NGL Gaming

🎙With the end of university imminent, we asked our members to share their university experiences and we will be sharing their answers here each day in the run up to summer. 🎓Today we’ve got Matthew Slater, a 3rd year student specialising in 3D Art. ❓ What did you hope to gain at uni when you started? 💬 “Coming out of college I knew I wanted to work on games but originally as a concept artist, I joined hoping to develop my skills and meet new people.” ❓What do feel you achieved in your time at uni? 💬 “I feel like I have developed my skills so much in 3 years, I discovered that I wanted to be a 3D artist, made connections in the industry and on my course and created a portfolio to use for the industry!” ❓Is there anything you would do differently if you could go back to your first day? 💬 “Made sure I networked and set up my social media accounts from the start, it would have given me the full 3 years to develop my portfolio and industry connections.” ❓What advice would you give to new students just starting their journey? 💬 “Be open to people and new experiences, if you are like me that went into Uni not knowing anyone or anything take any opportunity you can get..” ❓Anything else you want to say about your experience good, bad or unexpected? 💬 “University has been invaluable to making lifelong friends, gaining knowledge on the industry and finding and improving my specialism. It’s had its bumps along the way like anything but I am really proud of what I have accomplished in my University journey.” 📲 Find Matthew’s work here: https://lnkd.in/eSsvY-dH

🎙With the end of university imminent, we asked our members to share their university experiences and we will be sharing their answers here each day in the run up to summer. 🎓Today we’ve got Jack Mulford, a 3rd year student studying game development, specialising in game design. ❓ What did you hope to gain at uni when you started? 💬 “To be around people with similar passions as myself and to learn the skills that are needed to work within the industry.” ❓What do feel you achieved in your time at uni? 💬 “I’ve met so many amazing people both at uni and through networking, I feel that I truly understand what my goals are and what I need to do to achieve them.” ❓Is there anything you would do differently if you could go back to your first day? 💬 “Learn version control, don’t use google drive, it’s dumb.” ❓What advice would you give to new students just starting their journey? 💬 “Start networking with industry professionals, 9/10 you’ll get a reply and start working on a portfolio asap.” ❓Anything else you want to say about your experience good, bad or unexpected? 💬 “Be prepared to chase up a lot of people when doing student group projects, yes the cliches are very true.” 📲 Find Jack’s work here: www.jackmulford.co.uk

🎙With the end of university imminent, we asked our members to share their university experiences and we will be sharing their answers here each day in the run up to summer. 🎓Today we’ve got Faith Hamill, a 3rd year student specialising in VFX and Enviro Art. ❓ What did you hope to gain at uni when you started? 💬 “I was hoping to gain an equal amount of soft skills and hard skills - I chose Falmouth University as I knew they placed heavy emphasis on teamworking, agile practices and applying the skills I would learn in the context of game creation.” ❓What do feel you achieved in your time at uni? 💬 “I do feel I achieved those skills I outlined before! More than that though, I feel I have learnt so much from my peers - I've become a more resilient, organised person with better confidence in my pieces of work, as well as an ability to speak about them.” ❓Is there anything you would do differently if you could go back to your first day? 💬 “I would definitely ask for help more - at the time, I was way too scared to ask silly questions, but that's what lecturers are there for!” ❓What advice would you give to new students just starting their journey? 💬 “The biggest pieces of advice I give to the younger students I teach are a) don't be a d*ck - networking is so powerful and not all publicity is good publicity! We were told this by the mentors before us when I started, and I want to keep passing that message on. And b) resilience and discipline are incredibly important skills to learn, more so than motivation in a way. Don't give up!” ❓Anything else you want to say about your experience good, bad or unexpected? 💬 “Don't compare yourself to your peers - imposter syndrome is such a slippery slope! Be curious, ask lots of questions and have fun :)” 📲 Find Faith’s work here: https://lnkd.in/ejetS3wP

🎙With the end of university imminent, we asked our members to share their university experiences and we will be sharing their answers here each day in the run up to summer. 🎓Today we’ve got Alexander Lines Lines, a year 2 student studying game design. ❓ What did you hope to gain at uni when you started? 💬 “To make games with people who are passionate like me. I hoped to find people like that so I could grow and.” ❓What do feel you achieved in your time at uni? 💬 “Not too much honestly, probably some imposter syndrome there.” ❓Is there anything you would do differently if you could go back to your first day? 💬 “I don't think so.” ❓What advice would you give to new students just starting their journey? 💬 “Find out what it is that really makes you passionate.” ❓Anything else you want to say about your experience good, bad or unexpected? 💬 “It's definitely been very unexpected so far, I'm excited to see where it get me.” 📲 Find Alex’s work here: https://lnkd.in/e5cbjaKj

