Many thanks to everyone who participated in Career Day! Panelists, speakers, and professional development leaders: the wisdom and guidance you shared with our job seekers was top notch and immensely invaluable, and we loved hearing the conversations inspired by your insights throughout the day.
@pingley.bsky.social Thank you for all of your contributions to Career Day! It was wonderful to have you here.
4.15 | Opening Sessions for SMU Guildhall’s game development Career Day. Thank you to all who came for our Industry Leaders Panel and Networking Social! 🎮
#gamedev #careersingaming #smu
We are thrilled to present our 2026 Career Day, kicking off Opening Sessions including an industry panel with Steve Nix (CEO at ForwardXP), Joanie Kraut (CEO @getwigi.com), Chris Schmidt (Game Director @infinityward.com), and Mark Tardif (General Manager at Unannounced Studio). Welcome all!
#gamedev
Ethics-Focused AI Literacy Course Beats National Completion Rates: Aleshia Hayes, clinical associate professor at SMU Guildhall, is helping shape how universities teach AI to broad campus audiences, emphasizing how to use it responsibly.
www.smu.edu/news/researc...
Want to check out our students’ work first-hand? Join us for the SMU Guildhall 2026 Thesis Exhibition on May 8, where each graduating Master’s student’s thesis will be showcased. Learn more and register: www.smu.edu/guildhall/ne...
Guildhall graduate students: we appreciate you! It’s Graduate Student Appreciation Week, and we want to give special recognition to your hard work. We’re proud of all that you have accomplished in your individual studies, research, and Team Game production. You are destined to do great things ahead!
Meet Career Day Panelist, Marc Tardif: Marc's 25+ years in gaming includes studio management, production, publishing and development at studios including @bethesda.net, Escalation and @gearboxofficial.bsky.social for AAA franchises such as Fallout, Skyrim, DOOM, Borderlands, Halo and many more.
Spotlight on Career Day Presenter Candace Walkington: Candace is an Annette and Harold Simmons Centennial Chair and Professor at SMU. Her research examines how abstract math ideas can connect to concrete, everyday experiences. She’s received over $12 million in grants from NSF, US DoE, and US DoD.
*Alert* TODAY, April 7, is the deadline to register for Career Day. Featuring presenter Pennington Ingley, Manager of Media & Entertainment and Gaming Technical Accounts Managers at Google. His experience has included leadership roles in serious and casual publishing. www.smu.edu/guildhall/ne...
Career Day Presenter Paul Allen, Sr 3D Animator at id Software, has contributed to major franchises including DOOM and Halo: The Master Chief Collection at id Software, Gearbox Software, ReelFX, Terminal Reality and KingsIsle Entertainment. Register by tomorrow 4/7! www.smu.edu/guildhall/ne...
Career Day Panelist Chris Schmidt—Game Director @infinityward.com—is a Guildhall alum with 15+ years in shipping and optimizing AAA live service titles and designing levels, gameplay, encounters and systems for Star Wars: The Old Republic, Call of Duty, Anthem and more.
smuguildhall.short.gy/WDrI5m
Spotlight on Career Day Panelist Joanie Kraut — CEO at Women in Games International. Joanie is a finance, operations, and business leader with two decades of experience helping tech and gaming organizations turn ambitious ideas into well-run, scalable businesses. Details: www.smu.edu/guildhall/ne...
2 Week Alert! Our FINAL DEADLINE to apply for Fall 2026 enrollment is April 15.
Learn from seasoned industry veterans who have honed their craft at numerous studios across a multitude of games.
#gamedev #steamgames #gaming #gamedeveducation #gameschool #careersingaming #careersingames
Meet Our Panelist: Steve Nix, ForwardXP CEO, has driven major gaming technology shifts with partners like Yvolver, GameStop, id Software & Ritual Entertainment. He’ll present at Career Day on “The Next Generation of Games: How Studios and Development Roles Are Evolving.” smuguildhall.short.gy/WDrI5m
Meet our Career Day Keynote Speaker: Guildhall alum Jami Jeffcoat is Lead Gameplay Designer at Stone Kite. She started in Technical Design @bungie.net; now at Stone Kite, she builds games based on original Transmedia IPs from comics, film, print media & gaming. More info: www.smu.edu/guildhall/ne...
