Getting Into the Games Industry
Our co-op students share their experience at Motive: how they prepared for the interview, what they learned, and key advice.
We caught up with Kumudika and Balraj, students from the fall co-op cohort to learn more about their experience at Motive and their first steps into the games industry. From their interview preparation to their first days at the studio, to their main learnings from the experience, our co-op students share their impressions and advice.
Balraj is a Software Systems student from Simon Fraser University. He has a keen interest in both the technical and creative aspects of video game development, and is always looking for opportunities that will allow him to combine them in some way.
Kumudika is currently a fourth year student at the University of Waterloo, majoring in Geomatics with a minor in Computer Technology. Through her past co-ops, she has gained versatile experience ranging from web development, UX/UI design, to project management. Outside of her work, Kumudika enjoys painting, experimenting with cooking, and of course, gaming.
What sparked your interest to work in the games industry?
Balraj: The video games, of course! Video games are unique in that they are very technical projects, but also very creative endeavours. You won’t find this combination of challenges in many other industries. These unique challenges as well as the opportunity to work on something that will be enjoyed by literally millions of people worldwide have made me want to be a part of this industry for a long time.
Kumudika: I’ve always been enamoured by game design and the media/ entertainment industry. After completing a few internships in the tech industry, I had yet to have a chance to showcase my creative skills and put them to use. Since this is my final internship before I graduate next year, I wanted to use this opportunity to determine whether the games industry is the right career path for me.
How did you prepare for the interview?
B-: One of the things I did to prepare for the interview was to read up on Motive. It allowed me to get an understanding of the kind of culture they have at the studio, as well as some of the challenges the studio has faced and overcome during production on past projects. It also allowed me to see the passion of those who work there. Some of the articles posted on the Motive website also provided great talking points for the interview.
K-: I did thorough research on not only EA but specifically on Motive as well. I read through the articles on Motive’s website to better understand the games they had developed and the potential projects I would have a chance to work on this fall. Additionally, I also spent time becoming familiarized with UI game design and learned skills that I could use to transition into this role.
What is it like taking your first steps in the games industry?
B-: While Motive is not my first co-op in the games industry, it is definitely my first at a studio this large. While it can definitely be overwhelming at times with the sheer scale of it all, being around the crazy amount of talented and dedicated people is very inspiring. It has also been a surreal experience working on a franchise that I have played before.
K-: It’s very exciting but can be daunting at times as well. But with the support of my coworkers and managers, it has made transitioning into the team much easier. My experience thus far has helped affirm my interest in working in this industry next year.
Any tips for aspiring Motive co-ops?
B-: Don’t be afraid to be yourself and really let your passion and enthusiasm shine during the interview.
K-: From my experience, I would advise any co-op to reach out to those around you to learn more about their positions and experiences in the industry. I’ve really enjoyed getting to meet people with various backgrounds at Motive and learning from their career journeys.
We’re looking for students to join our team and make important moves towards a career they love. Interested? Check out our open positions for co-op here.