BSc (Hons) Computer Games Design graduate Thomas Whitelegg grew up in the traveller community and is the first person in his family to go to university.
“I chose Staffs Uni in particular, because the games course here has great connections with the industry. Not just the games industry, but industries relating to games so I can diversify my skill set,” said the 21-year-old from Southampton.
“I’m the first in my family to go to university so it’s given me so many opportunities which I wouldn't have got otherwise. Those connections with industry have really helped create a pathway for me going forward.”
The Rookies World School Rankings 2023 ranks Staffordshire University number 1 in the UK for Games Design and Development and its on campus facilities include a hi-tech Vicon Motion Capture Studio, a specialist Games Centre, hundreds of PCs and game development possibilities with Sony, Vive, Oculus and more.
Students also have access to industry standard software and hardware such as Autodesk Creative Suite and the Unreal and Unity games engines.
Thomas said: “My ideal career will be in game design development and games creation. The University has really prepped me for that by letting me test all different tools of the trade. Games is a very software heavy production. So being able to test all this stuff, which requires a licence, has been really fun.”
On the course, students get hands of experience making games and for his final year project Thomas designed an innovative horror game FrightBeat which adapts the gameplay to the player’s heart rate.
Thomas also took part in Staffordshire University’s 1UP scheme which offers internally funded summer placements through its in-house games studio. During the placement, he worked as Lead Game Designer on multiplayer game Disk-Go.
“Staffs Uni has put me in a room with all these other game designers and they've taught me skills, I've taught them skills, but mainly just learned how to work in a team, how to work together and make something great.
“They push you to be best, they push you to get something and really understand it and become a master at your corner of game design.”
Thomas completed his degree with first class honours and delivered a speech to hundreds of fellow graduates and guests during his graduation ceremony at Kings Hall in Stoke.
He added: “I’m a showman traveller so I’ve been working on fairgrounds all my life. It’s really special to be an advocate for this community, because education is a pathway that is rarely explored. For most people, because the skill set is very physical, education isn't really needed and so they don't get past secondary school.
“I feel like in me doing this, I am showing my little sister, my cousins and everyone who knows me that this is a viable career path, this is something worth doing.”