This is an article series of stories about the GDC Scholar experiences in March 2023.
Attending the GGJ round tables and meeting Mr. Cullings, Ms. Charly, and Mr. Zain from Global Game Jam was an incredible experience that allowed me to learn from some of the best in the business. - Alireza Seddighi
Alireza Seddighi is the founder of NeoVision R&D Group and Eyedea Incubator. He's also a university lecturer in the field of game development for more than eight years. As the CEO of this group, Alireza managed independent game development teams in different age groups.
"In the R&D division, I used to design the hot topics of the gaming industry as the topic of the student's thesis, and they implemented them in different platforms. I managed interns in various areas (2D, 3D, AR, VR, MR, and metaverse) of the game industry. I'm using game engines like Unreal, Unity, Construct 2, Construct 3, Yahaha, Game-Maker, and Dotbigbang.
I used Photoshop, Gimp, and Corel Painter to teach raster-based design. And use Illustrator, Inkscape, and Coreldraw for vector-based design. For animation in 2D Spaces, I'm using Moho, Adobe After Effects, and Anime Studio. I'm using Maya, 3DS Max, Cinema 4D, and Houdini for animating and modeling in 3D spaces."
The main reason why Alireza applied for GDC Scholar was to know the games industry better and find opportunities for his students.
"My students in Iran really have many talents. And for many reasons, they do not have the opportunity to express and cooperate internationally. I came to GDC to represent creative people in Iran's game development. I want to give special thanks to my sister and our colleague and friend Ms. Fateme Halili because they encouraged me to come to GDC.
The overall GDC experience was terrific because of the inspiring keynote speakers, the informative and engaging sessions, the opportunity to network with industry leaders, the chance to try out new technology and games, and the lively atmosphere of the event. Attending GDC and meeting industry leaders like Mr. Tim, Ms. Charly, and Mr. Dorias at round-table discussions was an unforgettable experience that helped me gain valuable insights, make new connections, and feel motivated to achieve my career goals."
Tim Cullings and Alireza at GDC
I am very grateful to the Global Game Jam community. My first game making experience was during my student days at the Global Game Jam event. The Global Game Jam team encourages game makers all over the world. I couldn't attend GDC without Mr. Cullings' help and guidance. Thank you for all your support.
Alireza and Osama Dorias at GDC
"Attending the GGJ round tables and meeting Mr. Cullings, Ms. Charly, and Mr. Zain from Global Game Jam was an incredible experience that allowed me to learn from some of the best in the business. Unfortunately, I didn't have the chance to meet Ms. Edward; I was very eager to meet her and learn from her experiences. I gained valuable insights into their creative processes, problem-solving strategies, and team management techniques will positively impact my work. Additionally, it was wonderful to have the chance to meet my friend Alexy and share the excitement of the event. My experience at GGJ was one that I'll always cherish, and it has undoubtedly left a lasting impression on my career in the gaming industry."
Alireza's sister and himself were and still are very interested in games and making games. The sweetest experience he remembers is when their mom and dad gave them the very first gaming console, and that was the beginning of siblings adventure into video games.
"At that time, I never thought that I would choose game development as a profession; luckily, it happened, and this chance was created for us. In my opinion, games are an international language like mathematics; Therefore, using this media is an important element in human interactions. We present our culture to each other through games. Games are no longer just entertainment but have become an integral part of human life. I hope we can make good and valuable games and be good players in life because life itself is a game that has its own mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics."