Looking for a top UK Illustration/Game Art course

[Zakodia]

Title says it all really, it's almost time to get those UCAS forms sent out to universities so I thought I would ask some advice from the experts on here.
I'm on my art foundation course now which is going great and have decent A levels and GCSEs.

The main direction I want to go in is creature/character design, maybe landscapes either for gaming or film. I've read quite a few interviews with some concept artists I'm interested in and the majority have just got a degree in illustration but have just bent the course in favour of their style.
Lately I've heard of a course called Game Art and Design BA (hons), can anyone recommend this and how would this differ from an illustration course in terms of what I want to do?
I am a very traditional artist and am used to drawing many animals/creatures etc in great detail usually with a fantasy style so I would preferably want a course that is based around using Photoshop - I'm also not sure if the illustration / animation BA course would be useful either as I don't want to be animating but have heard employees look for all rounders.

So far my list consists of..

Kingston's Illustration/Animation;
http://www.kingston.ac.uk/illustrationanimation/

Futureworks in Manchester;
http://www.futureworks.co.uk/game-design-course.asp

Game art design in De Montford;
http://www.dmu.ac.uk/faculties/art_a...s/game_art.jsp

Norwich games art and design;
http://www.nuca.ac.uk/courses/underg...art-and-design



Can anyone vouch for these courses and universities and are there any others I should look at? I want to get a good idea of what's recommended and attend some open days. Any help would be brilliant I really have to decide soon. Also courses only in the UK as I don't fancy going overseas to university.

Thanks,
Lisa


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EDIT:
Possible courses (feel free to suggest some to add to the list!)

Futureworks in Manchester (Game Design);
http://www.futureworks.co.uk/game-design-course.asp

Kingston's Illustration/Animation;
http://www.kingston.ac.uk/illustrationanimation/

Game art design in De Montford;
http://www.dmu.ac.uk/faculties/art_a...s/game_art.jsp

Norwich games art and design;
http://www.nuca.ac.uk/courses/underg...art-and-design

Glyndŵr - Digital Art for Computer Games;
http://www.glyndwr.ac.uk/en/Undergra...ComputerGames/

http://www.falmouthillustration.com/

Bristol Illustration;
http://www.uwe.ac.uk/sca/courses/baillustration.shtml

[Red*]

Weirdly enough I think the Futureworks course is actually in the University of Central Lancashire. Searched the course code (WG24) on ucas, and entered it for my ucas application it came up as UCLAN, so I'm pretty sure it's taught in Central Lancashire, not Manchester. (Which would make sense I guess because UCLAN and Futureworks are partners, according to the Futureworks website)

At least I think that's it. Could any clear this up?

[bunneh13]

Hey I'm just in the process doing the same. I'm studying FD New Media but want to get into the games industry, preferably the art side of it. on the note of futureworks I believe the course is taught at the Manchester city center campus but the awarding body is UCLAN. you might want to check out Bolton University's BA Games Art course, it has a good reputation and I'm seriously considering it plus its a hell of a lot cheaper than Futureworks you may want to check out Huddersfield and Cumbria too.

[toikey]

Hey there!
I'm looking for the same; I'm currently on an Art&Design Foundation at AUCB.
So far I've looked at Gloucestershire, Staffordshire and De Montfort for Game Design/Game Art.
I'm looking for a much more art based course, like yourself I believe, again I'm much the traditional artist, not so digital yet I know my way around the CS3 suite. I went to the Glos open day last week, and that course wasn't as great as I expected. It's very business/programmer orientated rather than art based unfortunately.
All I can say is, before you pick a course for it's title, have a good look into the course's specification - all the units etc.

[NyeAlexandaFrayne]

you should look at university of Bolton, Bolton uni isn't very hight up the ranks of uni's because its quite a new university, and its not very good at normal stuff like English and maths etc, but for creative studies, its worth a shot!

I'm in my first year, and the tutors are amazing with allot of experience in the field.

any questions just pm me if you wish.

best of luck

x

[Zakodia]

I'm going to the open days for Wrexham Glyndwr (digital art for computer games course) and De Montfort (game art degree) at the beginning of December which I'm quite excited for. I'm trying to decide if it's worth going to Kingston to have a look at their illustration/animation course and see what that involves.

As for Bolton I wasn't aware they done the Games Art degree there, sadly the open days have already gone for that but maybe they will do some early next year I might put it in a UCAS choice just in case. Could you give any more info about the course there Nyje? Tutor contact time, what you've been doing so far etc?
Thanks!

