Please state your name, major, and year of graduation.

I’m Weston Bell-Geddes. I’m studying Interactive Entertainment at the School of Cinematic Arts and will graduate in the Spring of 2023. 

Why did you want to study your major?

Games are not only the future of entertainment but are also a relevant way to communicate and learn. Games are not only about engaging storytelling but sharing an exceptional, personal experience for everyone. I fell in love with art and technology as a kid, and I knew I wanted to find a way to combine them in college. From these interests, I found video game development and never looked back.

How do you think SCA will prepare you for the career you want to have?

SCA offers engaging and unique opportunities to prepare for my future. Going into my junior year, I had an internship at TikTok, where I engineered crazy augmented reality effects. The summer before that, I interned at NASA, joining the virtual reality team, creating experiences to aid scientists and astronauts. At each of these positions, I have been able to apply the skills I learned in SCA and develop more practical abilities.

What have been your greatest successes and challenges at school so far?

I’m currently leading production on an Advanced Game Project called SPOOKULELE, an action-adventure combat game starring an apathetic reaper and a fearless young girl. And so far, it’s been a dream. I love working with talented people and inspiring them to collaborate and create something extraordinary. But when you have a team of over forty people, sometimes communication can slip through the cracks, and it’s challenging to make sure that everyone is on the same page at all times. Nevertheless, I’m learning a lot and doing my best to ensure that everyone on my team feels appreciated and heard.

What projects have you worked on that you’re proud of?

My sophomore year, I co-founded Spookulele Games, an indie game development and publishing company. I saw a real opportunity to publish student-made games and help people get their visions seen. Small indie games often don’t have the budget to finish their games, let alone have the necessary accessibility or language options. Spookulele Games helps polish and market games, allowing more people from different language and cultural backgrounds to see their art. Spookulele Games has polished and published multiple student projects, including Alpaca Stacka, which was highlighted in PC Gamer magazine as one of July’s biggest hits on Steam. I’m also very excited about Dreamland Confectionery, an upcoming student game that we’re publishing in the Summer of 2022. Overall, our games have received millions of downloads, so I think we’re really on to something. Here’s our website: https://www.spookulele.games/

What advice would you give someone who is thinking about applying to SCA?

Do it! And, in your application, make sure to highlight the projects and talents that express who you are. Include collaboration, if you can! It’s the most important thing!