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Data Science in the Games Industry

Learn how the games industry can use big data to enhance the gaming experience and increase profits.

6,403 enrolled on this course

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Data Science in the Games Industry

6,403 enrolled on this course

  • 4 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

Use data analysis to build better gaming experiences

The video games industry collects vast amounts of data from its users. But most of this data is disregarded despite its value to the gaming industry.

This course will show you how to store and analyse data effectively and gain insights into game users’ actions and behaviours.

You’ll find out about the different models of data, such as tabular data, atomic data, and relational data.

You’ll understand how to store non-relational data at scale, and why data can be hard to distribute.

You’ll learn how to build better gaming experiences and increase profits.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 1 second ANDY COBLEY: Hi, I’m Andy Cobley from the University of Dundee, and I’m here to tell you about our exciting course, Data Science in the Games Industry. Do you know, when you’re playing a game, whether it’s on your mobile or console, how much data is sent back to the games company? What do they do with that data, and how do they analyse it? How do they store all the data they collect and then make it work for them? In this course, we’ll be hearing from experts in the field, and also people doing data science in the games industry. We will be learning about the techniques they use and the pitfalls they encounter.

Skip to 0 minutes and 33 seconds So whether you’re working in the business, studying with working games, or just a gamer, join us for a peek behind the curtain of Data Science in the Games Industry.

What topics will you cover?

Week 1: Data in all its glory

  • The Data Exhaust
  • Tabular vs Big Data
  • Disappearances in the CAP Triangle

Week 2: Breaking the CAP Triangle

  • NoSQL
  • Cassandra
  • MongoDb
  • Graphs and Graph Databases
  • Dark Data’s Hiding Place

Week 3: Taming the Data Exhaust

  • Big Data and Distributed Systems
  • Hadoop, HDFS, MapReduce and Other Technologies
  • Real-time Systems
  • Lambda

Week 4: Analysis is our answer

  • Introduction to Statistics
  • Consumer Testing
  • Introduction to R and Python
  • Bayesian Statistics
  • Machine learning and data mining
  • The Future of Data Science

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Assess new techniques of data analysis
  • Synthesise knowledge to be able to describe the types of data that techniques can best be applied to
  • Design data stores that can manage data at scale
  • Classify data in context, to select the most appropriate technique for data analysis
  • Compare and evaluate new techniques for data analysis for a number of given scenarios in the games industry
  • Design data stores that can manage complex data at scale for a number of given scenarios in the games industry

Who is the course for?

This course is aimed at those who already work in the games industry, but may also be of interest to those looking to work in the sector.

What software or tools do you need?

In order to get the best out of this course you should have a laptop or desktop computer (Windows or Mac) that can run virtual machine software such as VirtualBox or Docker. You should be happy to install software on your machine such as Python or R Studio. Links and instructions for installation and use will be included during the course.

Who will you learn with?

Andy Cobley is a senior lecturer at the school of Science and Engineering at the University of Dundee. He is the program director for the MSc programs in Data Science and Data Engineering.

Professor Mark Whitehorn specialises in Analytics, Data Science and Machine Learning. He splits his time between the commercial and academic worlds.

Who developed the course?

University of Dundee

The University of Dundee is one of the world’s Top 200 universities and was named Scottish University of the Year for both 2016 and 2017. Dundee offers one of the UK’s best student experiences.

Endorsers and supporters

endorsed by

The Data Lab

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$134/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 25 Apr 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

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  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

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  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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