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Meet Ming Zhang

Sr Software Engineer Team Lead at Serato
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About Ming

About Ming

Mentor of Game Programming

With over 6 years of experience in the game industry, Ming has worked for Ubisoft, Activision, and Gameloft. He has also applied his programming skills in a wide range of areas including protein folding simulation, cryptography, computer vision, and music production.

Ming had a passion for game development since he was young and later discovered that he was also keen to share his knowledge about game development with others. He has made game development tutorials using Flash, GameMaker, Unity, and Unreal Engine. Currently, his interest lies in Godot Engine.

  

Ming's games

Credits include Tom Clancy's EndWar, Call of Duty Online, and My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic

Ton Clancy's EndWar
Call of Duty Online
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Q&A with Ming

Which city are you currently based in?

Auckland, New Zealand

What did your pathway into the industry look like?

As a game programmer, I don’t have a degree of Computer Science or something like that. I majored in physics and my research was about how to simulate the protein folding process.

When I wondered whether it was possible to choose game programming as my future career, a thought came to me: game development is about the simulation of real life things, which is exactly what I was doing. And that thought inspired me to get into Ubisoft Shanghai.

What has been the best experience of your career so far?
I think the best part of working as a game developer is you are always surrounded by people who love games!
What’s your advice for students?

You may get frustrated from time to time in the process of game development. That’s totally normal. Just hang in there. All the hard work you put in it will pay you back some day.

Learn game development from industry pros 

Game Programming Foundations

Game Programming Foundations

36 weeks - 20hrs weekly

Go from inexperienced programmer to capable Unreal Engine developer! Once you've learned C++, begin building fun 2D and 3D levels with fully interactive animated characters. Finish with a playable game and a great understanding of Unreal Engine's interface and tools.
Game Design Essentials

Game Design Essentials

12 weeks - 20hrs weekly

Find out what makes an addicting game, starting with game mechanics and systems, genres, level design and world building. Expect a mix of theory, paper design, concepting and hands-on practice using Unreal Engine and start building a game!
Game Design Foundations

Game Design Foundations

36 weeks - 20hrs weekly

Using real-world case studies, you will learn how to deconstruct games, tackle complex design problems, see what makes a good user experience, bring your own ideas to life, write design documents, and develop a game pitch. Finish with a fully playable game!
Game Programming Essentials

Game Programming Essentials

12 weeks - 20hrs weekly

Ideal for beginners with little or no programming knowledge! Starting with the fundamentals, you'll master the basic syntax of C++, get to know the most important programming concepts used in development, and create a simple game from scratch.
Bachelor of Game Development

Bachelor of Game Development

92 weeks - 40hrs weekly

Plan, develop, and implement immersive and interactive games using industry-standard software and practices. Foster a holistic skillset while exploring game and level design or programming and AI.
Diploma of Game Development

Diploma of Game Development

24 weeks - 40hrs weekly

Learn game development foundations, including pipeline and production processes. Using industry-standard software, design and implement game systems or program game engines.
Bachelor of Game Development (Game Design)

Bachelor of Game Development (Game Design)

2 weeks - 40hrs weekly

Learn to plan, develop, and implement immersive and interactive games in Unreal Engine. Using industry software and practices, build the techniques and knowledge that will help you succeed in the video game industry.
Diploma of Game Development (Game Design)

Diploma of Game Development (Game Design)

0 weeks - 40hrs weekly

Discover what makes a video game compelling and build foundations in designing game systems. Learn how to navigate specialized software, including Unreal Engine and Photoshop and explore concepts, principles, and workflows essential within the industry.
Bachelor of Game Development (Game Programming)

Bachelor of Game Development (Game Programming)

2 weeks - 40hrs weekly

Learn how to program and implement game systems using industry-standard software, workflows and techniques. Guided by game development experts, you'll create a playable game while building essential interpersonal skills and industry knowledge.
Diploma of Game Development (Game Programming)

Diploma of Game Development (Game Programming)

0 weeks - 40hrs weekly

Develop your video game programming skills using C++ and learn how to navigate specialized tools and software, including Unreal Engine, and explore essential concepts, principles, and workflows within the industry.
What do you enjoy most about being a CG Spectrum mentor?
Helping others make games is as fun as making games myself, and both the mentor and the student can learn from this.
How do you stay creative outside of work?
I will try to learn something about how to be a game artist or a game designer. That can help you, as a game programmer, communicate more effectively with other team members, especially since that is something you don’t do in your main job. So you won’t feel any pressure, just fun.
What excites you most about the future of games?
As VR is becoming increasingly popular now, the next generation of games might bring more interesting challenges to game programming.

Your mentor is ready, are you?

New intakes at the beginning of the month, every month. Enquire today to secure your seat.
Enquire now
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