🎙With the end of university imminent, we asked our members to share their university experiences and we will be sharing their answers here each day in the run up to summer. 🎓Today we’ve got Joseph Murray, a year 3 student Specialising UE5 Technical design. ❓ What did you hope to gain at uni when you started? 💬 “Information, a general understanding in how to start and make way into the industry of my chosen course.” ❓What do feel you achieved in your time at uni? 💬 “Connections, somewhat a view into the game industry, technical skills.” ❓Is there anything you would do differently if you could go back to your first day? 💬 “Would of attempted to.” ❓What advice would you give to new students just starting their journey? 💬 “Ensure the choices you make are out of passion, out of admiration and respect for the thing you've chosen to do..” ❓Anything else you want to say about your experience good, bad or unexpected? 💬 “(Speaking on Uclan Game Design course.) The module was unclear, and even when prompted tutors didn't particularly give out anything concrete to work off. Alongside it, the differences between the modules were unclear.” 📲 Find Joseph's work here: https://lnkd.in/eJ-UpAkk

🎙With the end of university imminent, we asked our members to share their university experiences and we will be sharing their answers here each day in the run up to summer. 🎓Today we’ve got Amy F., a year 3 student Specialising in Prop & Environment Art. ❓ What did you hope to gain at uni when you started? 💬 “"An idea of what I want to do in my future. I knew I loved Art and photography (mainly due to Photoshop!) so I knew digital art felt like the perfect thing for me, so I wanted to see where that passion for digital art could take me. Note: It was a complete spare of the moment thing for me when I applied, very last minute and very undecided of what I wanted to do in life, but I knew digital art was something to do with it!" ❓What do feel you achieved in your time at uni? 💬 “I have achieved so much. I could of finished with an HND and stopped in my second year, but joining UCLAN for my top up has been the most worthwhile decision I've made in enhancing my skills. The sheer amount that I have learnt over the past year has been enough to cement my decision in becoming a 3D prop & environment artist. The feedback given from the tutors has been incredibly helpful in my journey.” ❓Is there anything you would do differently if you could go back to your first day? 💬 “If I'm honest, I wish I started at the University from the very start, however if it wasn't for my narrative design module during my HND, I probably wouldn't of grasped the idea of storytelling elements environment art. I always thought I was terrible at coming up with narrative elements, (in everything in general) but that module gave me a whole new perspective and has really helped with coming up with storytelling elements within my projects.” ❓What advice would you give to new students just starting their journey? 💬 “Try not take it for granted and give it your all. Learning everything at the start can be overwhelming, but you'll get there in the end. You just have to give it some time and stick with it.” ❓Anything else you want to say about your experience good, bad or unexpected? 💬 “I think I found my final year to be very different from what I imagined (in a good way!) The creative freedom in exploring your decided specialism meant I had the freedom of time to learn as much as I can. This being new software, how to ask for feedback and how to handle criticism, how to make and keep networked connections and so much more. I also wasn't expecting to connect with so many in the industry! Overall, a very positive change in direction for my life.” 📲 Find Amy’s work here: https://lnkd.in/eCqpHCFs https://lnkd.in/eQds4-7U

🎙With the end of university imminent, we asked our members to share their university experiences and we will be sharing their answers here each day in the run up to summer. 🎓Today we’ve got Miles Carr, an MA Games Design student specialising in level design. ❓ What did you hope to gain at uni when you started? 💬 “I didn't really know when I started. I always knew I wanted to do something with games and applied to the BA Games Design course with hopes in finding out what I'd specialise in. It wasn't until 2nd year I was fixed on pursuing Level Design.” ❓What do feel you achieved in your time at uni? 💬 “Putting my name and work out there. I've achieved many things I didn't think was possible whilst being at university such as becoming a finalist at Search for a Star and being nominated to showcase my work to a bunch of talented artists at the University. I've been given the opportunity to work with PhD students in constructing VR experiences too. I'm grateful for all the experience I've gained partaking in these activities.” ❓Is there anything you would do differently if you could go back to your first day? 💬 “Do research into game design and what it entails. I had no idea how competitive this industry is, and I was definitely overwhelmed by the knowledge I had gained about how the industry functions. I naively thought that Games Design was an actual Job title until I was educated about the amount of roles that you can specialise in that are categorised in the Design department.” ❓What advice would you give to new students just starting their journey? 💬 “Always take every opportunity that is given to you, network constantly and create a portfolio in year 1 of your course, it will make life easier and prepare you for the journey ahead.” 📲 Find Miles’s work here: https://lnkd.in/e_gSMbX8 https://lnkd.in/ejt5Dmfj

