Yoan Danailov, lecturer at ARC Academy – about choosing a profession in the game industry
Yoan Danailov graduated in Game Design at the ARC Academy and will be part of the lecturers in the Preliminary course for 2024/2025. He shares that he first encountered game design at the Academy and from there his desire to turn this passion into his profession. Currently, Yoan works as a Quality Assurance Specialist at Kipi Interactive. Details about his path to the industry and his desire to be a speaker can be found in the interview.
What projects have you worked on so far?
During my studies at the Academy, I participated in the student project “Mesozoic Mayhem” as a game designer. In the meantime, I worked on personal projects that will soon become part of my portfolio. I started in the game industry as a QA at Black Sea Games and Kipi Interactive, having participated in creating the “Knights of Honor II: Sovereign” and “Cryowar” projects.
What are the most valuable lessons you learned professionally and while studying at ARC Academy?
The most valuable lesson was discovering what I wanted to do, and I can say that the Academy helped me tremendously with that. The training taught me many things that I did not expect to encounter. For example, as part of the game lab in the last semester, I had to deal more deeply with visual scripting and sound design. I think that what I have learned in both areas will be useful for me in the future.
Do you play for fun? What are your favorite games right now?
Of course! When one wants to turn gaming into a profession, one should play as much as possible. I try to diversify with different genres and types of games, admiring those with experimental designs like Outer Wilds and The Return of the Obra Dinn. I also love narrative-driven titles, my favorite being Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice.
What inspired you to be a lecturer in the ARC Academy Preliminary Course and what can the students in your class expect?
As someone who has already completed the training at the ARC Academy, I feel that I am suitable to be a lecturer on the Preliminary Course. For 5 lectures, in my class, we will partially familiarize ourselves with the disciplines that game design students will encounter in the Academy. I will also share with them the challenges my colleagues and I faced while creating the final project and tips for success throughout the learning process.
If you are also interested in creating stories, mechanics and levels for video games and want to turn your passion into a profession. Apply during Early Admission until March 31 and join the Preliminary Course for 2024/2025 for free.
