From Roblox to Real Projects: Steven’s Story

Steven is building a future in the games industry by turning a long-standing interest in programming into real-world skills.

Now studying Games Design on the Game Development pathway, he’s developing his knowledge of coding, problem solving and collaboration – key skills for a career in game development.

A passion for problem solving

Steven has always been interested in programming and how games work.

Before joining University Centre Grimsby, he studied IT and Media at college. Outside of lessons, he was already developing his skills by teaching himself programming through Roblox Studio from the age of 10.

From building multiplayer games to experimenting with AI systems, he was already thinking like a developer.

Joining the course gave him the chance to take that passion further.

Growing as part of a team

One of the biggest changes Steven has noticed isn’t just technical, it’s personal.

He’s developed strong communication skills through group work, using tools like HacknPlan and Discord to collaborate, share updates, and manage projects.

It’s a different experience from college, where group work often meant working separately. Now, he’s part of a team, just like in the real industry.

Stepping outside his comfort zone

A standout moment for Steven was attending the Yorkshire Games Festival.

Hearing from industry professionals gave him a real insight into different career paths, but what made the biggest impact was what he did next: he started a conversation with one of the speakers.

It might sound small, but for Steven, it was a big step in confidence and a sign of how far he’s come.

Learning from support

Support from tutors has played an important role in Steven’s journey.

Advice on writing cleaner, more efficient code has helped him improve not just how his games work, but how other developers can understand and build on them.

That’s a key skill in the industry and one he’s continuing to develop.

Looking ahead

Steven’s goal is simple: to work in the games industry.

In the short term, he’s focused on finishing and releasing his current group project, potentially on platforms like Steam. It’s a big step, but one he’s ready for.

Steven’s advice

“Start practising now! Try different game engines and find what works for you.

“Don’t worry if you’re new, everything is taught from the ground up.”