NFTS Celebrates As Games Design MA Reaches Level 10!

As the gaming industry continues to see unprecedented new levels of growth within the global entertainment landscape, The National Film and Television School is thrilled to celebrate a significant milestone: a decade of its renowned Games Design and Development MA. In 2023, the NFTS proudly graduated its tenth cohort of talented game designers!

Recognising the vast array of opportunities within the rapidly expanding games industry, the NFTS established the Games Design and Development MA in 2013. Since then, the programme has attracted aspiring games designers from all corners of the world and quickly solidified its position as one of the top gaming MA’s globally.

The course was founded on a core ethos of ‘games innovation’ providing students with access to state of the art facilities, unparalleled collaboration opportunities and training from industry professionals at one of the world’s leading film schools. It offered a safe and nurturing environment for students to push creative and technological boundaries, encouraging them to experiment with their game development. They not only learned how to create games, but also gained valuable insights into releasing and promoting them across indie games and Triple-A titles.

Alan Thorn, who has been at the helm of the course for the past six years said: “It’s been an incredible journey to witness the growth and achievements of our Games Design MA over the past decade. Our students continue to amaze us with their innovative ideas and groundbreaking projects and I couldn’t be prouder to see the course reach Level 10!” 

Director of the NFTS, Jon Wardle further emphasised the significance of the Games Design MA: “This milestone underscores the NFTS’s commitment to remain at the forefront of developments within the screen industries. As the boundaries between film, TV and games blur with the advent of new technologies and practice, the Games Design MA has become integral to the School and will continue to provide world class training that prepares our students for an increasingly diverse and dynamic industry.” 

Since its inception, the two-year course has inspired and trained over 100 students, many of whom have gone on to forge successful paths in the industry. The achievements of our graduates throughout the last ten years are truly remarkable.

 

Graduate credits and successes throughout the years include…

Card Shark

Designer/Writer Daisy Fernandez

Snowy Springs (2023 first year game) nominated for the Game Development World Championships (GDWC) 2022 Student Game Award

Sophie Artemigi listed in MCV/DEVELOP 2022 30 under 30 list

Hook Up (Sophie’s 2022 graduation game) won the*GameHERs Mobile Game of the Year

The Dark Pictures: House of Ashes

Game Designers Jack Brooksby, Natalia Lada, Annabelle Afful, Thomas Reiffer, Katy Morgan, Adam Comrie

Lego Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Junior Designer Billy Blake

Harp Song (2022 graduation game) shortlisted for 2022 Yugo BAFTA Student Awards

CoVRt Operation (2021 graduation game) finalist for 2021 GSA BAFTA Student Awards

Daisy Fernandez won 2019 MCV Women in Games Rising Star - Development Award

Students win Best Game at Ukie Green Game Jam for the third year in a row for Extinction Crabellion in 2019.

Naomi Kotler, Senior Experience Designer at Ninja Theory won 2017 MVC Women in Games Breakthrough Talent Award

Pixel Ripped 1989 (2015 graduation game), Pixel Ripped 1995 and Pixel Ripped 1978 (coming soon!)

Creator Ana Ribeiro

Find out more and apply today for the NFTS Games Design and Development MA.

Follow in our graduates footsteps and get all the skills you need to craft a successful career in this fast-growing industry.

Visit nfts.co.uk/games

Save the date!

Join us this year for our upcoming events celebrating 10 years of Games at The National Film and Television School.

12 July - prospective students - Brighton

26 September - Industry - London

More information coming soon!