Meet Drew Wade
Meet Drew Wade, a former sales professional who spent a decade building a successful career in B2B. With a Political Science degree and years of sales experience, Drew excelled in his career. But despite the success, something was missing. He longed for a more fulfilling career that he was truly passionate about. That’s when Drew discovered Circuit Stream’s Game Design Bootcamp and made a bold decision to pursue his dream of designing games.
Outside of game design, Drew is an avid gamer, enjoys Muay Thai, plays Dungeons & Dragons, and loves to travel. These hobbies not only keep him active but also inspire his creativity when designing games.
A Career Pivot Fuelled by Passion
Drew’s background is a testament to the fact that it’s never too late to follow your passion. After years in sales, Drew was determined to find a more meaningful career.
"I worked a job that paid extraordinarily well, but realized that I needed to do something that I was passionate about. I jumped aimlessly for a few months trying to learn game design online and through guided tutorials. The Game Design Bootcamp was the first program I found that did not require me to return to school full time, worked with my work schedule, and offered access to professionals working in the industry."
A Renewed Sense of Fulfillment
Since starting the bootcamp, Drew’s life has changed in remarkable ways. One of the most significant transformations is how excited he now feels to share his day with his partner. “I feel like I have something exciting to share at the end of the day. Prior to learning Game Design, describing my workday felt like a chore, whereas now, I am excited to talk about the games I’ve concepted and show her the prototypes I’m developing.”
Career-Ready and Confident
Drew reflected on how the course has prepared him for the future: “Prior to this course, I could barely get a recreation of Pong functional. Now, I’m confident in my ability to create GDDs, develop prototypes, iterate, conduct and learn from playtests, and position myself as a designer with industry-relevant skills that go beyond what happens in a game engine. I also came out with a few portfolio pieces, and my own website.” Drew is now confident that he has the skills to start a career as a game designer, whether that’s working for a game studio or securing funding for his own projects!
Milestones and Achievements
Drew’s journey in the bootcamp was filled with proud moments. One particular achievement stands out: “For our capstone project, I designed all of our prototype’s systems using Blueprints, set up the enemy character’s AI system, and laid the foundation to start testing gameplay. I didn’t know the first thing about programming when I started, but now I feel I am equipped to handle most design challenges that will come my way.”
Overcoming Challenges and Growing Stronger
For Drew, the most challenging part of the bootcamp was programming. Having little to no experience in programming, he initially felt out of his depth compared to his peers. “I knew that Blueprints would be a challenge for me, but fortunately, I had a very knowledgeable and patient instructor who went out of his way to ensure I wasn’t falling behind,” Drew recalls. With persistence and support from his instructor, Drew overcame this obstacle and now feels confident in his programming abilities.
Key Lessons and Takeaways
When asked about the most valuable skills he learned, Drew found it hard to pick just one.
“The knowledge I started with, compared to what I know now, is vastly different. Perhaps one of the most valuable skills I’ve picked up is how to communicate and pitch a game idea. As gamers, we all have great ideas for the next big game, but this course equipped me with the skills to actually keep the idea in scope and come up with something that is feasibly producible.”
Advice for Future Students
Drew’s advice for new students starting their journey in game design is simple but powerful: “Keep practicing. There will be many moments where you doubt yourself, but if you ask for help when you need it and complete the assignments, you will come out of this feeling like you can design a game.” He emphasizes the importance of finishing the assignments to the best of your ability, as the skills you develop during the process will be invaluable in future projects.
Drew Wade’s journey is an inspiring example of how following your passion can lead to personal and professional fulfillment. Through the Game Design Bootcamp, Drew has not only gained the skills and confidence to design games but has also rediscovered his excitement for work. His story proves that with determination, support, and the right tools, anyone can pivot to a new, more fulfilling career.
Learn more about our Game Design Bootcamp and connect with Drew on LinkedIn.
