How I broke into the game industry at 19 by making websites

Story time about how I broke into the game industry at the age of 19 by making websites. I went from making websites for a comic shop and an electric company to the video game industry back in the early 2000s.

Timeline
0:30 - When I started coding
1:23 - Working at a comic shop
2:15 - Finding CodeFire (small game studio)
3:23 - Me at 19 (lol)
4:22 - Finding The Collective (indie game studio)
6:23 - Namco Bandai (Afro Samurai)
7:17 - Summary and lessons

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I've worked over the past 20 years as an engineer at companies like Google, Snapchat, Postmates, Bridgewater, Square and received offers from many more great companies.

If you'd like for me to go into detail on anything or discuss another topic, please leave a comment or reach out on Twitter!

#AlwaysBeCoding #SoftwareDevelopment #CareerAdvice

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[pedramtkanchi]

As someone who is relatively earlier in his Software Engineering career, it's awesome to see stories from industry vets. Keep up the great content!

[AndrewParkHwan]

Haha making websites is still a valid strategy almost 20 years later! I used to do a similar thing in 2017/2018 as a freshmen/sophomore in college, I just went door to door in downtown Manhattan asking if they need a static / ecommerce site, and many of them turned me down but the couple that became my "clients" ended up in lifelong friendships and experiences. I specifically targeted clothing stores and boutiques in manhattan since I knew for a long time that the fashion industry is just incredible stagnant when it comes to technology. I would be even more scared when they said "yes" because I would run to my dorm and learn how the fuck I can create a fully featured site with shopify backend / etc. It's funny how much you can get by as a totally clueless fucking idiot that I was as long as you ask if others need help / ask for help. I met some of my closest friends and colleagues doing these bootleg gigs that allowed me to freeload in fancy NYC dinners and events in which I belonged less than the Dior executive's 5 year old kid.

NYC is such a magical town! Still remember when I met Jack Dorsey on E 9th and broadway and shook his hand as a 19 year old idiot, what an inspiration it is to just be walking home and you see the guy who helms the product that you read about in books and articles in high school... Awesome video! I'm expecting a lot of people in this comment thread would have done similar gigs to break into the industry. Always fun to start out a career in a tiny company where the boss tosses you her Amex card and gives you free reign, it's like being in a startup but your boss is the VC! There's something so beautiful about the naiveté of the common 18/19 year old to think that as long as the opportunity presents itself, you can seize it with both arms.

[prakash_]

Great video. You've had a very interesting journey! In some ways I think those were interesting times when you were working in the game industry. Smartphones and social media was basically non-existent. Less distractions. Simpler times. Maybe a video on what your day was like at your job in the game industry (particularly at The Collective) would be nice. I feel like it's different from the tech industry. At least it'd be back then. Like how the different teams like game engine people, graphics, gameplay, animation, testing etc. collaborate. Software Engineering has changed a lot since then. You can include how it has changed. Maybe even make a comparison video Software Engineering Then vs Now.

[yashwanthnakka]

Make video on how you learnt/learning coding/new things ?

[kashyapkhatri]

Hi David, could you please make a video on some project ideas (eg. the Cursed Castle game you made or something along those lines) maybe with sort of a walkthrough over the fundamentals?
Thanks for sharing. Like the cool riff at the end.

[UTubeUzer]

Which competitive programming platform we should choose as a complete beginner ?? Can anyone learn programming in his or her 20s after college ?? I really need the answers.. Please make a video on this topics..

[Aion]

I am freshman i learn lua to make games on roblox studios i wish to be the best and see the best results ever
Im willing to workhard for it.
Im Currently making a game
Would u like to test it when its finished ?
Btw i Love Your BackStory of how helping someone can help u in return

[Varun-hzhb]

which watch are you wearing plz tell me the brand and name i m searching this watch from long time plz