Assignment briefQualification Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production – Games Design

Unit number and title L3 Unit 13 Understanding the Computer Games Industry – Partial

Start date 8th December 2014

Deadline 27th February 2015

Assessor name Harry Arnold

Assignment title HA3 – The Structure of the Game Guide

The purpose of this assignment is for you to:Understand the organisational structures and job roles within the games industryUnderstand the financial issues and current market trends affecting the games industryUnderstand the contractual, legal and ethical obligations in the games industry

ScenarioFollowing the Next Gen. report published by NESTA in February 2011, it has been established that new entrants to the games industry need to possess a wide range of specific skills and the ability to acquire new abilities as required.NESTA is the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts - an independent body with a mission to make the UK more innovative.

You are going to prepare an online guide for starting a career within the games industry. This will involve you carrying out research, preparing presentations and articles to gain a clear understanding of how the games industry works and subsequently where you will fit into it.

Checklist

Sector profilesJob role profilesCurrent Financial IssuesIndustry and Market TrendsContracts of EmploymentLegal and Ethical ObligationsProfessional Bodies Supporting the Industry

Tasks Grading Criteria Mapping

Each task in this assignment has additional guidance that you will need to follow posted to Unit 13’s Moodle course and all evidence produced by you must be posted to your blog.For each of these tasks you will need to use the web to carry out your research. Make sure that you have cited all sources.

Task 1Structure – The Value ChainProfile each of the main sectors within the industry:

Developers Publishers Console Manufacturers/First Party PublishersDistribution and RetailOutsourcing Companies Press and Media

Each sector has an influence on the type of games that are produced.

You are aiming to comprehensively explain organisational structures in the games industry with reference to elucidated examples. You should be using subject terminology consistently and correctly.

Unit 13 – P1, M1, D1

Task 2Job RolesProfile each of the main job roles within the industry:

Creative DevelopmentGame DesignerLevel EditorLead ArtistTechnical ArtistArtistAnimatorAudio Engineer

Technical DevelopmentGame ProgrammerLead Game Programmer

Project ImplementationProject Manager/ProducerAssistant ProducerExternal ProducerCreative Director

Quality AssuranceQA Tester

Business DevelopmentPublic Relations ManagerProduct ManagerMarketing ExecutiveMarketing Manager

You are aiming to comprehensively explain job roles in the games industry with reference to elucidated examples. You should be using subject terminology consistently and correctly.

Unit 13 – P1, M1, D1

Task 3Current Financial IssuesProduce an account of why financial planning is so important within the games industry and what the current issues facing the industry are.

You are aiming to comprehensively explain financial issues in the games industry with reference to elucidated examples. You should be using subject terminology consistently and correctly.

Unit 13 – P2, M2, D2

Task 4Industry and Market TrendsProduce an account of the current industry and market trends are within the games industry.

You are aiming to comprehensively explain current market trends in the games industry with reference to elucidated examples. You should be using subject terminology consistently and correctly.

Unit 13 – P2, M2, D2

Task 5Contracts of EmploymentExplain and illustrate the contractual arrangements used within the games industry. Produce a profile for each of the following:

ContractualEmploymentDevelopmentLicense

Unit 13 – P3, M3, D3

NDACollaboration

You are aiming to comprehensively explain contractual obligations in the games industry with reference to elucidated examples. You should be using subject terminology consistently and correctly.

Task 6Legal and Ethical ObligationsExplain and illustrate the legal and ethical obligations within the games industry. Produce a profile for each of the following:

Legal EthicalCopyrightTrademarkPatentRegistered Designs

ViolenceRatingEducationStereotypingAddiction

You are aiming to comprehensively explain legal and ethical obligations in the games industry with reference to elucidated examples. You should be using subject terminology consistently and correctly.

Unit 13 – P3, M3, D3

Task 7Professional Bodies Supporting the IndustryExplain and illustrate the professional bodies supporting the functions within the games industry. Produce a profile for each of the following:

Professional BodiesUKIEIGDAWomen in GamesBAFTAMEF

You are aiming to comprehensively explain the professional bodies within the games industry with reference to elucidated examples. You should be using subject terminology consistently and correctly.

Unit 13 – P3, M3, D3

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Unit 13: Understanding the Computer Games IndustryP1 describe organisational structures and job roles in the games industry, with some appropriate use of subject terminology.[IE]

M1 explain organisational structures and job roles in the games industry with reference to detailed illustrative examples and generally correct use of subject terminology.

D1 comprehensively explain organisational structures and job roles in the games industry with reference to elucidated examples and consistently using subject terminology correctly.

P2 describe current market trends and financial issues in the games industry with some appropriate use of subject terminology.[IE]

M2 explain current market trends and financial issues in the games industry with reference to detailed illustrative examples and generally correct use of subject terminology.

D2 comprehensively explain current market trends and financial issues in the games industry with reference to elucidated examples and consistently using subject terminology correctly.

P3 describe contractual, legal and ethical obligations in the games industry with some appropriate use of subject terminology.[IE]

M3 explain contractual, legal and ethical obligations in the games industry with reference to detailed illustrative examples and generally correct use of subject terminology.

D3 comprehensively explain contractual, legal and ethical obligations in the games industry with reference to elucidated examples and consistently using subject terminology correctly.

P4 apply project management techniques to direct a project with some assistance.[SM]

M4 apply project management techniques to direct a project competently, and with only occasional assistance.

D4 apply project management techniques to direct a project to a quality that reflects near-professional standards, working independently to professional expectations.

P5 prepare personal career development material using basic formal language.[RL]

M5 prepare carefully produced personal career development material using generally correct formal language.

D5 prepare personal career development material to a quality that reflects near professional standards consistently using correct formal language.