The University of Teesside is introducing a degree course in designing computer games, which will mean four years of playing and building games and writing essays on such subjects as the history of computer games.

For serious addicts of screen games, there is a course unit dedicated to the appreciation of games, which will involve comparing the relative merits of the latest releases and classics such as Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario.

Expanding market

The course tutor, Matthew Holton, says that the new qualification, which will have links with games companies, will provide graduates for the expanding jobs market in the computer games industry.

Teesside University believes the courses will serve an industry of the future

"The course has been compiled with a great deal of input from experts in the games industry so graduates from these degrees may have no problem walking into jobs," he said.

"People don't realise how large the computer games industry has become - or that some of the best games are developed in Britain."

The course has been designed as practical training for a career in designing computer games, with students spending their time learning about how to make games and considering which approaches produce the best results.

Serious endeavour

Mr Holton, who expects the course to attract serious games enthusiasts, says that assessing students' efforts will not be problematic.

"There are plenty of academic criteria that can be applied to such a course, such as assessing the quality of art work, lighting, animation, interaction and the user interface."

The university is offering two degree courses for computer games - one in the creative design for games and the other in computer programming.