at Edinburgh College. As I was keen to continue my studies, I then took the advanced entry course Animation for Games offered by Edinburgh Napier as it seemed to be a good fit for me. 

Why did you choose to study at Edinburgh Napier University? 

After graduating from Edinburgh College, I knew I wanted to continue my studies in video games, so Edinburgh Napier was an obvious choice as it has a good reputation in the creative industries, excellent computing facilities, with various courses geared towards my areas of interest. It also suited me to live at home during my studies, and the Merchiston Campus was in easy reach. When I looked at the courses they offered at Edinburgh Napier, the BSc in Animation for Games really stood out.  

What attracted you into studying your course? 

Having completed the HND in Computer Games Development, I had a clearer idea of which areas of games development interested me most. I felt that I would prefer studying Animation for Games since its emphasis was more on developing the visual elements of video games. It also offered the opportunity to broaden my knowledge of Autodesk 3ds Max and Unity, and similar industry standard software, for animation, game development and 3D modelling. 

Has your course given you any practical opportunities out-with standard teaching? 

During one of my modules, I was required to animate a rigged 3D model to show in a pitch for a game. I was keen to pitch a medieval fantasy game and found an appropriate rigged model for the animation. However, it was made only for Autodesk Maya and could not be used in 3ds Max, and the only way of completing the assignment was to use a less appropriate model or teach myself Maya. I am thankful that I chose the latter as it allowed me to produce a more appropriate animation piece as well as gaining experience using Maya which is commonly used in the games and animation industry. 

Do you have any highlights of studying at Edinburgh Napier University? 

One of the most satisfying aspects of my time at Edinburgh Napier was working in a team on a group project developing a short game. It gave me some experience of working in a team to develop assets for a game brief as specified by a client. I had to deal with various obstacles while working on the brief which involved helping team mates as well as receiving criticism and compliments from team members and the project client. It was a good feeling to be part of a team, all working towards one goal, and I was very pleased with the outcome of our work, as was the client.  

Have you faced any challenges? 

One of the challenges I faced was to push myself to get work finished before deadlines while keeping good mental health and I feel this is great experience for working in the games industry. As some game developers have mentioned, working on iconic video games can be incredibly stressful and they wished they had developed better habits to combat the stress. 

Would you recommend the course to others? If so, why? 

I would recommend this course to those seeking a job in the video games industry as it offers various courses primarily focused on 3D modelling/animation and opportunities for game development using game engines such as Unity and Unreal Engine. It would allow those inexperienced with using game engines and programming languages to start developing solid game demos to be presented in portfolios. Beyond the material that is taught on the degree, I would say that the help and support offered by the teaching staff at Edinburgh Napier was exceptional. 

What key skills have you learned from your university experience? 

I have developed and enhanced my skills of 3D modelling and animation using a variety of industry standard software and gained experience of Wwise, an interactive sound engine. I have learned how to animate in Autodesk Maya, which is commonly used in the animation industry. Perhaps the most important thing I have learned is confidence in my abilities to fulfil a brief by myself, or as part of a team.  

Can you sum up your student experience living in Edinburgh? 

While I didn’t live in Edinburgh during the course, I found that taking public transport to and from where I live easy and convenient. With a Young Scot card, it was also free! The Merchiston Campus is well placed in a peaceful area of Edinburgh. Although Edinburgh is a busy, lively city, the Merchiston Campus has a calm and friendly atmosphere with good facilities on site as well as some nice coffee shops in nearby streets. 

What advice would you give to anyone considering studying this course? 

Since it is a games-related course, I would recommend having played or seen a wide variety of games to understand what they do right and wrong, how hardware limitations affect design choices and how they have influenced the gaming industry today as well as other industries. It would also be helpful to have a basic understanding of programming in C# as it is used by the Unity game engine. However, all the lecturers are very helpful and keen to help those who need it, so it isn’t crucial to have thorough knowledge of C#. 

What’s next for you? 

At the moment, I am working on various personal 3D modelling and games projects to add to my portfolio. I am also developing my soft skills through volunteering as I believe it will help me to be a better team player in group projects. In the longer term, I plan to develop my knowledge of more 3D software and game engines through working in the games industry. We are fortunate in Scotland to have a lively and thriving games industry and my aim for the future is to work for one of the smaller games studios based in Edinburgh.