By Raidah Yazid, Game Lecturer and Head of the Research Management Centre (RMC), University Malaysia of Computer Science & Engineering (UNIMY)

Have you ever played a video game and wondered how it was made? Who tests it before it reaches millions of players? And what do game studios look for when hiring new talent?

On Wednesday, 28th October 2026, you will have the opportunity to ask the experts who work in the industry. The School of Computing, Games and Immersive Technology (SOCGIT) at UNIMY is hosting “LEVEL UP: Navigating the Modern Game Development Industry,” a free afternoon talk featuring three speakers from the gaming industry and academia.

You do not need a technical background to attend. Whether you are curious about video games, coding or careers in technology, this event offers an opportunity to learn more about how the game development industry works.

Meet the Speakers

Mr. Arif Abdullah, QA Manager at Streamline Studios

Mr. Arif will take participants behind the scenes of quality assurance (QA), explaining how game studios maintain high standards and test AAA games before they are released.

Mr. Mohammad Alwi Yahaya, Technical Game Developer at Malayan Tech Labs

Working directly with Unity, Mr. Alwi will explain how mobile games are developed, from the initial stages to the finished product.

Dr. Nazreen Bin Abdullasim, Senior Lecturer at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM)

Dr. Nazreen will share how university projects can be turned into a portfolio that helps students stand out to potential employers.

The session will also include time for questions, giving participants the chance to ask the speakers about game development, industry expectations and career opportunities.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, 28th October 2026

Time: 1:45 PM to 4:30 PM

Venue: Omnia Auditorium, Menara BAC, Petaling Jaya

Admission: Free. Registration is required to reserve your seat.

Register here: https://www.unimy.edu.my/level-up

Whether you are considering a career in game development, exploring your interest in technology or simply curious about what happens behind the games you play, LEVEL UP offers an opportunity to hear directly from industry professionals and an experienced academic.

Bring your questions and discover what it takes to turn an interest in games into a potential career.

Not Sure If Games Are For You? That’s Exactly Why You Should Come
Many students are unsure whether they want to make games or build other software. This is a fair question because the two jobs overlap a lot.

Game developers focus on the fun details like gameplay, graphics, and physics. Software engineers build the systems people rely on every day for banking, healthcare, and online shopping.

Skills such as programming, testing and good coding practices are valuable in both fields. Game developers specialise in creating games, while software engineers work across a wider range of applications and systems, which can also include graphics, simulations and game engines. Both careers require programming, teamwork and problem-solving.

This means LEVEL UP is worth attending even if you are more interested in software engineering than game development.

A Head Start for Beginners If you are new to this, here are a few terms you will likely hear during the talk:

• C# (C Sharp) is a beginner-friendly language used with Unity. C++ is faster and more powerful. Big studios use it, but it is harder to learn first.
• A game engine gives you ready-made tools for graphics, physics, and sound. Unity is popular for mobile and indie games. Unreal Engine is known for high-end graphics.
• QA (Quality Assurance) means testing a game to find bugs and make sure it plays well. You will hear a lot about it from Arif.

If you want to start coding before the talk, keep it simple. Learn variables, loops, and functions. Then try building a basic quiz or number-guessing game. You will get more out of the session if you try it yourself.

Ready to Take It Further? If LEVEL UP interests you, UNIMY offers several ways to turn that interest into a career:

• Diploma in Game Development: A practical, hands-on way to start making games.
• Bachelor in Game Development: Deeper study in game design, programming, and production.
• Bachelor in Computer Science: A strong foundation in programming, algorithms, and systems.
• Bachelor in Software Engineering: A broad path to building reliable software for any industry.

About the Writer
Ms.  Raidah Yazid is a Multimedia Computing and Game Technology graduate from Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) and a recognized Professional Technologist. Over the course of her career, she has been involved in both the commercial gaming sector and academic research, including roles as a Game Developer at Yeayyy Sdn Bhd and a Research Assistant at UTeM. Notably, she won RM50,000 at the IPCC organized by MDEC for game creators in 2017, gaining hands-on experience in game design, 3D animation, and the practical challenges of developing interactive digital products.

Now a game lecturer and Head of the Research Management Centre (RMC) at the University Malaysia of Computer Science & Engineering (UNIMY), Dr. Raidah brings together her professional experience as a game developer and her background in e-Learning to explore the growing relationship between gaming technology and education. Currently pursuing her Ph.D., her research focuses on mobile games within STEM learning. She is particularly interested in how interactive content and gamified mechanics can complement educational expertise, reshape traditional learning workflows and create new opportunities for the next generation of professionals