Getting to Know-made: Sam Hayhurst, Gameplay Programmer
Getting to Know-made:
Sam Hayhurst, Gameplay Programmer
✨ Glowmade Towers is home to a team of talented and passionate creators, and support staff.
Their creativity and care bubbles over into our games and studio culture daily, and - frankly - we all benefit from it!
While we can’t talk about our top secret (yet super cool!😎) game we are working on with Amazon Games; and it’s always fascinating to understand what makes people behind this game tick…
They say programmers are the stuff of legend, mysterious beings of code wizardry...With a penchant for...Karaoke & DND? 🪄
Today's Getting to Know-made is all about Gameplay Programmer, Sam Hayhurst. 🧙♂️
So let’s hop to it!
Hey Sam! Thanks for stopping by for a little chat with me.
First up, can you tell me a bit about your role here at Glowmade?
I am a Gameplay programmer. More specifically I work on making the combat feel good whilst also providing the player with challenge.
How would your mum/dad describe your job?
professional nerd
* Writes down ‘pro nerd’ on CV * Gotcha!
👉😜👉
Your job title in your own words?
Combat en-good-ener.
How did you find the courage to make a leap of faith into the games industry?
I went to Uni to study mechanical engineering, it wasn’t for me. During a life changing trip to South Korea to find out what I really wanted to do; I decided.
We all love an origin story Sam, so what’s yours?
I was sitting at a desk in an engineering firm looking at a spreadsheet crunching shed loads numbers that didn’t really mean anything since the company was not planning to win the bid I was working on. I realised that I could not do this as a career, I could not let my life become a Dilbert comic.
Share something you love doing outside of everything video games.
Karaoke, running and DND.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Dark Souls, DND, Burnout.
Share something you appreciate about yourself.
I remember a lot of features of the games I have played & more importantly what made them fun.
“I remember a lot of features of the games I have played & more importantly what made them fun. ”
What do you want from your career? What goals are you looking forward to vaulting past?
I want to read posts of people on forums about how they enjoy the game I have helped make.
If you could have been involved in the development of ANY game, which would it be?
Super Mario 64
Me too dude, me too! 🥲
What are your top tips for someone looking to get into games?
Regardless of your job role the most important skill in game dev is communication.
“Regardless of your job role, the most important skill in game dev is communication.”
Who on the team is most likely to make a mess in the office?
(don't worry, I won't tell them... honest! 😉)
Paul will certainly leave bits of star wars action figures all over the place.
Your secret’s safe with me. 😉
There's one biscuit left in the tin and you're all eyeing it up... what is it?
Chocolate hobnob.
Excellent choice Mr. H. 😉
Did You Know-made?
What would you say is your guilty pleasure?
‘My guilty pleasure? A long hot bath with a book.’
If you had to pick one game to play for the rest of your life (let's hope it never comes to that), what would it be?
Final Fantasy 10
What game are you most looking forward to?
whatever amplitude brings out next.
What's the last thing you ate?
bacon & egg sandwich
What's one thing most people don't know about you?
Instead of going into game dev I nearly became a full time teacher in South Korea.
I don’t think I could dare to imagine a Glowmade without you Sam, you’re a Glowbug!🥲✨
Well there you have it!
Thanks for sharing this Sam, we know you’re a very busy guy and it’s very much appreciated! - And don’t forget WE ARE HIRING!
We want to hear from you, even if you don’t see a role listed on our website that fits your skills - give us a follow at @Glowmade to keep up to date with all things Glowmade. 🤗
Oooh! And show us your adorable pets whilst you’re at it! 🐾
