TIGA and Train2Game
TIGA is the independent awarding and examination body for the distance learning courses devised by Train2Game (T2G) whose courses are aimed at developing skills in games design and development. TIGA is working with T2G to help deal with skills shortages that hold back the UK games industry, initially by assisting T2G in establishing two games courses. Under the terms of TIGA’s agreement with T2G, T2G will have responsibility for:
• administering the courses and exams including marking and invigilation;
• all the relevant product, pricing, sales, marketing, development methodology and media upon which the courses are launched; and
• recruiting and appointing appropriately qualified and experienced lecturers to help deliver the courses.
TIGA will provide:
• advice on the content of the T2G courses as they are developed;
• advice and input into the content of the examinations through the TIGA Examinations Committee; and
• award a TIGA diploma to individuals who successfully pass the exams.
There will be opportunities for industry professionals from TIGA member businesses to provide guest lecturing on the T2G courses.
TIGA and Train2Game: FAQ
1. Who is TIGA?
TIGA is the trade association representing the UK games industry. TIGA has many of the UK's most successful games development studios amongst its members. TIGA also has outsourcing companies, technology businesses and universities as members.
2. I have just seen an adviser from a company called TRAIN2GAME who claims that TIGA has a relationship with them. Is this true?
Yes. TIGA is the independent awarding and examination body for the distance learning courses for video games devised by Train2Game (T2G), the games training business. Although independent of T2G, TIGA is assisting in the development of the courses and examinations. Industry professionals from TIGA member businesses have the opportunity to contribute to these courses by providing guest lecturers. TIGA is not an accreditation body for educational provision generally. Our focus, of course, is on education and skill needs in the video games development sector.
3. Who are T2G?
T2G is a company jointly created between DR Studios and MIS Ltd. DR Studios is a member of TIGA with many years experience in the games industry, with a reputation for developing simulation and strategy games (http://www.drstudios.co.uk/games.html). MIS Ltd is one of the UK’s leading distance learning providers.
4. What courses are available from T2G?
T2G launched two games industry related distance learning courses in development (programming) and design in March 2009. T2G courses provide further choice for learners and students in the education market
5. Who can study T2G courses?
The T2G courses are open to all but they are challenging. For example, the development course requires a strong aptitude for mathematics in particular. The courses are likely to appeal especially to people who have never gone to university or who have done a degree in another subject and who might then want to do a distance learning course rather than go back to university. The courses could also be popular with some people in the games industry seeking to improve their skills.
6. What are the advantages of studying a T2G course?
T2G’s courses enable students to study in their own time, at their own pace, at home or their place of work.
7. Are the T2G courses of good quality?
The T2G courses have been designed by industry professionals from DR Studios to meet the needs of the industry. The T2G courses are relevant to current industry needs and are updated regularly to keep pace with changes in the games industry. The quality of the course has not escaped the attention of some universities. For example, University of Bedfordshire intends to integrate aspects of the courses into its own games degree programme. The courses are currently being benchmarked against existing higher education qualification frameworks to establish how they might complement existing games courses run by universities.
8. What processes are in place for ensuring quality control in teaching?
T2G tutors are all Games/IT/Computer Science qualified individuals, approved by the T2G management board for the purpose. There are systems and quality control procedures and processes in place to monitor tutor support and all student/tutor communication is recorded for quality purposes. These systems are tried and tested.
Industry professionals and lecturers from universities will help to deliver the T2G courses through Live Internet Training and virtual learning environments. Lecturers on the T2G courses will include:
Tony Bickley, COO DRS:
Game development overview
Game design process
Publisher needs
Platform holder approval processes: Lot Check, TRCs TCRs
Clive Robert, CEO, DRS:
Business development
Game design concepts
Platform concept submissions
Global games publishing and development overview
Also, Prof Carsten Maple, University of Bedfordshire and Mark Eyles, University of Portsmouth, will deliver supplementary sessions as part of the courses.
9. What processes are in place to ensure fair, valid and reliable assessments of the courses?
Currently assessment of T2G course content is managed by DR Studios.
Tutor Marked Assignments (TMA) and pass rates are the mechanism by which progress is monitored and measured. Each student has to successfully pass each TMA in order to progress to the following module.
The end of year examinations are set by T2G under the guidance of TIGA. The TIGA Examinations Committee ensures that the examinations are of the required standard.
10. Why is TIGA working with T2G?
The video games development industry has an ongoing problem finding suitably qualified and trained candidates to fill vacancies in their studios. TIGA, by working with T2G, will be taking practical action to help deal with the skills shortages that hold back the UK games industry. This is a real challenge: a TIGA survey of game developers in 2008 showed that 63 per cent of respondents had faced skills shortages over the previous 12 months. T2G’s courses are relevant to the games development industry and regularly updated and so TIGA is pleased to be able to work with T2G. The T2G courses represent an initiative that complements existing games courses to help ensure a fresh supply of well educated and employable new entrants to the video games development industry.
11. Will studying a T2G course guarantee me a job in the video games industry?
No education provider, course or qualification can guarantee you a job in the video games industry and it is important to remember that as well as a qualification a portfolio of work is needed at the interview stage. However, each student successfully completing a T2G course will have produced a portfolio, which should provide a good grounding for students looking to enter the sector.
A student who has studied at T2G course may also find employment in other sectors of the economy, because some of the skills will be very transferable. Employment opportunities will exist in IT and mobile telephone and more generally in the media industries.
Some T2G graduates may wish to go on to pursue other courses in order to strengthen their skills for seeking work in the games, or other, industries.
12. What sort of salaries can junior designers and developers expect?
In the games industry junior designers may earn in the region of £16,000 to £20,000 per annum. Junior developers (programmers) may earn within the region of £18,000 to £22,000 per annum. However, with industry experience salaries increase quite significantly. Average salaries in the video games industry stand at approximately £30,000 per annum, compared to a national average of around £24,000 per annum.
13. What should I do before making a decision?
Look at the T2G website , speak to a T2G course adviser, review TIGA’s Guide to career paths in games development (available at www.TIGA.org), examine relevant university programmes and speak to HR departments at game development studios (there are often details of what they are looking for on their websites).