Q&A with Abhishek
Describe what you currently do, and tell us the best part about your position.
I am a Graphics Programmer at Naughty Dog. Getting to work at all levels of the engine and game and owning pieces of the whole stack is a fantastic way to learn the ins and outs of graphics and game programming. Plus, being surrounded by some of the best developers in the industry and working on potentially award-winning games is very fulfilling.
What is the most interesting or enjoyable thing that you have gotten to do in your career?
Taking up a Graphics feature (Depth of Field) that was deemed a lost cause in the last few months of The Last of Us Part II's development and refining it beyond the team's expectations.
Describe your experience at the Guildhall.
The Programming track and Professional Development…were super practical and relevant, giving you the skills and preparation to interview for a AAA game studio. I went from 0 to 100 on the game programming front through the Guildhall, and the faculty were amazing.
Why did you choose to get your education from SMU Guildhall?
What set it apart was: 1. The alumni and their successes are very visible on LinkedIn 2. The prospect of building my own game engine as part of the programming track 3. The clear goals of getting you ready for your choice of industry job through the Professional Development and DFS courses
How did SMU Guildhall prepare you for your career in gaming, and what impact has it had on your life?
The combination of set curriculum and flexibility via DFS and Thesis for the programming track really helped teach me the ropes of game programming, but also let me explore and specialize the way I wanted to. Besides, it converted me from an aspiring Gameplay Programmer to a professional Graphics Programmer - any program that can change your interest that drastically is a big win! Helping me change to my dream industry is quite the significant impact!
What is your favorite Guildhall memory?
Getting to use one of the Guildhall's Oculus Rift kits over the summer semester for an extremely fun DFS.