Assignment brief
Qualification Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production
Unit number and title
L3 Unit 78 Digital Graphics for Computer Games – Partial
L3 Unit 13: Understanding the Computer Games Industry - Partial
Start date 20th
October 2014
Deadline 21st November 2014
Assessor name Harry Arnold
Assignment title HA2 – Transformation
The purpose of this assignment is to:
Be able to generate concept art ideas for computer game graphics
Be able to create digital graphics for a computer game following industry practice
Be able to use project management techniques commonly used in the games industry
Scenario
Games studio Lazy Eye Media are recruiting for trainee digital artists. As part of the recruitment process you have been asked to reinvent
yourself as the main character within a new game. You will devise the setting, genre, objectives and storyline for the game. Following this, you
will produce a profile for your character and produce screen and print-ready concept art and marketing material. You will be using yourself as
the model for your character.
In addition to the final artwork, Lazy Eye Media are very interested in how you have made the work; your design process and project
management. This means that you will need to evidence each aspect of the assignment carefully and publish it to your blog. They will be
interested in finding out which types and styles of games you enjoy playing.
This is your chance to apply the traditional art and design and software skills you have learnt to date. You will be using Adobe Photoshop and
Illustrator to produce both raster and vector artwork.
Work to be submitted
Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator Tutorials
Project Definition Plan
Your Company Logo
Schedule
Budget
Game Setting Research
Game Genre and Objective Ideas Map
Game Synopsis
Character Profile
Legal and Ethical Checklist
Production Log
Character Artwork
Review

Tasks
Grading Criteria Mapping
Tasks in this assignment may have additional guidance that you will need to follow posted to Unit 78’s Moodle course and all evidence produced
by you must be correctly labelled and posted to your blog.
Initiation
Task 1 – Project Definition
Review your success in carrying out the software tutorials and camera workshop. Read the assignment carefully and
taking into consideration what is being asked of you and the client’s wishes, define the key aims of the assignment for
yourself. Produce a plan (ideas map) that clearly demonstrates your understanding. In addition, make sure that you
have your own company name and logo prepared.
Remember that you are trying to apply project management techniques to direct a project to a quality that reflects
near-professional standards, working independently to professional expectations.
Unit 13 – P4, M4, D4
Planning
Task 2 – Detailed Planning
Complete a schedule for the project using the supplied template. This burn-down chart will help you allocate enough
time for each task and hit the deadline. Your schedule will need to be reviewed and updated at least once per week.
Using your schedule, calculate a budget for your project using the supplied template.
Set up a production log for the assignment using the supplied template. This will be used to chart the design process
you follow as you work through the assignment. You will need to update this at least once per week and include
explanatory notes, imagery and screen-shots from the software you are using. Please remember to evidence this
within Task 5 – Production.
Remember that you are trying to generate thoroughly thought through concept art ideas for computer game graphics
and apply project management techniques to direct a project, showing creativity and flair and working independently
to professional expectations.
Unit 78 – P2, M2, D2
Unit 13 – P4, M4, D4
Task 3 – Game Genre, Setting and Synopsis Research
Produce an ideas map that explores the genre of your game, its storyline and objective.
Alongside this ideas-generation, choose a setting for your game from the following options:
Medieval Steampunk Survival Horror Fantasy Historical
Sci-fi Apocalyptic Warfare Contemporary
Produce a research document containing visual research into your chosen setting with supporting notes. You should
look for inspiration from existing games, but also TV, film, literature, graphic novels, current affairs etc. This document
will give you guidance as to the style of your character. Use whichever software packages suit you best, BUT cite any
sources you have used in your research, both written and visual. You may find it useful to run Task 4 alongside this
research.
Following this, write up a brief but clear synopsis of your game. Treat this as if you are producing the blurb on the
back of a game package or on a download site. Illustrate this with imagery if it helps to communicate your idea, BUT
cite any sources you have used in your research.
Remember that you are trying to generate thoroughly thought through concept art ideas for computer game graphics
and apply project management techniques to direct a project, showing creativity and flair and working independently
to professional expectations.
Unit 78 – P2, M2, D2
Unit 13 – P4, M4, D4
Task 4 – Character Profile
Produce a clear and detailed profile of the game’s main character. You will need to devise a name and produce a
biography that describes their appearance and explains their personality, powers, skills etc.
Based on your setting, game concept and character profile; complete the legal and ethical checklist.
Remember that you are trying to generate thoroughly thought through concept art ideas for computer game graphics
and apply project management techniques to direct a project, showing creativity and flair and working independently
to professional expectations.
Unit 78 – P2, M2, D2
Unit 13 – P4, M4, D4
Execution and Control
Task 5 – Production Unit 78 – P1, M1, D1

