Black Myth: Wukong is a Journey to the West-themed action role-playing game created by a local game development team in China, which has quickly become popular around the world since its release on August 20, 2024, triggering an unprecedented craze.
According to VGInsights, the game's sales have continued to climb, exceeding the 16 million mark so far, and the total revenue has jumped to 760 million US dollars (equivalent to about 5.3 billion yuan), setting a new historical record for domestic game pre-sales.
Black Myth: Wukong Game Influence
Source: Screenshot of BBC NEWS official website
The brilliant achievements of "Black Myth: Wukong" not only stimulated the creativity and enthusiasm of domestic game developers, but also led to the vigorous development of the entire game industry.
It is not only a shining star in the field of games, but also a medium for the professional strength and innovative spirit of the Chinese game development team to show the world, and its influence extends far beyond the game itself, and even extends to the fields of culture, economy and even education.
For example, in the game, players immerse themselves in the fantasy world of the classic Chinese literary masterpiece "Journey to the West", and deeply experience and appreciate the profundity and unique charm of Chinese culture through extreme visual effects, intricate plot lines and unique cultural elements.
This unique way of cultural communication not only allows players around the world to enjoy the fun of the game, but also deepens their understanding and recognition of Chinese culture, and effectively promotes the international exchange and dissemination of Chinese culture.
In addition, the success of Black Myth: Wukong has increased the educational appeal of game design, animation production, computer graphics, and more. Many Chinese students have been inspired to study abroad and are eager to master more cutting-edge game development technology and design concepts, which has further promoted cross-border exchanges and cooperation between the game industry and the education community.
United Kingdom is the first country in the world to put forward the concept of "creative industries", and vigorously supports the development of creative industries in policy, and the game industry, as an important part of United Kingdom education, is favored by the United Kingdom government, enterprises and education circles. Therefore, many United Kingdom universities have offered courses in game design, development, art and game programming, integrating theory and practice to create a comprehensive learning platform for students.
Below, Xiaolu will introduce several related industry master's courses in United Kingdom universities driven by the "Black Myth: Wukong" craze for students who are interested in this field, aiming to help you gain an in-depth understanding and find universities and majors that match your personal interests and career plans.
University of the Arts London
▼ Master of Arts in Game Design
UAL is rooted in experimental practice in the field of game design, and students will have the opportunity to be exposed to the latest technology and professional software, using facilities such as the college's computer labs, green screen studios, and motion capture.
In terms of application requirements, applicants should have a bachelor's degree in game design, animation, illustration, visual communication or graphic design. And coding experience is required. For example, HTML/CSS/JavaScript/Java or C++, etc. Applicants from non-related majors may also be considered if they have relevant work experience.
In terms of language requirements, an IELTS score of no less than 6.5 with no band less than 5.5. The application process is divided into three steps: first, applicants need to submit an initial application, including a personal statement, CV and study plan.
Subsequently, applicants who pass the initial screening are required to complete video tasks and submit a digital portfolio; Finally, you will need to pass a 15 to 20-minute interview, and those who pass will be eligible for admission.
UAL MA Games Design申请流程
Source: Screenshot of UAL's official website
Glasgow School of Art
▼ Master of Serious Games and Virtual Reality
This course aims to prepare students as key innovators and develop a wide range of transferable skills in the dynamic and fast-growing field of gaming. Students will learn how to design, develop, and analyze game and simulation systems for multiple applications, while encouraging interdisciplinary research into the application of game technology, particularly in healthcare, education, and training.
In terms of application requirements, the school welcomes applications from students with a bachelor's degree in design, computer science, animation, art, or any related field that includes programming/scripting courses.
In addition, applicants with relevant professional work experience are also eligible to apply. It is important that all applicants who pass the initial screening process participate in an interview, and the successful completion of the interview will be the key to obtaining a final offer.
University of Warwick
▼Master of Science in Game Engineering
Compared to the above-mentioned universities that focus on the arts, the University of Warwick is a comprehensive university with a game development program in a class of its own. Here, students will be deeply involved in the complex game development process, from the basics to the theory, and grasp the essence of building a game engine.
As a result, graduates will be able to take on senior technical roles in the gaming industry, a sector where talent is in high demand.
Due to the University of Warwick's proximity to Leamington Spa, the area is home to many well-known game companies such as Codemasters, SEGA, Ubisoft, Lab 42, Midoki and Pixel Toys, providing students with a wealth of internship and employment opportunities. This not only broadens students' horizons, but also greatly enhances their career competitiveness.
华威大学Games Engineering MSc专业就业方向
Source: Screenshot of the official website of the University of Warwick
For students applying for this program, the University of Warwick requires students from double first-class universities to achieve a minimum grade point average of 80%. At the same time, in terms of language ability, IELTS must have an overall score of 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each component. In addition, applicants with relevant work experience are also required to submit a curriculum vitae (CV) to fully demonstrate professional competence and practical experience.
University of Leeds
▼ Master of Engineering in High-Performance Graphics and Games
By studying this master's degree, students will be able to smoothly integrate into the multi-billion pound gaming industry around the world. As a graduate, you'll be equipped to work at the top of the gaming industry, developing cutting-edge computer graphics on high-performance platforms and writing efficient engines for game design.
In terms of application requirements, applicants are expected to have a background in computer science and have studied a wide range of core courses including C++ programming, system development, data structures and algorithms at the undergraduate level, and have achieved excellent results in these fields.
In addition, students are encouraged to acquire mathematical knowledge that is closely related to computer graphics, especially linear algebra, which will provide a solid foundation for subsequent in-depth study.
For undergraduate graduates from Chinese mainland, the University of Leeds sets an average grade requirement ranging from 80% to 90% depending on the applicant's institutional background. At the same time, the language must achieve an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in each component.
The University of Leeds masters have the average score requirement for undergraduate degrees in Chinese mainland
Source: Screenshot of the official website of the University of Leeds
Queen Mary University of London
▼Master of Science in Computer Games
The programme is designed to develop professional skills that enable students to design and develop games using cutting-edge tools and techniques. During the course, students will be able to gain an in-depth understanding of the latest advances in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning, and explore the practical applications of these technologies in the gaming industry.
Notably, Queen Mary University of London is renowned for its excellent gaming and AI research team, as well as the IGGI PhD programme, which brings together more than 60 PhD students from across the UK who specialise in games research to build a strong academic community.
Regarding the application requirements, the program requires a background in electrical engineering, computer science, mathematics, or a related major. For students in Chinese mainland, the average grade point should be in the range of 75% to 85%, depending on the undergraduate institution attended. For IELTS, an overall score of 6.5 is required, with 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in reading, listening and speaking.