Student Profile – Andrew Wallace

One of our favourite features of The Co-op Times is the opportunity to profile your fellow co-op colleagues at work.

This fall, we caught up with Andrew Wallace, a third-year Carleton student in the Computer Science Honours Program, Game Development Stream, to learn about highlights from his co-op experience. Andrew was happy to share some thoughts on his summer 2012 work term at EA Games in Montreal as an associate programmer.

What were your main responsibilities?

I develop and debug new features/updates for mobile games. Game development is really dynamic work, and my tasks and priorities change on a daily basis. I could be working on localization/translation integration and in the same day help to program a new gameplay feature. In the teams I’ve worked with at EA their goal was to include me as a full team member. My managers always wanted to get me to contribute to as many parts of the game as possible, rather than relegate me to some small, separate project.

What did you like best about your job?

Video games have always been a source of passion for me. I enjoy playing, developing and even discussing gaming and interactive entertainment. So, what I like best about my job is that I get to contribute to, and work in an environment that perfectly matches my interests. The free coffee isn’t bad either.

How did this placement relate to your academic experience?

My position at EA is specifically focused on programming, so this placement is a direct application of everything I’ve learned so far from the School of Computer Science. While getting good instruction on computer science concepts and topics is important, the best way to concretely learn them is through direct practice, and my time at EA has definitely given me that opportunity.

What steps did you take to make the most of your work term?

Most of the steps I took in preparation for my work term revolved around ensuring that I would be receptive to learn as much as I could during my placement. One example was keeping a notebook and pen with me at all times, so I could jot down any gems of wisdom that came my way from colleagues.

Did this work term helped with any future career decisions?

It most definitely has. Through this placement, I was able to confirm my career goals of working in the games industry. The direct experience provided by my work term with EA gave me valuable insights into the roles I want to fulfill in a development studio.

What’s one tip would you pass along to new co-op students?

Never be afraid to ask a question. While a lot of co-op placements can involve really complicated, demanding work, your colleagues are consistently a lot more understanding than you think, and they expect you to need assistance. Questions are also the best way to gain the most from a work term. Some of the most valuable lessons I learned during my placement were from questions that I asked out of curiosity rather than a call for help.