[Nrx]

yo yo lets put together a conclusive list of decent courses, fancy editing your post?

http://www.falmouthillustration.com/


http://www.uwe.ac.uk/sca/courses/baillustration.shtml

i'll edit as i go, i'll jumo over to the uk thread ask the old timers to chime in too

[CrimsonSnake]

Hi guys,

I've been doing a similar courses to the ones you listed (Computer Games & Visual Effects - Anglia Ruskin University) for almost 3 years now and I recommend you do Illustration if you really want to only do character design in most of these courses you will learn how to model, texture and animate in 3D and while there will be some traditional 2D art involved it will be up to you to develop as an Illustrator. If you really want to work for game development company you should do one of these courses so you can learn about the different elements of game development but if you just want to do character design, stick to Illustration.

I hope you find this info useful.

[toikey]

I saw you mentioned Falmouth...
Now, Falmouth, all though it has a great rep and all of that, it's in Cornwall, no offense to anoyone going there or in cornwall but there isn't a lot of connections with other places due to it's location..

My friend went to Falmouth, completed his Illustration degree, amazing as he is, and ended up joining the Army as no one wanted to employ him!

[Yelllowcardas]

Well interesting thread and im in same boat,well i choose mostly Illustration courses in Bristol UWE,The Arts University College at Bournemouth,Middlesex Uni,Kingston Uni and Demontfort Game Art Design,and i hope i choose right,well only Demontfort asked me to send them portfolio yet,but is still a lot time,the biggest point i think to be good illustratot,concept artist is to really draw well,all photoshop or digital tricks you can learn any time,but if you can't draw well nothing will help you.

[Guy123]

Hey guys, stumbled upon this thread while cruising the internet and thought I'd post incase anyone else finds it in the future, perhaps before the next years set of applicants start looking. (as this years applicants are already getting interviewed!)

I'm a student at the BA(hons) Game Art course in DeMontfort University in Leicester.
Its a good, hard course, with a art focus throughout. It both teaches and tests your 2D artistic ability, with the aim of nurturing your artist's eye.
There is also a strong emphasis on low triangle modelling and working within tight tri and texture budgets.

In the first year you are taught 2D design and drawing (always from reference with an emphasis on realism, perspective, colour theory etc.) and are taught the basics, moving onto the more advanced aspects of 3D modelling. The first year is more of a 60/40 split between 2D and 3D.

The second year sees you building upon these skills and towards the latter half beginning to work within the UDK engine to create well optimised, aesthetically pleasing environments and props. This comes in the form of a group project.

Finally in the Third year students work on two briefs set by 'Blitz' Games company (such as creating a metropolitan rooftop, and a detailed vehicle.) before moving onto their final major projects, a large project set by students ourselves.

The course is extremely industry focussed, we often have guest lectures from industry professionals and have many links within industry itself. All of our project briefs have either been set, or heavily dictated by high-level employees of the games industry, and the lecturers are keen to keep the course relevant.

In my experience the First year was surprisingly tough, and rightly so given the high expectations placed upon the course by our industry contacts. I clearly remember staying in and working while other friends were out partying (however, not all the time!).
I'm finally approaching graduation now and am working on my Final Major project in between sending off my portfolio to different companies.
For anyone interested in my portfolio (cheeky advertising) - www.guythomas3d.blogspot.com

I seriously recommend the course, I have developed impressively fast, as have my very talented peers. The lecturers know what they are talking about, and do not pull any punches when critting work, this course is most definitely not an 'Ass-Pat Buffet'. You will be made to work hard, and you will not be falsely told that your work is good, they are realistic, and so is your potential to get employed upon graduating.

Here's something worth reading: http://www.skillset.org/games/accreditation/

At time of writing we're the only Game ART course in England with Skillset Accreditation, and we were the first to receive the honour.
76% of graduates last year went on to work in the visual design industry, 45% of which went to work in the Computer Games industry as artists.
Our graduates over the past couple of years have made their way into almost every developer in the UK (developers with art teams of course), including large quantities that have gone to Codemasters and Blitz Games.

Its a hard course if you're lazy, but a rewarding and addictive course if you can motivate yourself.

I thoroughly recommend it to anyone!

[JeeLeeD]

Zakodia where did you end up? I'm in my first year of college at the moment studying Interactive Media at Btec, we've worked on photo shop and stuff, made music videos, tshirts, sculptures and we have drawing development classes as well, at the moment the main thing we're working on is flash. I know that I want to work in the games industry, I just don't know what part. I saw this course concerning the story development of games and stuff, but I was in a rush and didn't manage to read it all and I can't find it now. I like the idea of concept art but I just have no idea what to take or what area of art to start heading for in college. Would it be better to look into Game Art and Design or Animation and Illustration? My uncle is in his third year of uni doing animation at Leeds now and he keeps telling me to go into the more technical side, but I'm more interested in the art side and I don't think I have the math's or patience to do the technical side.
Anyone? Any advice? X'{)