• Name: Kyle

• Course: BSc (Hons) Computer Games Design and Programming

• Home city: Leicester

• Top hobby: gaming

From Leicester to Staffs: finding a passion for games
School wasn’t easy for me. I was diagnosed with autism and other disabilities at a young age, so I found it tough. Things started to improve at college, though - that’s where I began discovering my passion for games. One day, I was struggling with a project and ended up in a class where students from Staffordshire University were sharing their experience with the games courses there.

I was completely engrossed by what they were saying. Their pride in their work and the environment at Staffs really stuck with me. I did some research, and the facilities and work environment blew me away. When I went to an open day, it was everything I’d hoped for. Staffs had the most specialized and diverse options for games courses that I’d seen anywhere!

Choosing games design and programming
I’ve always loved playing games, but my disabilities affect my coordination, so becoming a professional gamer didn’t feel like an option. Then I thought, "Why not make games instead?" I looked into what game developers said about their jobs and found it fascinating.

My school careers adviser pointed me to a college with a games design course. It gave me a solid foundation, and I quickly realized that specializing in programming was the right fit for me. The Games Design and Programming course at Staffs lets me focus on creating game mechanics, which is what I love most.

Settling in and building community
I’ve only been at Staffs for a few weeks, and while it’s been a lot to take in,I am finding my feet. Before uni started, I attended an autism transition event hosted by the university, which helped me meet other students like myself. I even met my housemate there, and we’ve become good friends.

One of the best things that happened before starting uni was joining a Discord server. It began as a small group chat for new students but quickly grew to over 190 members. It was set up by two people who met at an open day and used CampusConnect to find others to join. I took over ownership of the server after helping to resolve some issues, and now it’s a great place to meet new people and connect with students who share my interests.

Looking ahead
I’m excited about the future. My course includes a one-year industry placement, and depending on how that goes, it could lead to a job. I’ve also thought about starting my own indie games studio.

For now, I’m focused on making the most of my time at uni and growing the community we’ve built online. My advice to future students? Never think you’ve had a bad idea. As long as you’re passionate and work hard, you can achieve it.