Are you in #gamedev and seeking more GDC-style events? Join us for Career Day 4/15-4/16. Presentations by:
- Steve Nix #ForwardXP
- Joanie Kraut @getwigi.com
- Chris Schmidt @infinityward.com
- Jami Jeffcoat #StoneKite
- Paul Allen #idSoftware
- Pennington Ingley #Google
smuguildhall.short.gy/WDrI5m
Animentals, a game by our friends at BALANCED Media | Technology, is in playtesting! Check it out: store.steampowered.com/news/app/433...
Kudos to Guildhall Alumni contributors: Michael Young, Nathan Bowden, Dave Bonora, Marcelo Raimbault, Vinson Luo, Sean Hollinshead
Thank you to Pratyoosh Patel for sharing insights on AI Literacy with SMU Guildhall student producers. This included tips for becoming faster, clearer and more stable via production insights, using tools to critique and validate, leveraging amplification, and productivity advantages.
Peek behind the scenes with Cohort 34’s development of new game, Kila: Hourbound — Now on Steam! store.steampowered.com/app/3854930/...
Kudos to Cohort 33 alumna Yuning Anona Yang, who gave a talk at GDC on "Six Months to a Playable Demo: Building Aelwater as Indie Devs (Presented by Yeariver)". Way to go!
Play Aelwater on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/4238510/...
Learn more about Anona:
www.linkedin.com/in/yuning-an...
We’re having a great time at GDC! Between the main hall, tons of great speakers, catching up with alumni and industry friends, and hosting our annual reception there is always so much fun to be had. If we haven’t seen you yet and you’re here, come find us! #gdc #gaming
Career Day is 1 month away! Is your studio hiring? Want to guide career prep for aspiring developers? Join us to make a meaningful impact via mentoring and evaluation, industry speakers, and more. Details: www.smu.edu/guildhall/ne...
At GDC? Let's talk there!
#gamedev
Happy Mar10 Day!
@nintendousa.bsky.social #mar10day
mario.nintendo.com/events/
SMU Guildhall is world-renowned for top-notch industry preparation, advancing the talent and technique of aspiring developers who are truly ready for AAA and indie studios. We don't just teach theory. We teach real style and pace based on decades of experience, iteration, and dynamic teamwork.
Week 1 Reviews are rolling in! Users are loving the art, soundtrack, and creativity of Kila: Hourbound. Give this student-made game a play and add your thoughts too — bit.ly/4r2qOA7
#games #gamedev #gamedesigndaily #steamgames #gaming
Inspired by our new games? Do you dream of a career making games like these? Apply for Fall 2026 admission to SMU Guildhall's Master's-level program for Game Development! Our next deadline is March 15. www.smu.edu/guildhall/ad...
#gamedev #gamedeveducation #gameschools #gaming #gamers
Kila: Hourbound, our newest Steam release, was crafted by 26 graduate students over a 4-month production timeline, combining the efforts of artists, level designers, programmers and producers to bring a team-formed vision to life. Kudos to the team on their accomplishment!
Do you love games with fast-paced action challenges? In Kila: Hourbound, exploration through magical ruins call, but you must be quick, as the limited time to complete your missions is always counting down. Play on Steam: bit.ly/4r2qOA7
#gamedesigndaily #gamedesignschool #gamedev #gaming #steamgame
New @steampowered.com — In Kila: Hourbound, play as a Keeper of Time. Harness unique chrono abilities to become a formidable opponent against the savages in battle and surpass the tricky barriers they have placed. bit.ly/4r2qOA7 #trailertuesday
#gamedev #steamgames
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLp2...
