About Me

Ever since I was four years old, I have faced numerous challenges in my life. While I had a small group of friends, I mostly spent time being in my own little world and sometimes found it challenging to be social with others. It also was hard to try new things like riding a bike when playing with my neighbors. After some persuasion from my parents, I took a step forward, and my dad was there for me when learning to ride a bike.

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When I was six years old, I began trying new hobbies. This is where I began to play video games. Through the music, characters, stories, cinematics, and messages I felt the energy, speed, and action flowing through my veins with every game I bought and played. For a young boy with a wild imagination, this was a dream come true. While this hobby was fun for me, I would later discover that this method of trying new things would become a beneficial habit of mine in the coming years.

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When I was eight years old, my parents divorced and I moved from Michigan to Colorado with my Mom. Fortunately, I was able to transfer the credits from my old school to my new school, make new friends, and try new things outside my comfort zone, like acting. I owe it all to my Mom, who endured the challenges of the divorce and found a new home. Despite the hardships, she had faith that I would flourish in a new environment.

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During High School, I took an interest in motivational speakers. It was then that I found a memorable quote from Steve Jobs, “…the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking, and don’t settle.” This quote conveyed a clear message in my life that would shape the rest of my days since the moment I heard it: adapting to new environments and pursuing what works best for you.

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In my early twenties, adversity put me to the test. During the pandemic, I decided to learn programming to prepare myself for my Game Design major. Unfortunately, I struggled to learn the required principles. While my main dream was held back, I learned to master a new dream: acting. I was cast in a non-profit play, where I was able to make new friends, work with the stage crew, and learn the experience of acting outside of school plays. Through this acting experience, the stage became as comfortable as a second home.

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When I retook the programming class that I failed previously, part of me wanted to quit because I had struggled with programming beforehand, but my conscience knew I had come this far because of my adaptability and persistence. I thought, “Why pretend like those attributes didn’t exist?” I can learn and adapt to game design, but I don’t have to limit myself to that one skill. Game design has a multitude of disciplines within it. Like a tree with many branches, the Gaming Industry has many subdivisions from which to choose.

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As I learned the basics of game engines and the fundamentals of programming, I also learned how to create art for a game, develop prototypes, make sound effects, test games already made by someone else, and expand upon games I make myself. The more projects I started, the more open I became to learning the various fields of game development. I felt joy through this process because I contributed something integral to whatever development team I was in.

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This process of learning so many disciplines taught me another important lesson. While it’s great to adapt to new environments and positions, it’s also best to be aware of what position works best for me and what doesn’t. When working on a commercial game for the first time, the team held an application and interview process to see who wanted which role. I originally wanted to be an art lead but couldn’t get it because of others who were more qualified for the role. Instead, I made myself a choice between two other positions, sound lead or testing lead.

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I ultimately picked the testing lead position because, while it was something I had never done before, I ended up helping the team greatly when testing out all the major features the game had at the time. In the gaming industry, it’s essential to learn new things, such as engines, and code languages. However, it’s also important to know and prioritize my skills for tasks that best fit them to ensure I can produce my best work.

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However, I’m not overconfident either. When working on my craft, I tend to be grounded within a reasonable scope. I always give myself the benefit of the doubt and double my time estimation when I face a task that takes a while to complete. It helps me prioritize what matters in the project week after week. That task can be art, sound, testing, marketing, or programming, but I mainly focus on what I can do and how to do it well.

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When working with others, I respond with integrity, respect, and effective communication. For example, when switching development teams while working on a commercial-quality game, I maintained my efficiency because I communicated with others on each team. Whenever there was a problem in the game, I would let the developers know as soon as possible and try to fix it when I could. I helped people whenever possible and asked for help when it became clear that I couldn’t do something on my own.

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I believe persistently adapting to changing surroundings is a key factor in how to live life well. My Mom helped me adapt to a new state, my Dad helped me ride my bike, and both of my development teams assisted me when learning how to handle tasks and ask for assistance. Their support helped me love making games. My name is Nahum Zewdie, I design games and act for those who want to be educated while entertained. After playing my games, I hope players can gain the wisdom to adapt to their situations and love what they do.