Unit 43 Games Development Assignment Brief 2026
| Qualification | Pearson BTEC Levels 4 and 5 Higher Nationals in Computing |
| Unit Number | 43 |
| Unit Title | Games Development |
| Unit code | L/618/7479 |
| Unit type | Optional |
| Unit level | 5 |
| Credit value | 15 |
Introduction
In the field of computing, games development is a multidisciplinary art form creating worlds that blend player psychology, problem solving and artificial intelligence with knowledge of dedicated hardware and software platforms. This level of ability can often require significant effort on the part of students, in terms of time and practice but as students gain more experience, their skills and abilities quickly improve. The capabilities and flexibility of a good games developer can easily be transferred to other roles in the business sector.
This unit introduces students to games development. It is designed to simulate the roles and responsibilities of a games developer working in a suitable games development studio with access to a small team of colleagues. Students will discuss and review a number of original game ideas before synthesising them into a single game concept. Once the game concept is defined, students will need to adopt appropriate methods and practices to analyse, break down and discuss the issues, then decide on, design, create and test a functional game. Students should be free to debate, evaluate and select different design and development methodologies depending on their own judgement and consideration.
Among the topics included in this unit are: game design and developer documentation, problem analysis, research, system and user requirements, design methodologies, development methodologies, unified modelling language (UML), games engines, hardware platforms, graphic manipulation, physics, maths for games, sound, networking, collision detection, teamwork, peer review, development tools and techniques, integrated development environments, debugging, testing, software versions and quality assurance.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to develop a Game Design Document by synthesising game ideas into an original video game concept, select and use different design and development methodologies with tools and techniques associated with the creation of a video game, work individually and as part of a team to plan, prepare and produce a functional video game including support documentation, and assess and plan improvements to a video game by evaluating its performance against its Game Design Document and original concept. As a result, they will develop skills such as communication literacy, critical thinking, analysis, reasoning and interpretation.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit students will be able to:
LO1 Develop a Game Design Document by evaluating and synthesising game ideas into an original video game concept
LO2 Use different design and development methodologies with tools and techniques associated with the creation of a video game
LO3 Work individually and as part of a team to plan and produce a functional video game, including support documentation
LO4 Evaluate the performance of a video game against its Game Design Document and original concept.
Essential Content
LO1 Develop a Game Design Document by evaluating and synthesising game ideas into an original video game concept
Different game genres and ideas:
Discuss and compare common game elements such as type, story, characters, environment, levels, gameplay, loops, art, sound, user interface and controls.
Determine possible game ideas including predicting the overall success of fully developing the game.
Game Design Document:
Review the value of Game Design Documents in terms of games development.
Evaluate and synthesise game ideas to describe game concept.
Research and use information relating to games testing in order to create a suitable test plan.
LO2 Use different design and development methodologies with tools and techniques associated with the creation of a video game
Design and development methodologies:
Present overviews on current design and development methodologies.
Understand strengths and weaknesses commonly associated with each methodology.
Select or synthesise a design and development methodology.
Tools and techniques:
Evaluate different tools and techniques available to create a video game.
Establish development plan, including the advantages and disadvantages of preferred or selected tools and techniques.
LO3 Work individually and as part of a team to plan and produce a functional video game, including support documentation
Team working to plan and prepare a functional video game:
Peer review and debate development plan and Game Design Document, including communicating effectively and defending ideas and reasoning.
Discuss differences with regard to the possible strengths and weaknesses of each Game Design Document and development plan.
Modify design document or plans to reflect any new insight or considerations.
Functional video game:
Use a Game Design Document with a development plan to produce a functional video game.
Create and quality check appropriate support documents.
LO4 Evaluate the performance of a video game against its Game Design Document and original concept
Performance of a video game:
Factors that influence the performance of a video games system requirements.
Critical review of the performance and development of video game against identified factors and adopted design and development methodologies.
Measure the overall success of the video game against original prediction and identify any new areas of personal insight.
Improvements to a video game:
Evaluate the overall strengths and weaknesses against original concept.
Plan revisions to implementation to improve video game’s performance.
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria
| Pass | Merit | Distinction |
| LO1 Develop a Game Design Document by evaluating and synthesising game ideas into an original video game concept |
D1 Evaluate common game design elements and justify their use when designing a suitable Game Design Document. |
|
| P1 Explore different game-based ideas, blending them into an original video game concept.
P2 Examine any areas of risk related to the successful completion of a video game. M1 Analyse common game design elements and combine with the original video game concept to create a suitable Game Design Document. |
||
| LO2 Use different design and development methodologies with tools and techniques associated with the creation of a video game |
LO2 and LO3
D2 Evaluate any new insight, ideas or potential improvements to the concept, methodology or use of tools and justify the reasons why they have been included (or not included) as part of the development. |
|
| P3 Research the use of different design and development methodologies, tools and techniques, and determine which have been selected for the development of the video game. | M2 Compare the differences between the various design and development methodologies, tools and techniques researched, and justify a preferred selection. | |
| LO3 Work individually and as part of a team to plan and produce a functional video game, including support documentation |
D3 Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the video game and fully justify opportunities for improvement and further development. |
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| P4 Review the video game concept, preferred design, and development methodologies and selected tools and techniques.
P5 Develop a functional video game based on a specified game concept and gather feedback. |
M3 Interpret the peer-review feedback and identify opportunities not previously considered.
M4 Develop a functional video game based on a specific Game Design Document with supportive evidence of using the preferred design and development methodologies, and selected tools and techniques. |
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| LO4 Evaluate the performance of a video game against its Game Design Document and original concept | ||
| P6 Evaluate the performance of a video game against the original concept. | M5 Analyse the factors that influence the performance of a video game and use them to undertake a critical review of the design, development, game elements and testing stages of a video game. Conclude the review by discussing previously identified risks reflectively. | |
Recommended Resources
Textbooks
Gibson, J. (2021) Introduction to Game Design, Prototyping, and Development. New Jersey: Pearson Education.
Gregory, J. (2018) Game Engine Architecture. 3rd edn. United States: Taylor.
Madhav, S. (2013) Game Programming Algorithms and Techniques. USA: Addison-Wesley.
Nystrom, R. (2014) Game Programming Patterns. USA: Genever Benning.
Rogers, S. (2014) Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design. UK: John Wiley and Sons Ltd.
Schell, J. (2014) The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses. USA: A K Peters/CRC Press.
Links
This unit links to the following related units:
Unit 7: Software Development Lifecycles
Unit 42: Game Design Theory
Unit 44: Games Engine & Scripting.
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