🎙With the end of university imminent, we asked our members to share their university experiences and we will be sharing their answers here each day in the run up to summer. 🎓Today we’ve got Jack Burrup, a year 3 student studying Game Design and Development. ❓ What did you hope to gain at uni when you started? 💬 “I hoped to gain a better understanding of game design and grow my technical skills with game engines.” ❓What do feel you achieved in your time at uni? 💬 “I do feel like I achieved these goals, but I feel as if I only got a very limited amount of information from University and most of it was self-taught.” ❓Is there anything you would do differently if you could go back to your first day? 💬 “If I could keep up discipline and schedule wise, I would likely choose not to go to university and try to expand my knowledge in my own time as well as hobby game development.” ❓What advice would you give to new students just starting their journey? 💬 “Try and learn as much as you can as soon as you can because the faster you have an understanding of game design fundamentals and have gotten a good grasp on technical engine skills the easier your course will be and the faster you can pump out good portfolio work.” ❓Anything else you want to say about your experience good, bad or unexpected? 💬 “Specifically, I did not like how the Hallam course was structured but that is very university dependant. I would highly recommend looking at what university you want to go to with a lot of scrutiny and try not to be thrown off by distance from hometown and such.” 📲 Find Jack’s work here: https://lnkd.in/eCxEaFhH https://lnkd.in/eaZFQtep

🎙With the end of university imminent, we asked our members to share their university experiences and we will be sharing their answers here each day in the run up to summer. 🎓 Today we’ve got Harry Broun, a year 2 student studying games design with animation. ❓ What did you hope to gain at uni when you started? 💬 “A time to be able to find myself.” ❓What do feel you achieved in your time at uni? 💬 “I have currently found a discipline that I really enjoy.” ❓Is there anything you would do differently if you could go back to your first day? 💬 “To be more confident and express myself more.” ❓What advice would you give to new students just starting their journey? 💬 “Speak to people no matter who they are, people love to talk.” 📲 Find Harry’s work here: https://lnkd.in/gV9vP6ZB

🎓 With the end of university imminent, we asked our members to share their university experiences and we will be sharing their answers here each day in the run up to summer. Today we’ve got Mai Linh Au, a 2nd year 3D Games Art & Design student. ❓ What did you hope to gain at uni when you started? 💬 “A better understanding of the specialised, technical skills required to work as an artist in the games industry, as well as improving on my existing artistic skills in 2D.” ❓What do feel you achieved in your time at uni? 💬 “So far, I've really learnt a lot over the two years I have been here already, it feels surreal knowing I'm already halfway through my course! Being pushed with so many assignments, while often stressful, has also enabled me to pick up these new skills quicker teaching myself certain things by developing from the foundational knowledge and fundamentals my tutors provide me with. I have improved a lot since starting uni even though it's not always obvious to me.” ❓Is there anything you would do differently if you could go back to your first day? 💬 “Probably remind myself to factor in learning time alongside working time when trying to schedule my time to work on assignments. It's easy to feel bad when I don't complete a certain task in the time, I gave myself to do it simply because I had to take up some of that time learning how to do it and fixing problems rather than completing it more straightforwardly, so I'd try and account for that better.” ❓What advice would you give to new students just starting their journey? 💬 “Something similar to the previous answer, but on top of that I'd also recommend learning how to prioritise! Know where you want to invest your skill points and focus on what you want to get really good at. It's good to have a general knowledge of how everything works (generalist skills are definitely helpful in some smaller studios) but a lot of studios tend to seek out artists for specific roles so it can be harder to have a portfolio built up for them if you're dividing yourself up between so many disciplines. Focusing on bettering yourself in one area is also just easier in general as you can devote more of your time to it.” 📲 Find Mai’s work here: https://aumaiiee.carrd.co/