My journey through the game programming and development pipeline has been a transformative experience. Marked by intense learning, hardships, creative exploration, and a profound evolution of my skills, this program has tested me in ways that I have never encountered before. At the heart of this voyage lies my deep dive into Unreal Engine, a platform that has become my canvas for crafting virtual worlds and interactive experiences, as well as the strategies and theories behind Project management and proper workflow.
I've long been interested in game development. But it always seemed like something that was just slightly out of reach. But when I learned Unreal Engine was free to game developer’s I quickly dove in. Doing something as simple as making a ball roll across the floor and jump with the press of a space bar was exciting to me. That excitement and sense of accomplishment led me to my academic journey here at SNHU. So, while I previously had quite a bit of experience in Unreal Engine through self- learning, I had no idea the depths to which it could be utilized. Over the course of this program, I have learned so many new things that I had no idea existed before. I've utilized new tools and strategies to hone my skills in creating 3D environments, crafting unique gameplay mechanics, and optimizing performance. I've designed intricate landscapes, programmed complex AI solutions, and discovered the versatility and potential of game development.
I started in the game art and design program, but, as I am a software engineer, I quickly switched to the game programming and development program. Writing code and creating complex logical solutions to realize my creativity was something that I truly fell in love with doing. This program has been my gateway to realizing my creative visions in an astonishingly realistic and immersive manner. I've harnessed the engines capabilities to bring lifelike environments to life. I've learned about the principles of light and materials, and I've used them to tell stories and evoke emotions whether it's the haunting beauty of a Canadian wilderness or the heart pounding gameplay of our shooter game made in one of the courses.
As I navigated the complexities of Unreal Engine, I've honed my problem-solving abilities. I've developed a deep understanding of optimizing assets, level streaming, implementing efficient gameplay systems, and learning to optimize code. I have learned the difference in capabilities between the blueprint system and C++. I've learned better testing and iteration on gameplay mechanics, and new strategies on how to maintain cohesiveness and collaboration among team members. I've learned to integrate assets, communicate requirements, and work synergistically with others, some who have never even seen their face, to bring a shared vision to life.
This capstone course has prepared me for a job in the game industry in terms of technical knowledge, prioritization strategies, and self-reflection and promotion. I am a pretty quiet person, and self-promotion does not come naturally to me. So, learning how to successfully create an E portfolio throughout this course has helped me immensely in my pursuit of future game development opportunities.
My work throughout this program has demonstrated my mastery of team collaboration, usage of tools like GIT, project management strategies, and the technical skills required to work in the gaming industry. I now understand when and how to use C++ to create custom solutions, as well as when to use blueprint instead. I have learned how to best test and iterate through my ideas and designs, as well as others designs and creations. The gaming industry is rarely a solitary environment. Team collaboration is key, and project management and the dissemination of information and direction of duties are imperative to creating a well-designed and managed final product.
I've applied most of if not all the lessons I've learned throughout the game programming program in my capstone course. I utilized source control to ensure that I always had a backup of my project in case of any catastrophes or need to rollback. I've documented my work, tested it, and iterated through it until it got to a place where I felt comfortable enough to share it. I've used proper project management theories and strategies to ensure that I prioritize each part of the project appropriately. At the beginning of the course, I identified which artifacts would take the most time and made sure that I prioritized appropriately to where nothing would be left until the last minute.
I currently work as an analytical software engineer for a large company, and I have already begun to utilize much of what I have learned throughout the course of this program in my daily work life. Project management strategies such as Gantt charts, team-based collaboration strategies, and proper version control have each been a boon in both my educational and professional life. My professional goal is to be a game developer that works on the game environment and mechanics. I find creating immersive, engaging environments and atmospheres to be one of the most rewarding parts of game development. Creating a mechanic that after much iteration finally begins to work right is it extremely gratifying accomplishment. And I look forward to utilizing what I have learned in this course to pursue my professional and personal goals.
Ethics are of utmost importance in the professional world. Learning to take appropriate responsibility, and give recognition to others work, as well as maintain your personal and professional integrity, will lead to the road of success. Because of that, I will ensure that I stay aware of things such as copyright laws, ethics surrounding artificial intelligence, and the diversity of thoughts and opinions will stay at the forefront of my mind.
A problem I encountered during my capstone course was at the very end when getting ready to submit the link to my ePortfolio on Behance, I saw in the rubric that it was to be submitted as a PDF file. This threw me for a loop. The entire course I had been uploading to my Behance portfolio. How was I supposed to submit it as a PDF file? I immediately reached out to my professor, and while awaiting response I completed the rest of my work (including this write up) and worked to submit them both in a PDF format, and the Behance profile as I previously thought was correct. This exemplifies my ability to quickly adapt and cover my bases when operating with a lack of information. It also is a poignant reminder that details matter, and even the smallest detail can have a profound impact on the outcome.
Overall, the game design and programming pipeline has been a rewarding, and gratifying experience. I have learned so much that I can leverage in both my professional and personal life. I look forward to using what I have learned here at SNHU to pursue my goals and I thank everyone involved.
