Master Course Small Project Game & Media Technology

HKU Game Small Project GMT

Format

The project takes place at HKU (Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht / University of Arts Utrecht). The project is a team project. One or two GMT students collaborate with a number of HKU students. The task is to design and develop a game for an external stakeholder. At HKU, the project is known as "Context Project ", part of their Games and Interaction program. The GMT student works at the venue of the HKU at Ina Boudier Bakkerlaan 50, Utrecht.

Course description at HKU: In teams, students work on assignments from external clients. The clients' assignments are authentic challenges that require an inquisitive and designing approach. Together with the client, the students arrive at an articulation of the question on the basis of ethnographic research, among other things. The student team designs and develops a state-of-the art application/creative-technical artifact that provides a solution to the client's issue. Well before the start of the project, the clients "pitch" their questions/design challenges. Students are given the opportunity to express their preferred project/client individually or in teams. At the end of the project, students present their work at the (public) 'Showcase' to which clients and third parties are invited. In addition, they make a 360 degree feedback report of each other which is submitted individually to the supervisors. This is intended to assess the individual contribution. Project Context is supported by bi-weekly professionalization sessions at a fixed time during the week.

Learning Objectives at HKU: The purpose of the Context project is for students to collaborate with the field/industry by working on assignments from external clients. Project Context takes place in a group setting. At the end of the module: Can the student design concepts and prototypes for a defined design issue from an artistic, social or commercial situation; Can the student set up and carry out an ethnographic research; Can the student - in team or network context - profile on certain roles and/or contexts; Is the student capable of self-direction and management; Can the student collaborate in a professional manner with fellow students and external professionals; Can the student conduct research to substantiate design and design choices; Can the student professionally (commercially, conceptually, artistically and technically) deliver an "end product" that meets the minimum requirements of the associated field of work.

Note

Note that registering for the HKU Game Small Project GMT means that you will be part of a team, which bring obligations and responsibilities. In particular, you are not supposed to quit or refrain from starting the project once you are scheduled in, unless in exceptional cases.

Schedule

The HKU Game Small Project GMT runs from September till February (1st and 2nd quarter of the academic year), and from February till July (3rd and 4th quarter), that is, twenty weeks half time (15 EC). Some time before the two starting dates, an email is sent out to the GMT students to contact the UU Small Project GMT coordinator who will bring you into contact with the HKU lecturers.

Grading

The grading is performed by the UU Small Project GMT coordinator, in consultation with the HKU Context Project supervisors. For more information about grading, see the grading page.