Q&A with Daniel
How did you first become interested in a career in gaming?
I remember the moment clearly, though I could really be dating myself by divulging… Playing Kings Quest V (among other Sierra games) in high school and thinking how cool a career would be in crafting these amazing products. At the time, I wasn’t sure what the path was to get there, but with an undergrad degree in CS and the Guildhall coming along, my dream eventually came true.
What is the most interesting or enjoyable thing that you have gotten to do in your career?
I really like that I was able to work on a highly successful franchise that I played many years before I got into the industry. I worked on StarCraft II for over 6 years and am proud to have my name attached to such an amazing product.
Why did you choose to get your education from the Guildhall?
For me, the idea of getting my very own gaming laptop was enough, but the secondary promise of a career in gaming had me sold. I knew it was worth it from the moment I stepped on campus the first day, but my parents knew it once I received several offer letters during my last term.
How did the Guildhall prepare you for your career in gaming?
By giving me the real tools I needed to succeed. It sounds like a canned response, but by working on real gaming projects and doing real coding, I had the confidence to perform in the “real world”. The more theoretical education I received in undergrad was certainly not wasted, a solid foundation in CS is still very important, but it’s more difficult to make that jump from there.
What impact has the Guildhall had on your life?
The Guildhall changed my life and my career certainly for the better. I wanted to be in gaming, but really had no idea how to get my foot in the door. All job postings at game companies required experience in game development, but how do you get experience without a job at a game company? Such was my dilemma, and the Guildhall solved it nicely for me!
What advice would you offer for current Guildhall students?
You already made a great decision to attend the Guildhall. Put your heart and soul into your work and others will take notice. The time goes by very quickly; don’t squander even a minute of it!