- “When I’m in the office, I like to start the day with a cup of coffee and dive into tasks that require collaboration or a second opinion on coding best practices.”
Get Industry News In Your Inbox…
Sign Up Today
Behind every game is a team of creative developers making it happen. In our Jobs in Games series, we highlight some of the individuals working in the games industry, whether they are veteran developers with big hits under their belts or entirely new to the industry.
We ask how they broke into the sector and their advice for others on making a career in games.
In this interview, we caught up with Usiku Games developer Kevine Nzayanga to discuss her entry into the industry, alternative career paths, and advice for people looking to break into the sector.
PocketGamer.biz: Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you initially get into the games industry?
Kevine Nzayanga: I initially started in the communication industry but I decided to switch careers since I always had a passion for computers at a young age. Soon after, I joined a coding bootcamp where I became a software developer.
During my search for an internship, I came across Kayfo Games, a company that piqued my interest because I’ve previously interacted with one of their games. And with my fluency in French, I felt it would be a great place to work and improve my language skills too.
At the time, there weren’t any open positions but they referred me to their Kenyan partner, Usiku Games. I reached out to Jay Shapiro who gave me a project to work on using my HTML5 skills. It was a fantastic experience. Gaming had never been a big part of my life, so getting to bring a game to life was exciting.
From there, things just clicked. I was offered a full-time position with Usiku Games, and I’ve since worked on several titles. It’s been an incredible journey and honestly, the best working experience I’ve had in my career.
What was your day-to-day like at Usiku Games? Did you have a go-to ritual before stepping into the office?
My day-to-day as a hybrid game developer allowed me to build strong relationships with my colleagues while maintaining the flexibility to balance my work and personal life. When I’m in the office, I like to start the day with a cup of coffee and dive into tasks that require collaboration or a second opinion on coding best practices.
I always appreciate feedback from the game producer and use it to tackle the tasks that need attention. Office days are also a great opportunity to check in with colleagues, whether it’s over coffee breaks or during lunch and catch up on both work and personal life.
Why a career in games? And if not games what would you have been doing?
“If I hadn’t found my way into the games industry, I likely would have pursued a career in the non-profit sector.”
Kevine Nzayanga
By taking the chance to apply to Usiku Games, I discovered my passion for creating fun experiences for players while also promoting games for good.
I love coding, and I’m particularly interested in gender-focused humanitarian activities. If I hadn’t found my way into the games industry, I likely would have pursued a career in the non-profit sector.
As someone with a passion for game and software development, how do you balance your career between these two fields?
I feel fortunate that my passions for video games and software development can co-exist.
As a game developer, most of my work involves coding, and since I use the same programming languages in both my personal projects and my day-to-day tasks, I can continuously practise and improve my skills. This synergy not only enhances my abilities but also helps me manage my work effectively.
Talk to us about the Women in Games Hackathon. What’s that about and how has the experience been for you?
I had the opportunity to help organise the Women in Games hackathon for the Nairobi site. This year, teams were formed from different countries and since it was held online, members collaborated across borders. The theme was ‘Timeloop’ and it was amazing to see a variety of games converge in just one weekend.
“I would encourage fellow women pursuing a career in games to keep doing what they love and to have confidence in their work, especially in this male-dominated industry.”
Kevine Nzayanga
This experience was particularly rewarding for me as I got to meet other women in the video games community, share ideas, and learn from their experiences. I also had the chance to shadow Alice Mueni, the community programs manager for the Nairobi Game Development Community (NGDC). This experience not only enhanced my organising skills but also taught me how to effectively bring people together.
What do you enjoy most about working in the games industry?
It’s being able to play games casually or work on them. Getting engrossed in the games not only helps me test them out effectively but also allows me to have fun while doing it. This is one of the things I love most about working in the game industry.
Has there been any particularly big highlight of something you’re most proud of so far in your career?
I’m most proud of having learned new frameworks and worked on nearly 10 games throughout my journey.
Seeing them posted on the platform, complete with data reflecting their play, is incredibly fulfilling. Knowing that I contributed to those features on a big platform brings me immense joy.
If you could play one video game forever, what game would it be and why?
I love racing games in general for the thrill they provide, but if I had to choose one game I could play forever, it would be Extreme Off Road Racing.
Do you have any advice for women pursuing a career in games? As well as any advice for people laid off/struggling with work?
I would encourage fellow women pursuing a career in games to keep doing what they love and to have confidence in their work, especially in this male-dominated industry. It’s easy for their voices to get lost, so I urge them to share what they’re doing.
“From my experience, sharing my views and projects was one of the key reasons I landed my role.”
Kevine Nzayanga
For anyone who has been laid off or is struggling with work, I want to emphasise that it gets better. This is a chance to rebrand yourself and align more closely with your goals. I also advise sharing your work on platforms like LinkedIn. From my experience, sharing my views and projects was one of the key reasons I landed my role.
What are you up to right now, and what can we look forward to from you?
I am currently pursuing my master’s in Economics and Management of Information Technology while working on a side project focused on developing an educational game to keep my skills sharp.
Also, I’m exploring ways to combine my passion for games with humanitarian activities, as I aim to create a project that raises awareness about accessible higher education through video games.
