From Player to Creator: Summer’s Journey into Games Development

Starting straight from school, Summer took a leap into the world of games with a Level 3 course — and it’s a decision that’s shaped her future in ways she never expected.

“I was really worried at school that I'd be the only girl,” she said. “None of my friends were interested in games. But it wasn’t like that at all.”

In fact, Summer quickly found a welcoming, supportive environment — and even ended up in a class with six other girls.

“It was amazing,” she added. “I really liked the atmosphere. I really like the people here. They’re actually friends for life,” said Summer.

Progressing further than you think

Summer didn’t stop at Level 3. She’s continued her journey all the way to Level 5 — building her skills, confidence, and career ambitions along the way.

“One of the best things about coming here is that you can stay and do a degree,” she explained. “I can live at home, save money, and keep learning from tutors I already know and trust.”

With smaller class sizes and strong tutor support, students get more than just classroom learning.

“We get loads of opportunities to network with people in the industry through our tutors. It’s really helped me grow — especially my confidence and social skills.”

More Than Just Coding

Think games development is all about sitting behind a screen coding all day? Think again.

“It’s fun,” Summer said. “People think it’s all programming, but that’s only a couple of hours a week for me. The rest is creative — designing characters, building worlds, coming up with ideas.”

From character design to storytelling and visual art, games development is a creative playground — and Summer is making the most of it.

Finding inspiration

For Summer, inspiration is everywhere.

“I play games and watch a lot of media — that’s where a lot of my ideas come from,” she said. “Then I work with my tutors to develop things like silhouettes, composition, and colour design.”

It’s this mix of creativity and expert guidance that helps turn ideas into real, playable experiences.

Big ambitions, close to home

So what’s next? Summer has big plans.

“I think I’ll probably start my own company in the next year or so,” she said. “I want to stay in North Wales because there aren’t many games studios here.”

To find out more about the Games Development courses at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and where they can take you, visit: https://www.gllm.ac.uk/courses...