Unit 44 Games Engine & Scripting (F/618/7480) Assignment Brief 2026

Unit 44 Games Engine & Scripting Assignment Brief 2026

Introduction

Professional game development typically represents a significant investment in time, effort, skill and money. This is further complicated by the generally increasing differences in hardware platforms (such as PCs, Mac, Xbox, PlayStation, tablets and other mobile devices). Before the use of a games engine, a developer would need highly-detailed and specific knowledge relating to the platform, device drivers and operating system calls. They would also need to be capable of writing efficient low-level maths functions to simulate physics, gravity, calculate trajectories and determine object collisions in 2D and 3D environments, including designing image transition algorithms. Using a games engine, a developer can implement more features more quickly and more effectively, and deploy them on more platforms than ever before. Despite using a games engine, however, there are still plenty of unique challenges to be solved.

This unit introduces students to the origin and evolution of games engines and their effect on game design. After being introduced to the core services of most engines and their advantages, students will evaluate a range of different engines and debate their features. While students assimilate, reflect on and consider the advantages and technical challenges of a games engine they will be issued with an existing Game Design Document (supported with all appropriate assets) and challenged with planning and using a specific engine to develop the design into a functional game. Students will review and reflect on the experience, and formally assess their functional game against the Game Design Document and user expectation.

Among the topics included in this unit are: games engine evolution and purpose, player expectation, types of engine, design documentation, research, system and user requirements, game design, ad management, monetisation, usage analytics, build services, graphics and animation, adding physics, storing world data, artificial and automated intelligence, collision detection, user interface and user control methods, gameplay, assets and asset management, hardware platforms, development tools and techniques, integrated development environments, scripting languages, debugging, testing, software versions and quality assurance.

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to analyse the evolution, impact and possible future of games engines in terms of game development and expectation, evaluate the features and architecture of different games engines, use an existing Game Design Document (with assets) to synthesise key features of a selected games engine into a playable game, and assess and plan improvements to a playable game by evaluating its performance against its Game Design Document and user expectation. As a result, they will develop skills such as communication literacy, critical thinking, analysis, reasoning and interpretation, which are crucial for gaining employment and developing academic competence.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit students will be able to:

LO1 Analyse the evolution, impact and possible future of games engines with regards to game development and expectation

LO2 Evaluate the features and architecture of different games engines

LO3 Use an existing Game Design Document (with assets) to synthesise key features of a selected games engine into a playable game

LO4 Assess and plan improvements to a playable game by evaluating its performance against its Game Design Document and user expectation.

Essential Content

LO1 Analyse the evolution, impact and possible future of games engines with regards to game development and expectation

Evolution of games engines:

Identify what a games engine is by researching the purpose and history of games engines.

Assemble and evaluate a timeline illustrating milestones and linking the release of pivotal games with the development and use of games engines.

Future of games engines with regards to games development and expectation:

Research, debate and agree current gaming trends.

Discuss the evolution of player expectation and its influence and effect on games development.

Analyse trends, predict a possible future for games (short-, mid- and long term), including the development and use of games engines.

LO2 Evaluate the features and architecture of different games engines

Features and architecture of a games engine:

Discuss the core features of games engines, including ad management, monetisation, usage analytics, build services, multiplayer support, developer collaboration, debugging, 2D and 3D graphics and animation services, particle and lighting systems, physics and database services, multiple language support, virtual reality, artificial and automated intelligence, collision detection, user interface and user control methods.

Investigate the implementation and technical challenges associated with identified features.

Discuss game engine architecture, including game and update loops, assets and memory management, graphics manipulation, scripting, collisions and physics engine, math libraries and user interface.

Evaluate a range of different types of published games, including the type of features commonly embedded in each.

Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a range of games engines.

LO3 Use an existing Game Design Document (with assets) to synthesise key features of a selected games engine into a playable game

Game Design Document with games engine features:

Evaluate existing Game Design Document with the features of a specific games engine to create a development plan.

Peer review development plan, including communicating effectively and defending ideas and reasoning.

Modify plan to reflect any new insights or considerations.

Creating and testing a playable game:

Use the Game Design Document (with assets) with the development plan to create a playable game.

Adopt an appropriate level of testing to identify, debug and fix issues.

LO4 Assess and plan improvements to a playable game by evaluating its performance against its Game Design Document and user expectation

Performance of a playable game:

Analyse factors that influence the performance of a playable game in terms of game genre, style and player expectation.

Undertake a critical review of the performance and development of the game against all identified factors, including use of any games engine features.

Critique the overall success of the game and identify any new areas of personal insight.

Planning improvements to a playable game:

Evaluate the overall strengths and weaknesses of the game against its Game Design Document.

Discuss and plan in detail possible revisions (including implementation) in terms of improving game performance.

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

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 42: Game Design Theory

Unit 43: Games Development.

Answer

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