What will I learn?

This course introduces you to the independent games sector. We will look at the importance of the sector economically and culturally, and meet creators to explore the games they create.

You will develop an understanding of what indie games are, how they are made, the skills required to work in the industry, and how you can go about developing these skills in order to kick start your career.

Week one: The course begins by looking at how we define indie games, and how they are different from the traditional games industry. We hear from Dr Jo Twist OBE, the CEO of Ukie, the UK trade body which represents the games and interactive entertainment industry. We also will meet a small team who have made a retro multiplatform game. They will also tell us how they managed to micro-fund their idea and go on to develop a 360 degree product, which is now being developed into a book and a TV series.

There is of course time for research and play. Holly Gramazio a game designer and curator, will give you a rundown of some of the game concepts she has been involved with and you will read about some of the most culturally significant games of the recent past, which we’ll encourage you to discuss with other learners.

Week two: We will look at the cultural significance of indie games, and their impact on society. What makes indie games different from mainstream games? Investigating many platforms including mobile, desktop, console and even physical in-world games we explore interesting themes and devices and the impact they have had on players and their creators. Can indie games be a vehicle for social change or changing the way we think?

By the end of this course you’ll be able to:

• Describe the characteristics and definitions of an indie game
• Summarise the process of making a game and understand the elements needed to create a game pitch
• Compare different indie games and gain an understanding of different styles of gameplay
• Explain the various funding models that can be used to finance an indie game project
• Identify the skills required to work in game design or game development

We hope you enjoy the journey!

Please note: This course contains external links to help you discover more content. These open in the same window so if you prefer to stay within the course, remember to right-click on a PC or command+click on Mac to open these in a new tab. Alternatively, you can use your back button to always navigate back to the course.

Have your say

To get you started thinking about indie games and the communities involved in playing and creating them, what do you think are the characteristics of an indie game? How do you think indie games are different to games produced by large studios?