Nadia - Powering Play
Nadia Nadeem
Junior Engine Programmer at Rare
BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology
Nadia wanted to study a subject that both interested her and gave her good career prospects. BCU’s Computer Games Technology course provided the experience she needed to excel in the games industry, securing a full-time job in the industry after completing her placement year.
“I’ve always had an interest in computing but struggled to choose the right computing course for me when applying to university. I came across BCU’s Computer Games Technology course and it called to me. I’m a huge gamer and knew the degree would interest me.
Choosing Computer Games Technology felt like a bit of a leap of faith as it’s not a traditional course. I’ll admit, I was concerned about my job prospects after finishing university as I knew nothing about the games industry. I just had to have faith that my passion and determination would bring me success.
From the start of my time at BCU, it was clear that the course is designed to prepare you for industry. Each year, BCU hosts Global Game Jam, an event where people come together to create games around a central theme. The challenge of the Jam is that you only have one weekend to create the game. It was the perfect opportunity to work as a team and learn skills from others. I made lifelong friends over Jam weekends; they were a highlight of my time at BCU and allowed me to build my portfolio.
The modules on the course allowed me to create functioning games and build my experience using professional software. In my second year of university, I independently designed and developed Sneaker Search, an Idle Tycoon game. This is the project I'm most proud of at university as it was a huge achievement to have created this in my second year, and it really improved my confidence
I also did a yearlong placement at Rare, an Xbox Game Studio. I worked in the engine and gameplay team. The placement taught me a lot about the games industry. I used to doubt my knowledge and abilities as software engineering is such a complicated area to specialise in. Working with other professionals helped me realise that gaming is an ever-developing industry and that everyone is constantly learning and developing new software to improve the gaming experience.
After my placement, I was offered my current role at Rare as a Junior Engine Programmer! My role involves enhancing the game engine with new tools to improve game performance. In my junior role, I’m still learning every day but instead of facing challenges with dread, I’m excited to tackle them head-on. My course and placement experiences taught me to be a problem solver and make my way in the industry.
BCU has given me the skills to be confident and technically stronger in my field. I’ve turned a passion into a career.”
