With games development, you can be a winner, says Charles Theuma, principal at St Martin’s Institute of Information Technology.

These last few decades saw the conception of the computer game as the evolution of personal entertainment. Computer hardware has had its effect on this computer game evolution. Who would have imagined that mobile telephony, a revolution in its own right, would evolve into a platform for casual computer games?

And while game consoles are still going strong, we are now seeing personal digital tablets, albeit with a larger screen than mobile phones, offering a wider scope for casual games playing.

The internet is also offering the excitement of social game playing, hooking millions of individuals on to a struggle for supremacy in the virtual world.

Computer games allow the development of new, imaginary worlds which until a few years ago were the realm of blockbuster film producers – and even these had difficulty interpreting the scene writers’ imagery without the assistance of computer power.

Digital artists literally feel the power of creation, albeit in virtual reality, building whatever universe is themed for the particular game being developed. Each participant in this industry tries to identify a particular artistic style which will hopefully put them in the history books of innovative implementation.

In conjunction with Goldsmiths College, University of London, St Martin’s Institute of IT is developing a degree for those fascinated with the creation of computer games. The Diploma and the B.Sc (Hons) in Creative Computing conferred by the University of London International Programme provides the core curriculum designed to develop the human capital required for the games industry.

The degree is, first and foremost, a computer science degree; yet it ingrains the basic principles of design and audio, enabling students to develop their creative thinking.

Apart from providing the element of core academic studies for its students, St Martin’s Institute has been developing extracurricular activities which are meant to enhance the de-gree programme. For the past two years Michela Magas was invited to develop a Technology Creative Week for lecturers and students.

Students were allowed to roam and develop a technological solution to a problem they identified. Many interesting proposals were concluded, and in one particular case a working prototype was also developed.

In 2010, the department started a new initiative – the Games Development Challenge, which evolved so rapidly that all four participating teams took part in the national XNA Game Zing competition and won prizes.

The real benefit resulted from training and mentoring by Gareth Lewis – a 17-year veteran producer of Lionhead, and an academic and consultant who has provided a train-the-trainer programme for the institute.

The Games Development Challenge has become so successful that media company Lighthouse and Ashley has decided to sponsor the challenge and develop its brand image.

The second edition of the Challenge is currently underway, with eight participating teams under the mentorship of six faculty members.

Many developments are being introduced for the next academic year. Students are being encouraged to join the Creative Computing programme and may benefit from a full scholarship to read for this Bachelor of Science degree.

Admissions are open and students with four ordinary level subjects, including mathematics and English may embark on the programme through the diploma route.

Joining this programme will give students the opportunity to explore digital media creativity and learn how computer science is playing an important role in today’s entertainment industry.

For more information and a prospectus, call 2123 5451 or 9993 5454, or e-mail infodesk@stmartins.edu.