Student doing level best to raise games

Forfar student prepares to exhibit designs, and tells of ‘incredible’ experience gained on course

A Tayside student has set his sights on greatness with one of the world’s biggest video game publishers.

Since he was six years old and sneaking into his big brother’s room to play Rayman, Gordon Thompson has dreamed of becoming a level designer for Ubisoft, creator of some of the most famous franchises on the planet.

Fast-forward 18 years and the 24-yearold from Forfar is preparing to exhibit his stunning level design projects Repent, Last Call and Broken Vanguard at the Abertay Digital Graduate Show from May 5 to 9, in the hope of catching the attention of the massive corporation.

“I’ve always been interested in games ever since I was small, and have always dreamed about getting a job at Ubisoft. It is why I pursued games studies,” he said.

“I love Ubisoft games, their culture, their methodology and the amount of talented people they have in each studio. Each person is pivotal to the process and that is what I admire.”

“They have thousands of people working on games and I want to be part of that. Their most recent games like Assassin’s Creed, The Division and Ghost Recon are all intensely detailed and I just want to be part of that design process.

“It truly fascinates me how developers create thriving, stunning and immersive worlds that can transport a player to another world.”

“I’ve done things like Dare to be Digital where I have networked with past Ubisoft employees and I have pretty much tailored my work since first year to get a job at Ubisoft.”

Gordon came to Abertay to be at “one of the best universities in the world for games courses” but also because it is close to his home town.

After accessing the BSc (Hons) games design and production management via a local college course, the young level designer has developed his own skills further than he ever imagined.

His main graduate project looks at the fundamental components used by level designers to develop 3D spatial environments.

Gordon is analysing the differences in how big budget Triple A and smaller Indie companies develop their game levels.

“I’m more of an art-minded person so Abertay is perfect,” Gordon said.

“The experience you get here is incredible and I got in contact with the Ubisoft art director Liam Wong through studying here – he is an Abertay graduate.”

Gordon has been working with his student team members Gerard Lavery and Conaire Digney.

“The first-year Gordon would be amazed at the fourth-year Gordon,” he said.

The firstyear Gordon would be amazed at the fourthyear Gordon.

GORDON THOMPSON

Gordon Thompson has dreams of becoming a level designer for Ubisoft.