Breaking into the games industry can be intimidating, especially if you’re a student or new grad. It’s competitive, challenging, and always changing…
So we set out to create opportunities and pave new pathways for the next gen of game developers with Ubisoft Toronto NEXT — an annual competition designed to showcase the talent of video game development students in Ontario and to help kickstart their careers in the industry. Through the competition’s seven different disciplines, students tackle realistic challenges that mirror real-world production pipelines and constraints. Winners of each discipline are invited for a paid internship at our studio where they will receive valuable hands-on experience and mentorship from industry experts.
But what’s it really like to win Ubisoft Toronto NEXT and get your foot in the door? We spoke to some recent winners who shared their journeys from being NEXT participants to valued members of the UbiTO team!
What was it like to participate in the Ubisoft Toronto NEXT competition?
Melissa Friesen, Model Artist: It was thrilling! Perhaps even dizzying at times as I was learning so much at lightning speed! This may sound cliché, but the best part was the learning and delving instead of the winning outcome. I really pushed myself in my competition entry and it gave me so much pride when I was finally done and happy with the result. Even though I know I’ll grow further and have already made strides in that during my internship, I think I’ll always be proud of how much growth my submission showed. If not for the competition, I may not have had the motivation to push myself to new heights.
Abhishek Das, Concept Artist: It was a rollercoaster. But a fun one!
I learnt about the competition while researching art colleges back in India. I checked out all the winners’ ArtStation profiles, portfolios, and the colleges they were from. It helped me get a sense of the concept art scene in Toronto before I decided to leave my job in India and move to Toronto in pursuit of a career as a concept artist.
The competition itself was a fairly long project given the time between the brief and submission deadline. The research for my project alone took me a month! Long-term projects like this are a great learning experience, especially since most academic projects are much shorter. Learning to pace oneself, set up a schedule, manage timelines and deliverables was a good takeaway.
Before all this I told myself, if I got into a college in Canada, I’d definitely take part in NEXT. I’m so glad I did!
Bia Zhao, 3D Programmer: For me, it was quite intense. I had a full-time job and was doing some part-time courses at that time. Despite the challenges, I was focused and excited!
In terms of prior research before the programming competition, I recommend preparing a simple working engine before the programming theme drops. The engine architecture could be based on object- oriented programming (OPS) or an entity component system (ECS).
I also went through all the winners’ entries from previous years and noticed that if I wanted to win, I needed to not only demonstrate a solid implementation of the fundamentals, but also display some unique features that would make me stand out from other submissions. That’s why I chose to implement water and cloth simulation in my engine.
One tough decision I had to make was choosing between 2D and 3D rendering. Knowing that 3D games had won the programming challenge for the past two years, I spent a good amount of time developing 3D renderer in my engine. But when the theme dropped, I had a better game design with 2D graphics.
My approach to game development is simple: create games that I would genuinely enjoy myself! So I took the risk, went with my instinct and made a 2D game I love. In the end, I am happy with the result and I guess, so were the judges.
Can you describe your internship experience at Ubisoft Toronto?
Junsu Jung, Game Designer: My experience at Ubisoft Toronto has been both educational and rewarding. My day-to-day tasks align closely with the challenges I encountered during the competition, which resulted in a smooth transition into the professional environment. It’s been fulfilling to be a part of a team where I feel like I am making meaningful contributions to an exciting project.
Speaking of the team, one of the highlights of my internship has been the opportunity to meet and collaborate with a diverse group of people at the studio. The atmosphere is welcoming, and my colleagues are not only friendly, but also eager to share their knowledge and expertise, which has helped me expand my understanding of the gaming industry in ways I had not anticipated. The support I have received from my managers and colleagues has been crucial in creating a positive working environment where I can excel, and I cannot thank them enough.
BZ: The best part about doing an internship at Ubisoft Toronto is that I got to work on real tasks on an ongoing project, and the code I wrote got reviewed and went right in the game! It’s super rewarding and the industry experience is real! Everyone I’ve worked with — my manager, mentor, and team — are super knowledgeable, friendly and supportive. Plus, the studio has a super chill and inviting atmosphere even for introverted people like me.
AD: My internship experience at Ubisoft Toronto has been extremely positive and well-structured right from day 1. The right level of complexity, helpful feedback sessions and being surrounded by an encouraging and supportive team — I couldn’t ask for a better environment to learn in and grow! I’ve enjoyed coming into the studio too as everyone has been welcoming, approachable and enthusiastic about the things they do. It’s motivating me to keep learning and my teammates have really helped me up my game!
How has NEXT impacted your career journey?
AD: NEXT has been a great entry point, I’d even say the ideal entry point, for someone looking to experience the AAA games industry in Toronto! Concept art is a competitive field. Even for junior concept artists, there is a high bar for the quality of work. And many studios require some form of prior industry experience.
While colleges are attempting to address this requirement by giving students an education that is more pipeline-ready, little could beat the experience I’ve gained during these months of the internship.
As someone who had no prior experience in the games and entertainment industry, the NEXT internship has been invaluable. There is still a long way to go and much to learn but I feel much more confident having had this experience.
BZ: This internship was my foot in the door to the game industry, I’m super grateful for that. It’s given me exposure through different tasks, and I’m now more certain that my true passion lies in the field of rendering. I’m also super happy and excited that I’ve had the opportunity to connect with a larger community of like-minded people who share my interests in game development. Plus, for someone who likes to code, working on a proprietary engine is super fun!
JJ: NEXT has had a profound impact on my career and the enhancement of my technical skills. It’s broadened my understanding of various aspects of game design such as balancing accessibility and systemic design. However, the most crucial lesson I have learned is the importance of having a clear design goal. This goal acted as a point of reference throughout each stage of the design process, enabling me to stay on track and produce a coherent design that consistently aligned with the initial vision.
MF: It’s been eye-opening seeing how large teams coalesce into an AAA production! The amount I’ve learned from my supportive team and the network I’m building makes me feel very well-prepared for a competitive industry!
What’s one thing you’d want other students to know about participating in NEXT?
BZ: NEXT provided me with the motivation to delve much deeper into game development. As I pushed myself in the competition, I found out I could do way better than I originally anticipated! I recommend anyone who is interested in game development to try to participate in the NEXT program. It’s not only about the internship, but also a chance for you to discover your true potential!
Ready to kickstart your career? Learn more about Ubisoft Toronto NEXT! Or check out more student opportunities at Ubisoft Toronto right here.
