d3t welcomes Thomas Grady, Programming Intern

17th Aug 2023

Tell us a bit of information about your experience/career background?

I’ve recently graduated from Edge Hill University where I was studying Games Programming. During my time there I enjoyed learning the Unity game engine as well as taking part in a game jam, which was extremely fun but also incredibly tiring!

Before university I also held a factory job for nine years, where I was responsible for working on machines, driving forklifts, and carrying out hygiene audits.

Having never coded before going to university it was different to what I was used to and was also quite a challenge. However, after speaking to Phil Owen from d3t after he visited our university in the second year, I just knew I had to apply for the course as I was excited by possibilities and opportunities that lay ahead.

Why d3t?

Once I applied to university, I started looking at potential employers and what I’d need to do to get noticed. I found d3t rather early on and from the moment I saw their portfolio of games I knew d3t was the place I wanted to work.

Throughout my time at university, I kept an eye on the d3t website as they continued to add bigger games to their growing portfolio. After getting in touch with them, I was invited down to the studio in the summer before starting my final year to have a look around, and I loved every second of it, especially the culture that they had instilled.  

What do you love about games?

Is it a bit much to say ‘everything’? I just love how some games allow you to escape to far off fantasy lands, killing some goblins as a sorcerer. Or how they can make you feel like a professional racing driver in a race simulator. Or the challenge of working out a puzzle that is for a so called 8 -10-year-old.

Before learning how to programme games it never crossed my mind how certain game mechanics worked. But now after studying and seeing it for myself, it amazes me what’s possible within games. I’ve even got to the stage where I’m playing a new game and just wonder to myself ‘I’d love to know how they’ve coded this’.

What games are you currently playing, and what is your favourite game?

I’m currently writing this while also playing Baldurs Gate 3!!!

I’m quite a varied gamer and love all sorts of genres from action and adventure, to sport and racing. Probably my favourite game of all time is The Witcher 3 – I’ve lost so much time exploring the world. After that I’d probably go with sim racing games like Assetto Corsa Competizione, as I’ve got quite a beasty sim at home!

However, now Baldurs Gate 3 is out, I have a feeling that will quickly take top spot!

Do you have any fun facts or hobbies?

As you might be able to tell from my favourite game, a big hobby of mine is playing Dungeons & Dragons. I DM for a group of my friends and we meet up every two weeks to have a game.

Apart from that I love Formula 1, chess, rock climbing, taking my dog out for a walk, and a recent hobby I’m loving at the moment is go karting.