> Learning


“In learning you teach. In teaching you learn.”

—P. Collins


Learning

Many technical people focus on building their technical knowledge, which is critical once a solid foundation is in place. However, to truly make a lasting impact, it’s equally important to develop accountability, strong communication, creativity, and technical skills.

Variety is the spice of life, and everyone chooses their own path, but my approach is relationship-first as a coworker and player-first as a developer. By prioritizing these areas, you can not only become a skilled professional but also a valuable teammate who makes a meaningful difference.

Rockstars aim to bring high individual impact. Leaders aim to raise the average impact of all members of the team. Work with leaders. Hire leaders. Be a leader.

When building a well-rounded approach to learning, it’s helpful to start with foundational books, which offer structured, in-depth knowledge. As you gain more experience, you can supplement this by using AI tools for quick answers or guidance on specific problems. Online videos provide visual and hands-on tutorials, allowing you to apply concepts in real time. Don’t forget the value of asking mentors and coworkers for their insights, as they can offer personalized advice based on their experience. Taking a class formalizes your learning and provides guided practice, while life experience helps you synthesize and apply everything in real-world scenarios, turning knowledge into wisdom.

Here are suggestions which fit this philosophy.

Contents

Books

1/6: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

Start with a focus on your own efficiency.

This book presents a system for organizing tasks and managing time efficiently, ensuring stress-free productivity.

Game developers benefit from mastering productivity techniques because they often juggle complex tasks, deadlines, and project goals.

  • Author: David Allen
  • More Info: Amazon
  • See Video: Youtube (8:07)
  • Skills Of Focus: Time management, stress reduction, task organization
  • Notes: Use mind for creation not storage → Create inbox for ideas→ Create definition of “Done” → Schedule any tasks over 2 mins → Honor agreements with yourself/others

2/6: Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life

Next, improve how you relate to others.

This book outlines a method of communicating empathetically and constructively to improve relationships and resolve conflicts.

Effective communication is essential for game developers working in teams, making this book valuable for fostering collaboration and reducing miscommunication.

  • Author: Marshall Rosenberg
  • More Info: Amazon
  • See Video: Youtube (12:00)
  • Skills Of Focus: Empathy, conflict resolution, effective communication
  • Notes: (OFNR) Observation → Feelings → Needs → Request

3/6: The First 90 Days

Next, improve how you onboard yourself (and others around you) effectively.

This provides a roadmap for leaders to successfully navigate transitions by accelerating learning, building alliances, and understanding organizational dynamics.

The book focuses on securing early wins, creating momentum, aligning expectations, and developing strategic plans to ensure long-term success during the critical first three months.

  • Author: Michael D. Watkins
  • More Info: Amazon
  • See Video: Youtube (11:00)
  • Skills of Focus: Accelerated learning, securing early wins, negotiating success
  • Notes: Strategic planning, relationship-building, and aligning expectations

4/6: The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses

Then, get playful with the ‘theory of fun’.

This book teaches the art of designing games by looking through different “lenses,” or perspectives, to understand what makes games engaging.

This is crucial for game developers because it helps them think creatively and critically about player experiences and game mechanics.

  • Author: Jesse Schell
  • More Info: Amazon
  • See Video: Youtube (11:00)
  • Skills Of Focus: Creative thinking, player-centric design, critical analysis
  • Notes: …

5/6: Game Programming Patterns

As you gain experience making ‘fun’ game mechanics, increase the maintainability and scalability of your solutions.

This book focuses on practical programming patterns tailored specifically for video game development.

Game developers should read this because it provides proven coding solutions that improve game architecture and performance.

  • Author: Robert Nystrom
  • More Info: Amazon
  • See Video: Youtube (13:00)
  • Skills Of Focus: Maintainability, scalability, efficient coding
  • Notes: …

6/6: Game Engine Architecture

Finally, bring together your learnings into challenges that are over your head. Feel that stretch and discomfort of expanding your boundaries. Getting used it and being able to ‘be with it’ is powerful.

This review highlights a comprehensive book on game engine architecture that covers a wide range of advanced topics, including concurrent programming, memory management, and real-time simulation.

It helps game developers by offering detailed, hard-to-find insights and practical guidance on complex systems, making it a valuable resource for improving game engine development.

  • Author: Jason Gregory
  • More Info: Amazon
  • See Video: Youtube (9:42)
  • Skills Of Focus: Advanced problem-solving, systems thinking, technical depth
  • Notes: …

What’s Next?

This area of my expertise is particularly exciting!

I love to learn & to make an impact with my teams and projects.

Contact me regarding new opportunities that align with my skills and experience.