What is it like to work in the Video Game Industry?

It's an avid gamer's dream to be able to work in the gaming industry, as you get the chance to know the latest updates of a specific game before their launch to the public (while anxiously keeping it a secret, of course). Plus, you're getting paid to analyse, discuss and geek out on every bit of a battle strategy. One must have hit the jackpot in life, right? 

Working as a Key Quality Assurance artist in Lemon Sky Studios, Adri Ahmad is undoubtedly living the life as he gets to be up close and personal with all the mechanics behind game development. "I get to be exposed to different aspects of 3D game asset production with various clients that players worldwide will get to play and interact with before it reaches their hands."

As an avid gamer himself, Adri points out that it does help him become more skilled at his job. "When checking the 3D assets, I would imagine how I, as a player, would react if I see this in-game; when it's fully rendered by the game engine, fully animated, fully voiced and interacting within the game world. What would the general player think when they see this model now? Would it be something I would like to see? Those kinds of questions I would ask my gamer self and reflect that in my work."

Having collaborated with many globally known companies that produced popular games like The Last of Us, Mortal Kombat, and Final Fantasy VII is pretty surreal for Adri that he's still pinching himself at times, seeing his name marked alongside talented people in video game credits.

"It's pretty unbelievable, and I'm grateful for having the privilege to work in an industry that means so much to me."

Final Fantasy VII stands as a popular favourite among gamers for the series, where Adri had the chance to be part of the development of the 3D model assets of the characters.

The starting point of his future career

There wasn't any need to implore his parents when it came to his study plans, as Adri's dad has always given him the green light to further his degree in Computer Games Development. After extensive surveying with his dad, the firstborn son ended up at APU university and was glad he made that choice. 

For a student to enter the course, one must excel in Mathematics during their Pre-University. This is due to Mathematics being the basis of allowing characters and environments to move and interact in the game world through a combination of programs and engines to code commands into their games.

Despite this, Adri pointed out that you'll also need to focus on other subjects as well, as the course will expose you to many other areas that make up gaming development.

"Back then, my course covered almost everything in game development, from programming to 3D modelling and production, without specialising in one aspect. So, though it has its pros, like knowing little about what everything does, you can't master anything; as they say, like being the Jack of All Trades, but a Master of None."

Discovering which area of expertise you'll want to specialise in will come naturally as time carries you from one semester to another.

Reminiscing about his University days, Adri looked back fondly remembering the simplest moments— from hanging out at the university cafeteria for hours before the next class to panicky submitting last-minute assignments. The humorous lad is also a proud founder of the M.A.G (Manga, Anime, Games) Club, where the community would hang out every Thursday after classes. They would binge-watch anime, read manga together and play video games from dusk till dawn, creating irreplaceable memories in the budding years of youth. 

A throwback photo of Adri during his degree years with the club members from the M.A.G club that still exists up to this day 

The impact of gaming in his life

Adri's life has always revolved largely around video games. His dad introduced him to it when he was a wee lad, where he played classic Aladdin and Lion King platformer gameplays on PC before moving on to point-and-click educational games like Putt-Putt and Freddi Fish. 

Little did he know that he would one day develop an educational-based game revolving around a kid's show called "Ummi" at Hud Hud Media Sdn. Bhd before working in his current role.

During the celebration of the collaboration between LemonSky Studios and Blizzard Entertainment (USA) two years ago

Adri also spends his leisure time on the live-streaming game platform 'Twitch' under AdriPlaysSomething, where he gets to share cool, funny and epic moments with his friends and followers.

"The experience of playing video games is always amplified when you get to share it with a community that has the same interest as you," says Adri.

With video games constantly evolving, Adri is eager to see how far technology can branch out to the next level in every aspect it represents. 

"I wish to develop a video game of my own for others to enjoy, just like how video games have shaped me into the person I am today."

Intrigued to find out more about the Computer Gaming course at APU? Reach out to our counselling team, and we'll help you pave your way to working in the virtual world.