Making a Career in Video Games: Navigating the Path from Passion to Profession

Explore the exciting world of video game careers, from game design and programming to art and production. This talk will guide you through the essential skills, educational paths, and industry insights needed to break into and thrive in the video game industry. Discover tips on building a standout portfolio, networking effectively, and staying current with industry trends to turn your passion for gaming into a rewarding profession.

September 19, 2024

7:00 am

8:00 am

PST

TRACKS:

Career Growth & Leadership

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Amit Gupta

Software Engineering Manager, Electronic Arts - EA Sports

Amit is a senior leader in the gaming industry and currently serves as the Software Engineering Manager for the team behind EA Sports' popular American football video games, Madden and College Football 25, overseeing tech operations and manages large software teams. In the past, Amit successfully established multiple self-sustaining game studios from scratch for Aristocrat Gaming in India, developing games for top-grossing free-to-play mobile social casinos like Big Fish Casino, Lightning Link Casino, Heart of Vegas and Cashman Casino, with millions of daily active users. Driven by excellence and innovation in gaming, Amit holds several game design patents. As a community builder, he is an active mentor and member of the International Game Developer Association (IGDA), IEEE, ADPList and Harvard Business School's Leadership & Management program.

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Advocating for Design Maturity as a Leadership & Growth Career Path

Discover how advancing Design Maturity can transform your career and boost your organisation’s success. In this session, we'll break down the stages of Design Maturity, from the early, developing phases to the innovative, visionary level. You'll get practical tools to assess your company's current design maturity and learn how to advocate for improvement. You will hear about the vital roles Design Leaders play at each maturity stage, and explore the exciting career growth opportunities that come with advancing Design Maturity. With practical steps for implementation, tips for overcoming challenges, and inspiring real-world success stories, this session will equip you to champion Design Maturity in your organisation and propel your career forward.

Angelina Severino

Design Lead, Gamgee

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Career Growth & Leadership

The Chef Metaphor: Building Confidence in your Journey

I often use a metaphor about designers being chefs in growth and guidance across my career. I use this metaphor to help people think differently about how they enter the industry, what the value of passion is and how to identify and present their strengths in a more confident way. This is a framework of thinking for new or experienced designers to think differently about career progression.

Shawn Borsky

VP, Design, NZXT

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Career Growth & Leadership

Unlocking AI: Myths, Facts & First Steps

In “Unlocking AI: Myths, Facts & First Steps” we'll explore AI's significance and everyday impact, from smartphones to smart assistants. We'll discuss AI's role in enhancing business operations and decision-making, debunk common myths, and provide practical steps for individuals and businesses to begin their AI journey. Join us to uncover the true potential of AI and how to harness it effectively.

Daniel Simon

Co-Founder, Human AI Experience

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AI & Emerging Technologies

Who are you in design?

Let's talk about who you are in your career and where do you want to go, are you a people manager, are you an IC or are you a hustle til you drop consultant. We are going to talk about that journey of discovery in our careers and where we can set ourselves up for success.

Joe Cahill

Experience Design Manager, Unqork

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Career Growth & Leadership