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Andy Cobley, Mark Whitehorn, Patrick Blackwill, Stuart Anderson, Alex Taylor, Iain Kay, Gary Bowerbank, and James Frost

Week 1: Data in all its glory Week 2: Breaking the CAP Triangle Week 3: Taming the Data Exhaust Week 4: Analysis is our answer Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is aimed at those who already work in the games industry, but may also be of interest to those looking to work in the sector. You can use the hashtag #FLgamingdata to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

Read more

Week 1: Data in all its glory Week 2: Breaking the CAP Triangle Week 3: Taming the Data Exhaust Week 4: Analysis is our answer Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is aimed at those who already work in the games industry, but may also be of interest to those looking to work in the sector. You can use the hashtag #FLgamingdata to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

  • The Data Exhaust
  • Tabular vs Big Data
  • Disappearances in the CAP Triangle
  • NoSQL
  • Cassandra
  • MongoDb
  • Graphs and Graph Databases
  • Dark Data’s Hiding Place
  • Big Data and Distributed Systems
  • Hadoop, HDFS, MapReduce and Other Technologies
  • Real-time Systems
  • Lambda
  • Introduction to Statistics
  • Consumer Testing
  • Introduction to R and Python
  • Bayesian Statistics
  • Machine learning and data mining
  • The Future of Data Science

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Reviews summary

Data science for gaming professionals

According to learners, this course offers a solid introduction and valuable foundation for understanding data science specifically within the games industry. Students frequently highlight its ability to bridge core data science concepts with game development, making complex topics such as NoSQL databases, Big Data, and distributed systems more accessible. Many find the instructor's explanations clear and engaging, providing a useful overview for those looking to integrate data practices into their roles. However, some learners feel it is more of an overview than an in-depth dive, with a common desire for more hands-on coding exercises and a deeper exploration of advanced topics like machine learning, particularly for those with existing data science backgrounds.
Generally relevant, though some older mentions of dated tools.
"Decent course but felt a bit dated in some areas, especially the tools mentioned."
"Despite some older tools, the core concepts covered are still highly relevant and useful today."
Ideal for newcomers, less for experienced data professionals.
"Good for someone completely new to data science, but not much for those with some background."
"Good course for beginners or those needing a high-level overview. It certainly opened my eyes... Just don't expect to become a data scientist after this."
"I gained a very basic introduction to data science concepts from this course, which was great for me as a beginner."
Provides a comprehensive introduction to key data concepts.
"Excellent course, really enjoyed the content on NoSQL databases and how they apply to player data... The instructor made complex topics easy to grasp."
"Solid introduction. Covered a lot of ground in a short time. I liked the discussion on the CAP Triangle."
"Well-structured and easy to follow. Provides a good general understanding of data science principles and how they relate to the game industry."
Directly applicable for game industry roles.
"I appreciate the focus on practical applications within the gaming context. Highly recommend for game industry professionals."
"As a game developer looking to understand data, this course was perfect. It truly bridges the gap between data science and game development."
"It's a great starting point for anyone in the games industry looking to integrate data practices."
Could benefit from more advanced topics and practical coding.
"Could have used more hands-on coding exercises, especially for the R and Python parts. Felt a bit theoretical at times, but still valuable."
"Content was okay, but some parts felt a bit rushed. The section on machine learning was very brief; I wish it went deeper."
"I was hoping for more actual data science *in* games, like specific case studies or advanced analytics. This felt very basic."

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Career center

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Provides a comprehensive overview of machine learning, covering topics such as supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning. Written by leading experts in the field, it valuable resource for students and practitioners who want to gain a deep understanding of machine learning.
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This comprehensive handbook provides a wide range of topics in data science, including data mining, machine learning, and data visualization. Written by experts in the field, it valuable resource for students and practitioners who want to gain a broad understanding of data science.
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Explores the world of prediction and forecasting across various fields, demonstrating how data analysis and statistical modeling are used in practice. It's particularly engaging for undergraduate and graduate students interested in the application of data analysis in real-world scenarios. It adds breadth by showcasing diverse applications and the challenges involved in making accurate predictions.
Written by the creator of the pandas library, this practical, hands-on guide to manipulating, processing, cleaning, and crunching data in Python. It is essential for anyone using Python for data analysis, from undergraduates to professionals. It serves as an invaluable reference tool and is commonly used as a textbook or supplementary material in data analysis courses focusing on Python.
Provides a comprehensive introduction to data analysis using R and the tidyverse package collection. It's highly recommended for students and professionals using R, offering a structured approach to data manipulation, visualization, and modeling. It functions well as a textbook and a practical reference.
Builds data science tools and algorithms from the ground up using Python, providing a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanics. It's suitable for those with some programming experience and a desire to understand how data analysis techniques work internally. It helps solidify understanding by revealing the foundational code.
A classic text in the field of statistical learning, this book covers a wide range of topics, including linear and nonlinear regression, classification, unsupervised learning, and model selection. It comprehensive resource for students and practitioners in various fields.

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