Game Design Graduate Builds Career in Hong Kong's Games Industry

Working in the games industry has given me the opportunity to see just how much goes into bringing a game to players. From marketing campaigns to quality assurance (QA), there are many different roles involved in bringing a project to life.

Today, I'm based in Hong Kong, working across games marketing and QA, helping prepare games for release and connect them with their audiences. One of the projects I've been involved in is Ratatan, which has given me the opportunity to put my experience into practice in an international games industry.

Looking back, studying Game Design at Middlesex University helped me discover the different career paths in gaming and develop skills that I continue to use in my work today.

Discovering career opportunities through Game Design

Like many students, I was initially drawn to studying games because of my passion for playing them. But my time at Middlesex helped me understand that building a career in the games industry involves much more than enjoying games.

Studying Game Design introduced me to the different roles involved in creating and bringing games to players. Beyond game development itself, areas such as marketing, QA, production and publishing all play important parts in the process.

Through practical projects and collaborating with other students, I developed skills that extended beyond the classroom. Learning to communicate ideas, approach problems from different perspectives and work as part of a team helped prepare me for a professional environment.

These experiences also showed me that you don't necessarily have to follow one specific career path to work in an industry you're passionate about.

From Middlesex to working in Hong Kong

Making the transition from university into the games industry was an important step in learning how to apply those skills in practice.

Finding my first opportunity taught me that you don't need to know everything when you're starting out. Being willing to learn, take responsibility and remain open to new ideas can be just as important as the knowledge you already have.

Having grown up in Hong Kong, returning to build my career felt like a natural step. However, finding my place in the industry brought new experiences and challenges.

It's shown me that careers don't always follow a fixed path. As you gain experience, you discover new interests, develop different strengths and find opportunities you might not have considered before.

What is it like working in games marketing and QA?

One of the things I enjoy about working in the games industry is the variety of my role.

Games marketing involves understanding a game's identity and audience, communicating what makes it distinctive and finding ways to reach potential players. My work can include creating social media content, supporting marketing campaigns and reviewing promotional materials.

QA offers a different perspective. It focuses on the player experience, testing different features and identifying bugs or issues that may need attention before a game reaches players.

A typical working day might involve coordinating marketing activities, reviewing materials, testing aspects of a game or creating social media posts. The balance changes depending on the project's needs, which keeps the work interesting.

Working across both areas has helped me appreciate how much collaboration takes place behind the scenes to create the experience players eventually see.

My experience working on Ratatan

One of the projects I've had the opportunity to contribute to is Ratatan.

Being involved in its marketing and QA has given me valuable insight into how different teams work together to bring a game to players. I have come to appreciate both how a game connects with its audience and the importance of the work that supports the player experience.

It has reinforced the idea that no single role is responsible for the entire process. Each person's contribution forms a much bigger part of the picture.

Working on Ratatan has reinforced something I began learning at Middlesex: successful projects depend on people bringing different skills and perspectives together.

My advice for students considering Game Design

If you're thinking about studying Game Design at Middlesex, my biggest advice would be to stay curious and explore the different opportunities the games industry offers.

You might begin your degree with a particular career in mind, whether that's game design, development or something else entirely. But as you learn more about the industry, you may discover interests and strengths you hadn't previously considered.

Make the most of practical projects, collaborate with other students and learn from your lecturers. Skills such as teamwork, communication and problem-solving can be just as valuable as technical knowledge when you enter the workplace.

Looking back, my journey from studying Game Design at Middlesex to working in games marketing and QA in Hong Kong has shown me that a career is built through experience, learning and being open to new opportunities.