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Our first Thursday session provided a general introduction and overview of what to expect from our guest lecturers throughout the course. We received practical advice on how to get the most out of these talks, such as preparing questions ahead of time, researching the speakers on platforms like LinkedIn, and showing genuine interest in their career paths. Personally, I’m hoping to gain insight into what working in a studio environment is really like, such as the day-to-day expectations, work culture, and how people manage a work-life balance.
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Our first guest speaker was Jamie Blacknell, who shared his journey as a 3D Unity designer. After taking a break from his career during the pandemic, Jamie went into the gaming industry. Since he studied the same course I’m taking now, it particularly had my personal interest.
Jamie spoke about the value of being a ‘jack of all trades’ over specialising in a single area. While his primary focus is Unity development, he also works across different areas like content creation, quality assurance, distribution, and marketing. This versatility has been a key part of his success which shows how much the industry broad skills.
Jamie also talked about the importance of soft skills, like communication. Studio environments work on collaboration and teamwork and a staple of that is constant communication helping bridge gaps between departments and encourage a positive work culture. Jamie’s perspective helped me to understand how essential teamwork, self-discipline, and TIME MANAGEMENT (very important) are preparing us for such dynamic workplaces even now on this course.
As someone who also focuses on Unity, Jamie’s talk hit close to home. He stressed the importance of documenting and showcasing the development process for Unity projects. Instead of overwhelming employers with dense text, Jamie recommended using visual logs and recorded progression to highlight problem-solving and iterative design. This approach not only makes the work more accessible but also demonstrates creativity, technical skill, and a clear working style.
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Olivia started as a freelance artist, working on a several projects. She admitted that her portfolio right out of university was a bunch of random work, but focusing on environmental design and architectural studies helped her refine her craft. She told us the importance of learning to focus on specific aspects of production and knowing when to hand work off to others.
“Just enjoy what you do, and it will become your style.”
She cleared up the difference between concept art and illustration:
Concept Art: Focuses on practicality, such as how objects function
Illustration: Captures the mood and vibe, leaning into stylistic expression.
Networking: Into Games, Limitbreak Mentorships, The Rookies
Job Opportunities: LinkedIn and Discord
3D Stuff: Meshgram for sculpting, scanning, and integrating traditional and digital methods.
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Today’s session was led by Jordan Magnuson, who delved into the intersection of games and poetry and the surprising ways the two can merge creatively. I’d never considered how games could function as a form of poetry, so hearing about this concept was a refreshing way to view game design. Magnuson’s talk introduced a new dimension of creativity that we might explore within our projects.
He began by redefining what a poem could be, emphasizing its subjective, hyperbolic nature, often bound to metaphor and open to ambiguity, with layers of meaning woven throughout. This perspective set the foundation for understanding what he calls “game poems”—a form of short, personal expression through games.
This session broadened my perspective, showing how games can transcend traditional design goals and act as vehicles for nuanced, personal storytelling. Magnuson’s insights open up possibilities for experimenting with games that feel like intimate expressions rather than just structured forms of entertainment, and it was motivating to consider how we might incorporate this approach into our work.
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This session cleared up the importance of being well-prepared for career opportunities. Here are the key takeaways:
What employers look for:
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Joel Beardshaw is a game designer at UsTwo Games and we were fortunate to have him give us a talk about the industry, sharing insights from his career, skills for success, and important advice for aspiring professionals.
He talked about the importance of building a broad skillset and understanding the many facets of game development:
Lastly, Joel broke down the stages of game development:
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This week, our guest speaker, Jessica Murray, shared her journey and valuable insights into the realities of working in game development. Having started her education with dreams of becoming a primary school teacher, Jessica ultimately shifted her focus and entered the gaming world.
Skills and Lessons from WSA
At WSA, Jessica’s focus on game design helped her build a foundational skill set. She learned C# programming within Unity, a crucial skill for her later work, and managed a team called LampLighter, which further honed her leadership skills. Her interest in narrative choice led her to explore the art of creating immersive, choice-driven experiences, something that I personally am very interested in.
Jessica also shared her experience working on a large-scale project during her final year. Her ambition led her to design a narrative adventure game featuring puzzles, voice actors, and an original soundtrack. However, looking back, she recognized that the project scope was too big. The passion for creating something like this led to an oversight of practical elements like time management and bug fixes. This experience taught her the importance of balancing ambition with project feasibility, a lesson she would carry forward into her career.
The Challenges
Jessica shed light on the indie game development world, which she described as both exhilarating and gruelling. Indie development, she explained, is exceptionally demanding, especially in terms of securing funding, establishing a social media presence, and navigating marketing. The path is rarely smooth, and it requires a broad skill set, often favouring generalists who can wear multiple hats. Despite the difficulties, she emphasised that the payoff, when a game reaches players and gains traction, can be very rewarding.
She also talked about the industry’s shift towards the Unreal Engine and suggested learning it to stay competitive. Further to this, she noted the need to develop a tough skin to handle the often harsh feedback from online gaming communities.
Portfolio
Jessica stressed that building an independent portfolio is key for aspiring game developers, especially after leaving formal education. Taking on personal projects, testing ideas, and learning from mistakes are all crucial. To bolster her own portfolio, Jessica took a year to work on various projects, allowing her to grow and refine her skills. She advised making the most of platforms like Itch.io, where game jams provide quick turnarounds and a wealth of experience in teamwork and self-management.
Online Learning and Competitions
Jessica shared her journey through online courses and game writing competitions. Platforms like Coursera and Udemy provided structured learning opportunities, while competitions hosted by organizations like IntoGames offered a chance to showcase her skills. She encouraged others to participate in these events, noting that they not only add valuable experience to a portfolio but also demonstrate dedication and engagement to prospective employers.
Networking and presence
Active industry engagement, Jessica stressed, is key for anyone looking to break into games. Social media, while often daunting, can be a powerful tool for networking, self-promotion, and job hunting. She recommended engaging with industry posts, asking questions, and building a support network with other creators. Setting aside an hour each week to focus on industry connections and social media can open doors and help foster relationships with professionals in the field. She also noted that initiatives like LimitBreak offer valuable resources for industry newcomers.
Jobs
When applying for jobs, Jessica reminded attendees that rejection is a natural part of the process and often comes down to lack of experience rather than personal shortcomings. Building experience between applications, whether through small projects or freelance work, can strengthen both portfolio and skill set. Jessica advised that a portfolio should be carefully curated, accessible, and reflect one’s best work.
In interviews, preparation is key: she suggested researching the company thoroughly, playing their games, and being ready to discuss strengths, challenges, and relevant experiences. She also recommended asking meaningful questions about the company culture, diversity, and work ethic, reminding attendees that finding the right fit is as important as securing the role.
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