MA1802 Immersive and Interactive Design

The following is a provisional plan for MA1802 Immersive and Interactive Design

  Course Overview 

Immersive and Interactive Design is a core module for first year students on (Ba) Video Games Art and Design. Its remit is to introduce students to the concept of utilising game engines for use within games and the creative industries and to also introduce VR application and the creation of immersive, interactive environments.

You will begin this module by learning the basic functionality of the  Unity game engine. You will learn the interface through simple tasks as well as receiving an introduction to the coding environment within the engine. Unity utilises the C# language and this is a natural progression from your work in term one in Processing.

You will then learn how to import assets into the engine and learn about shaders and how using the Substance to Unity bridge you can mirror results from one program to the next, essentially this is an introduction to the concept of game and VR pipeline creation.

Your first assessment point which occurs mid semester will be the creation of a VR still life, a simple environment which contains a table with objects that can be inspected and viewed in VR. You will be marked on your ability to match object textures and shaders from real life objects. You will also reflect on and explain the pipeline process you have used in the form of a written journal of 500 words.

You will then be set your final brief which will task you with creating an interactive and immersive environment in VR using Unity. We will be visiting the Tate Modern Gallery and there you will be tasked with finding an artist or art movement which will form the aesthetic inspiration for your environment. You will be marked on your technical application of the assets and VR environment application as well as your artistic interpretation of the movement. You will deliver a 10 minute pitch after your visit to the Tate outlining your plans. After submission of your environment you will also write a reflective journal of 1000 words.

 

The breakdown of the module assessment as worded and weighted in the module specification is as follows.

1) A portfolio of written work 11/02: 25% A VR still life

2) Ten minute pitch 25/02: 10%

3) Portfolio of 3D work 25/03: 45% The final VR environment submission

4) Critical written analysis 28/03: 20% A breakdown of the technical and aesthetic success of your project.