From Game Design studies to building a future in the game industry

Game Design offered a path from ideas to actual games

Originally from Naples, Italy, Andreas Marcato came to Finland to study Game Design. He had been interested in the games industry and wanted to learn not only how to come up with ideas, but how to develop them into finished games.

When comparing his study options, he was attracted by the content of the Game Design programme and the opportunities it offered. Trying introductory material before applying helped confirm that this was the direction he wanted to take.

For Andreas Marcato, one of the most valuable lessons has been learning how to take an idea further. Having an idea for a game is only the beginning. Game development also requires the ability to evaluate ideas, test them and develop them into something that works in practice.

It is an opportunity to learn how to make games, not just play them.

Practical Game Design projects help students find their own direction

The studies progress from building a common foundation towards increasingly practical and specialized work. According to Andreas Marcato, the first year gives students a shared foundation even if they arrive with different skills and educational backgrounds. Later, teamwork and projects become an increasingly important part of studying.

The second-year projects have been particularly valuable to him. Working together with other students resembles a professional project environment: team members need to coordinate their schedules, divide responsibilities, communicate and solve problems together. Feedback is also an important part of the process. Other students can identify opportunities for improvement that may be difficult to notice when working alone.

As the studies progress, students can also begin to identify the areas they are most interested in and deepen their expertise. Andreas Marcato has become particularly interested in technical Game Design and technical art.

The practical nature of the studies has made his own development visible to him.

-You make something that you can actually see. You can look back at what you did earlier and see how you have improved.

Communication has become one of the most valuable skills

Although Game Design studies develop technical skills, Andreas Marcato highlights something else when asked what will be most valuable in his future career: communication.

Game development is collaborative. People may be working towards the same goal while approaching a problem in different ways. Being able to explain your own ideas, listen to others and give and receive constructive feedback is therefore essential.

For Andreas Marcato, this has been one of the most important ways in which studying has prepared him for working life.

-Communication is probably the most valuable thing I have learned, You need to know how to communicate with people who want the same thing but may approach the problem differently.

Studying on campus has supported this development as well. Andreas Marcato values being able to meet students from different years, exchange ideas and approach lecturers when he needs advice. He describes the community as supportive and appreciates being able to ask for feedback on projects and ideas.

Moving to Finland was a big step, but support was available

Moving to another country to study naturally required planning. Andreas Marcato recalls that there were practical matters and paperwork to take care of, but as European student, he found the process easier than he initially expected. Support from tutors and other student services helped him settle in and work through practical questions.

Finding accommodation in Kouvola was manageable, although moving to Finland also meant learning how everyday practical matters work in a new country. Looking back, Andreas Marcato mentions banking as one of the things he would recommends international students to sort out early, as having Finnish bank account and access to strong electronic identification can make everyday matters easier.

His experience shows that studying abroad is not only about learning a new profession. It also means becoming more independent, finding your place in a new community and learning to navigate a new environment.

Game Design studies are opening the door for entrepreneurship

For Andreas Marcato, graduation is not simply the end of his studies. He is already looking ahead and working towards starting a game company together with fellow students. His goal after graduation is to focus on developing the company and building a future in the game industry.

His interests in technical game design and technical art give him a clearer professional direction, while the experience gained from teamwork, projects and communication provides skills that are relevant beyond any single role.

He also would like to contribute to the local game development community in the future by sharing his knowledge and potentially supporting others who are interested in similar areas of game development.

For someone considering Game Design studies, his advice is straightforward: if you enjoy games but are curious about what it takes to make them, studying Game Design can help you discover whether game development is the right path for you.

Interested in creating games yourself? Explore the Bachelor of Culture and Arts, Game Design programme at Xamk and discover how you can turn your interest in games into practical skills for the game industry.