How NYFA MFA Game Design Alum Edward Lord Spears III landed a job on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)

NYFA Alum Edward Lord Spears III graduated from the MFA in Game Design program (LA campus) in January 2021. Soon after graduating, Edward landed a job as a Production Coordinator on the game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022). 

In this Q&A, Edward talks with us about his career after NYFA, and the process of getting a junior position on an AAA game. 

NYFA Alumni Network: Can you tell us a bit about yourself, where you're from, and what brought you to New York Film Academy?

E.S: I am an aspiring video game level designer. I came to Cali and NYFA from Fort Worth, TX, graduated with my undergrad from Prairie View A&M University, and decided to stay and find work on the west coast. What I bring to NYFA is my experience going through the master's program, and how my past program could help shape future programs and better suit future students. Now that I have been trying to get into the workforce, I have the hindsight to see what more I could've learned from my program, if given the opportunity!

NYFA Alumni Network: What projects have you worked on since graduating?

E.S: Since graduating, I have worked on smaller personal projects on my journey to learning Unreal. I was blessed to take part in the making of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022), as a contracted production coordinator.

NYFA Alumni Network: Tell us more about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II? How did you get involved in the project & what's it like getting a junior position on an AAA game?

E. S: I was approached with the contract position through a message on LinkedIn. After going through so many job postings and coming up short every time, I was initially very skeptical. Long story short, the recruiter who reached out to me continued to explain the position and contract work, and I eventually reached out to Infinity Ward through the contracting agency. Getting the junior position on Call Of Duty was surreal! I was hired during the summer of 2022, so the game was entering the final stages of its development. Working from home was also an interesting experience. I spent most days at home, but made it a goal to go to the office often. Being at the office was incredible, even though I was working most of the time. Being able to take part in playtests before the game's release, and having behind-the-scenes knowledge was so much fun!

NYFA Alumni Network: What did you learn at NYFA that you applied directly to this project and others?

E.S: Going through NYFA I learned management skills in respect to game design. The studio classes that were meant to replicate real studio environments were very helpful in giving me an idea as to what to expect. I was blessed to have a group of cohorts who's skills ranged throughout the gaming industry, so the butterflies in my stomach were a little at ease when I arrived at the Infinity Ward Office. Though the studio classes were helpful, it paled in comparison to the real deal. Infinity Ward used Confluence and Jira for their production pipeline, so since NYFA also used Confluence with their students, it was easy to pick up what was being shown to me.

NYFA Alumni Network: Do you have any career advice for aspiring game designers?

E.S: As for career advice, I'd say to apply for any and every entry level gaming position you can find, even if it isn't in the particular field of game design that you're looking at. In most cases, companies will teach you what they want you to do, and it'll also give you more insight into the industry. Getting that contract with Infinity Ward allowed me to see the thought processes that go into making UI, and any screens used in games. Most of the time, the entry level positions, though it may feel like grunt work more than game design, could help you build relationships that'll pay off in the future! Networking is a huge part of the industry, and it takes patience! Even if you get rejected from a position, try and reach out to hiring managers to learn what you lacked so you could improve on it for next time. Showing initiative leaves a great impression, which also grows your network further!

NYFA Alumni Network: Are there any projects you're currently working on?

E.S: Currently, as I'm still trying to learn Unreal, I'm trying to work on a simple platforming vertical slice. This project is something that I've been putting off for a while, but now I'm buckling down to put this together. The goal is to work on platforming mechanics, to then be able to make a host of platforming levels from them.

NYFA Alumni Network congratulates Edward on all his success!

If you'd like to connect with Edward or check out his portfolio, click the links below: 

Portfolio: www.edwardspears.com

Edward's LinkedIn