How has the University of Hull's MSc Games Programming helped your career?

'Colin McRae: DiRT 2' © 2009 The Codemasters Software Company Limited ("Codemasters"). All rights reserved

Zoe Summers

University of Hull
BSc Software Engineering and the MSc Games Programming graduate

How did what you studied help you get a career in games?
 
The key to getting a job in games as a programmer was not so much the MSc I did, but that I’d preceded it with an undergrad BSc in Software Engineering (SE).
 
I got a job in the Engine department of the UK’s largest independent publisher/developer and all that UML, Design Patterns and arguments over how to best architecture a solution that I spent two years learning really paid off. It was more important to them than any general degree in ‘Computer Games’.

However, the fact that I topped it off with an MSc specialising in Games, but applying all those good SE principles, really sealed the deal.

Advice? learn software engineering principles and use them wisely – don’t just cram them in to show off. It’s worse than not using them at all

Did you know that your course was accredited before you went there? Did it matter to you?
 
Yes, very much.

What titles/projects have you worked on since graduation, and where at?
 
I got a job before I’d even finished my MSc dissertation to work on the EGO engine at Codemasters Software, where I’m now the UI (User Interface) specialist.
 
What is your current role, and where? - can you briefly describe your daily duties and responsibilities?

My core responsibility is to design and implement a UI system for the games teams and artists to use in order to produce the ‘next-gen’ level of User Interfaces/Interaction, as well as all the On Screen Displays.

What was the toughest, most challenging thing you’ve encountered at work?
 
Sorry, top secret – if I told you I’d have to kill you.
 
What advice would you give to the current crop of students?
 
Learn C++, forget Java / Python / VB etc… and learn it well. Don’t just focus on the ‘high-level’ stuff… get your hands dirty with all the low level stuff (arrays, linked lists, sorting, filtering) that you can. Once you have that licked – learn software engineering principles and use them wisely – don’t just cram them in to show off. It’s worse than not using them at all.
 
What’s the game you most wish you’d worked on, ever?
 
Hmmm, hard one. I think it’s a toss up. The original Elite is probably my pick, because it was just so cleverly written and designed. Recently though, the game that just took my breath away, and made me play it through three times (working on the 4th right now) is Batman: Arkham Asylum. If that doesn’t win ‘Game of the Year’  its only because silly teenage boy fraggers are so besotted with Modern Warfare 2.
 
Do you have any industry role models/heroes?
 
Everyone on my EGO Engine team! Seriously, the knowledge and skills here still blow me away. I work with people who designed and coded for the original Amiga, who’ve written the first EGO engine for Operation Flashpoint 2, and who wrote the UI for Dirt 2 (Best UI ever IMHO). With such brains like that – I just want to learn from them as much as I’m able.
 
Which Game character would you like to be?
 
Batman. C’mon. Swinging on Grappling hooks and kicking ass. How cool!!!

What’s the most fun you’ve had at work?
 
Learning new stuff.  From really low level stuff on the consoles, to really clever patterns for very complicated gameplay requirements. This stuff is really really hard, but oh so cool.
 
What are you most proud of?
 
So far, my grades on my two degrees and getting this job. Inside me there is still that 11 year old girl playing games and wondering how on earth they did it, and here I am at the same company doing it for real!
 
Tell us an interesting story about your life in Games
 
Sorry, top secret again, but there’s a new one every day.

Find out here more about Zoe's experiences of studying the University of Hull's MSc Games Programming.

And click here for further details on the Skillset Accredited MSc Games Programming degree Zoe took.

Tags: Accredited Computer Games Course, Computer Games, Pick the Tick, Search all Courses, Women in Media