16/10/2025
Jamie Blacknell’s LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jamie-blacknell-545625175
In week 3 we had a guest lecture from Jamie Blacknell, who shared his professional journey in the games industry. His talk provided a practical and honest insight into the realities of getting into the industry. This was particularly informing for me as a student on the same exact course Jamie was on four years ago. He highlighted both technical and personal skills needed to build a sustainable career.
Jamie began by outlining his four-year journey from studying to working in the industry. He left college at 18 after studying computer science and went on to complete a BA in Game design and Art at the University of Southampton, graduating in 2021. Like many graduates he experienced setbacks (including redundancy early in his career). Despite this, it did not stop his progress. Jamie eventually secured work with Play360.ai with GameCity, focusing on family-friendly party games such as Catchphrase or Deal or No Deal. This part of the talk was encouraging because it showed that career paths are rarely straight-forward, and resilience is key to moving forward in the industry.
He also spoke about starting in a junior developer role and growing into positions with more responsibility. One important point was the value of the developing a broad skill set, even when working in a specialised role. Jamie stressed that being adaptable and continuously learning other skills makes you more valuable in a team setting.
Communication and collaboration were major themes of the lecture. Jamie explained how communication changes depending on who you are taking to; Whether it’s a: direct senior, a colleague with different disciplines to you or a CEO. This made me reflect on how I communicate during group projects at university and how improving this skill will help me work better in larger, professional teams in the future.
Jamie also gave practical advice about preparing for the industry. This included: building a portfolio early, keeping LinkedIn up to date, using platforms such as GitHub for developers and ArtStation for artists. He recommended releasing final projects on itch.io or Steam to make work accessible and visible. Networking was also emphasised, not just online, but through real conversations and building genuine connections with people in the industry.
Finally, he highlighted the importance of both technical and soft skills. Technical skills like: solid coding practices, good modelling concepts and understanding textures and maps are essential, but so are qualities like being proactive, willing to try and able to collaborate. Interview tips such as being punctual, dressing appropriately, and maintaining good communication were also shared.
This lecture gave me a clearer understanding on the expectations of the industry and the steps I can take how to prepare myself. It reinforced the importance of resilience, communication, and creating a strong, accessible portfolio. These are all things I can actively work on during my remaining time at university.
Notes
