Marvelous George shares career with students

George Batchelor, a former West Hill High School pupil, returned to college this week to share his career experience with budding games designers. 

Having achieved top grades at GCSE, George declined a place to study A-levels in order to follow his passion of games design.  The two year vocational course at the college led to a degree programme at Bournemouth University where he studied: computer visualisation and animation.  He now works at State of Play, a Bafta award winning games company. In his spare time he has also produced two narrative style games which have been marketed by PlayStation.

George was full of praise for the teaching he received on the course.  He followed in the steps of his teacher, Andy King, who had also studied at Bournemouth University saying that he had benefited from the practical learning elements of the course: “I was ahead of the other students on the degree in the practical modules.  Because I had already studied and practised elements such as 3D modelling I was able to develop more quickly on the course.”

Following graduation his career soon blossomed.  His progression into employment with State of Play is due to having a range of skills at his disposal.  He said: “I am a bit of an all-rounder which has proved useful working in a small team of three at State of Play.  I am employed as a developer/programmer within the team.”

George’s passion for games design continues at home where he has developed two games from scratch.  He said: ‘My newest game ‘Far from the Noise’ is a narrative story game.  The games market is constantly growing and it is good to see so many fantastic games designers about.  If one designer does well, it creates an interest that helps other games designers to do well too. It is a really exciting community and industry to be part of.”

What advice would he give to the students? “You’re the same as everyone else. So follow what you want to do.”