Helping shape gaming industry
It's not every day a CEO suggests you keep playing computer games to stay ahead of the pack.
But Damir Slogar of London's Big Blue Bubble, one of most well-known and highest-rated wireless and hand-held game creators in North America, believes that passion and determination will help any future graduate. They were, after all, keys to his company's success.
“There's not one thing to pinpoint,” he said of what sets Big Blue Bubble apart from other companies. “We will do anything we can to make it happen.”
He was at Fanshawe as part of the “Go Into Games” series, established to give students interested in game development a chance to make some key connections and learn more about the industry.
Born in Crotia, Slogar's education in game development was radically different than that of the students he spoke with. Any formal education in that area wasn't available in the 80s, so most of the programming skills he learned on his own. He didn't even manage to finish university — opting instead to pursue a career on a live show about videogames in his second year.
He established Big Blue Bubble in 2004. Branching out on his own was both scary and exciting at the same time, he said.
“It gives you extra motivation because there's no way back,” he explained.
The company of about 45 employees made a name for itself in only six months, despite being a smaller game development group, said Slogar. They jumped on the mobile game bandwagon and became the largest independent mobile developer in 2006, he said.
He encouraged future graduates to take a page from his company's book and “keep track of what's going on in the industry,” while also anticipating new directions — like social network gaming. The ability to diversify is the company's strength, explained Slogar.
“Our focus changes as the industry changes,” said Slogar.
He ended by hinting that job opportunities will be out there, something most students fear will be rare when they're done, as Big Blue Bubble will be expanding its in the next year or so.
For those interested in Big Blue Bubble, visit http://www.bigbluebubble.com or the “Go into Games” series, contact Kevin Weaver, chair of the School of Information Technology at kweaver@fanshawec.ca.
But Damir Slogar of London's Big Blue Bubble, one of most well-known and highest-rated wireless and hand-held game creators in North America, believes that passion and determination will help any future graduate. They were, after all, keys to his company's success.
“There's not one thing to pinpoint,” he said of what sets Big Blue Bubble apart from other companies. “We will do anything we can to make it happen.”
He was at Fanshawe as part of the “Go Into Games” series, established to give students interested in game development a chance to make some key connections and learn more about the industry.
Born in Crotia, Slogar's education in game development was radically different than that of the students he spoke with. Any formal education in that area wasn't available in the 80s, so most of the programming skills he learned on his own. He didn't even manage to finish university — opting instead to pursue a career on a live show about videogames in his second year.
He established Big Blue Bubble in 2004. Branching out on his own was both scary and exciting at the same time, he said.
“It gives you extra motivation because there's no way back,” he explained.
The company of about 45 employees made a name for itself in only six months, despite being a smaller game development group, said Slogar. They jumped on the mobile game bandwagon and became the largest independent mobile developer in 2006, he said.
He encouraged future graduates to take a page from his company's book and “keep track of what's going on in the industry,” while also anticipating new directions — like social network gaming. The ability to diversify is the company's strength, explained Slogar.
“Our focus changes as the industry changes,” said Slogar.
He ended by hinting that job opportunities will be out there, something most students fear will be rare when they're done, as Big Blue Bubble will be expanding its in the next year or so.
For those interested in Big Blue Bubble, visit http://www.bigbluebubble.com or the “Go into Games” series, contact Kevin Weaver, chair of the School of Information Technology at kweaver@fanshawec.ca.