• Based on your planning, with an assistant, carry out a photoshoot of possible
poses for your character. You may want to include simple props to assist in
the design process. Having reviewed the results, you may find that you need to shoot additional shots. It is
important that you are playful and experiment, as the more imagery you create, the more options you give
yourself.
• Using your photographs and suitable found imagery (remember to cite sources) use Adobe Photoshop to
produce an amalgam of your character and setting. Having a range of resolutions and inconsistent colour
values within the artwork is not critical, as you will be tracing from this amalgam, but try to keep the quality
high wherever possible.
• Place your raster artwork into an Adobe Illustrator document, locking it into a template layer and then build
your vector design in the layers above.
Ensure that you have included all aspects of your working processes within your production log. You will need to
update this at least once per week (ideally after each session) and include explanatory notes, imagery and screen-
shots from the software you are using.
Remember that you are trying to create computer game graphics and apply project management techniques to direct
a project, to a technical quality that reflects near-professional standards following industry practice, showing
creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.
Unit 78 – P3, M3, D3
Unit 13 – P4, M4, D4
Closure
Task 6 – Presentation
Present your completed artwork on the supplied templates and publish them to your blog. Use face-to-face, email and
social media networking to gain feedback on the work.
Remember that you are trying to create computer game graphics and apply project management techniques to direct
a project, to a technical quality that reflects near-professional standards following industry practice, showing
creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.
Unit 78 – P3, M3, D3
Unit 13 – P4, M4, D4
Task 7 – Review
Write an evaluation of your project. Use your plan, production log and blog posts to identify the strengths and
weaknesses of your design process and management techniques. This is best carried out by producing a conclusion to
your production log, schedule and budget. Try to establish whether or not your finished product has achieved the aim
of the project. Take into consideration anything said by reviewers.
Remember that you are trying to create computer game graphics and apply project management techniques to direct
a project, to a technical quality that reflects near-professional standards following industry practice, showing
creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.
Unit 78 – P1, M1, D1
Unit 78 – P3, M3, D3
Unit 13 – P4, M4, D4
This brief has been verified as being fit for purpose
Assessor

Date
Internal verifier
Signature Date
Unit 78: Digital Graphics for Computer Games.
P1 summarise accurately theory and
applications of digital graphics used for
computer games with some appropriate
use of subject terminology.
[IE]
M1 explain theory and applications of
digital graphics used for computer games
with reference to detailed illustrative
examples and with generally correct use
of subject terminology.
D1 comprehensively explain theory and
applications of digital graphics used for
computer games with elucidated
examples and consistently using subject
terminology correctly.
P2 generate outline concept art ideas for
computer game graphics working within
appropriate conventions and with some
assistance.
[CT; SM]
M2 generate detailed concept art ideas
for computer game graphics, showing
some imagination and with only
occasional assistance.
D2 generate thoroughly thought through
concept art ideas for computer game
graphics, showing creativity and flair and
working independently to professional
expectations.
P3 create digital graphics for a computer
game following industry practice, working
within appropriate conventions and with
some assistance.
[CT; SM; RL]
M3 create digital graphics for a computer
game to a good technical standard
following industry practice, showing some
imagination and with only occasional
assistance.
D3 create digital graphics for a computer
game to a technical quality that reflects
near-professional standards following
industry practice, showing creativity and
flair and working independently to
professional expectations.
Unit 13: Understanding the Computer Games Industry
P1 describe organisational structures and
job roles in the games industry, with
some appropriate use of subject
terminology.
[IE]
M1 explain organisational structures and
job roles in the games industry with
reference to detailed illustrative examples
and generally correct use of subject
terminology.
D1 comprehensively explain
organisational structures and job roles in
the games industry with reference to
elucidated examples and consistently
using subject terminology correctly.
P2 describe current market trends and
financial issues in the games industry
with some appropriate use of subject
terminology.
[IE]
M2 explain current market trends and
financial issues in the games industry with
reference to detailed illustrative examples
and generally correct use of subject
terminology.
D2 comprehensively explain current
market trends and financial issues in the
games industry with reference to
elucidated examples and consistently
using subject terminology correctly.
P3 describe contractual, legal and ethical
obligations in the games industry with
some appropriate use of subject
terminology.
[IE]
M3 explain contractual, legal and ethical
obligations in the games industry with
reference to detailed illustrative examples
and generally correct use of subject
terminology.
D3 comprehensively explain contractual,
legal and ethical obligations in the games
industry with reference to elucidated
examples and consistently using subject
terminology correctly.
P4 apply project management techniques
to direct a project with some assistance.
[SM]
M4 apply project management
techniques to direct a project
competently, and with only occasional
assistance.
D4 apply project management techniques
to direct a project to a quality that reflects
near-professional standards, working
independently to professional
expectations.
P5 prepare personal career development
material using basic formal language.
[RL]
M5 prepare carefully produced personal
career development material using
generally correct formal language.
D5 prepare personal career development
material to a quality that reflects near
professional standards consistently using
correct formal language.
PLTS: This summary references where applicable, in the square brackets, the elements of the personal,
learning and thinking skills applicable in the pass criteria. It identifies opportunities for learners to demonstrate
effective application of the referenced elements of the skills.