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How has being a UWS BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology graduate helped your career?
Shaun Milne, graduate of the University of the West of Scotland's Skillset Accredited BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology degree
Shaun Milne
University of the West of Scotland
BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology graduate
How did what you studied help you get a career in games?
The skills required to create games are vast and often require specialist knowledge. The course tried to demystify this belief by covering the core skills that are required for entry into the games industry. I had hands-on experience creating graphics demos, implementing AI (Artificial Intelligence) algorithms, all the way up to creating a full game.
Knowledge gained from your time at University is wasted if you don't practise your programming skills in your own time, however. No matter how much content the lectures cover, they will always just be covering the tip of the iceberg when it comes to game development.
What titles/projects have you worked on since graduation, and where at?
I got a job before I graduated with TPLD, so didn't have much time to think as I had to move up to the bonnie Dundee. A year and a half on and I'm still here. TPLD create bespoke games with a learning/training theme but have recently moved into the realm of Virtual Worlds.
Projects I have worked on: The Winning Game (released on the Glow network), ePlayerfile (web based football coaching for youngsters, with a few minigames), Titus Roquefort's Project Manager, Milton Keynes Virtual Connexion's centre and Mason Hawk: Sales Executive.
Knowledge gained from your time at University is wasted if you don't practise your programming skills in your own time
What is your current role, and where? - can you briefly describe your daily duties and responsibilities?
TPLD is a small company (<10 people), and the turn-around for projects is relatively small (< 3 months). To handle these tight deadlines we use the agile development methology (Scrum) to self-manage which usually allows a smoother development process. It also means that the role of the individual is not fixed to a particular task, and therefore the roles of the team will change many times throughout a project.
In general, the person who has the most experience or strongest vision for how a particular task should be implemented 'owns' that task until completion, however many other team members may contribute over the task's lifespan.
My current role is the lead programmer on the Mason Hawk flash game which has a strict development time of 4 weeks. As well as designing the overall flow and code structure of the game, I work closely with the lead designer and artists to ensure the game is completed to the highest of standards for the time available.
What was the toughest, most challenging thing you've encountered at work?
Writing shaders for our virtual world platform. The goal was to achieve the desired look and feel but allow it to scale so that the client could handle hundreds of other users, but still work on different hardware setups.
What advice would you give to the current crop of students?
Keep at it! Try to familiarise yourself with a new technology at least once a week, and check out the Unity game development platform if you haven't already.
What's the game you most wish you'd worked on, ever?
Goldeneye on the N64, any of the Squaresoft games as well; I love their art style.
Do you have any industry role models/heroes?
I have a lot of indie role models, the guys from Blurst, Semi Secret Software to name a couple. They are doing some great work.
I'm pretty proud of the way I'm easily able to pick up new languages/technologies from scratch in very short periods of time
Which game character would you like to be?
Hal Emmerich because working on giant nuclear mecha was my second career choice!
What's the most fun you've had at work?
We don't have fun! We are serious game developers, ok?
What are you most proud of?
Not really an achievement, but I'm pretty proud of the way I'm easily able to pick up new languages/technologies from scratch in very short periods of time.
Find out more about Shaun's studies on the Skillset Accredited degree at the University of the West of Scotland.
And click here for further details of the BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology degree that Shaun took.
