Jake Habgood
Sumo Digital
Jake is a game developer and educator working across commercial production, higher education, and industry-led training. He began his career in the 1990s at Gremlin Graphics, contributing to PlayStation-era titles, before undertaking a PhD in Learning Sciences at the University of Nottingham.
He went on to author The Game Maker’s Apprentice (with Mark Overmars), a widely used introduction to game development focused on practical, hands-on learning.
Jake spent ten years at Sheffield Hallam University, where he developed studio-style teaching initiatives such as Steel Minions, before going on to found the Sumo Digital Academy, creating industry-aligned pathways into game development using apprenticeships.
His work focuses on training developers through real production experience, mentorship, and making games. His academy's latest release is a football management game called Nutmeg!.
Jake Habgood is speaking at the following session/s
Games:Edu Track Intro & Keynote: Apprenticeships & the Tacit Knowledge of Game Development
Following a brief introduction and welcome to the day’s events by track hosts Laurence Oldham and Dr Tom Cole, in this keynote, Jake Habgood explores the role of formal and informal apprenticeship in the games industry. Drawing on experience from his own early career at Gremlin Graphics and 20 years of leading training initiatives across industry and academia, the session examines how much of what defines an effective developer is not easily codified, but instead acquired through observation, collaboration, and participation in real production environments.
The talk focuses on tacit knowledge, the practical understanding of workflows, judgement, and team dynamics that emerges through close interaction with experienced colleagues. It argues that this form of learning is central to game development, where rapid iteration, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and shared problem-solving are essential. The session also considers how changes in working patterns, particularly the shift toward remote working, affect the transmission of this knowledge by reducing opportunities for informal exchange, mentorship, and apprenticeship-style learning.
The keynote reflects on the implications for studios seeking to build capability, maintain cultural cohesion, and support early career development, particularly where traditional learning pathways are disrupted. It outlines considerations for sustaining effective knowledge transfer and team development in modern production contexts, before concluding with a Q&A.
Session Takeaway
- Understand the role of apprenticeship, both formal and informal, in developing games industry skills.
- Recognise the importance of tacit knowledge in production environments.
- Identify the challenges remote working presents for knowledge transfer and team development.
- Consider approaches to sustaining effective learning and cultural cohesion within studios.
Session speakers
Graduate Journeys: Experiences, Breakthroughs and Insights From Both Sides
This Free Round table gives the opportunity to hear firsthand from those who have made the journey from education to industry and those who build the pathways. It provides an opportunity to participate in an open discussion about those experiences and their lessons.
In this open, organic conversation, the students and the path builders will share the positive impact of studio-led mentorship and dedicated incubation. We’ll explore the gaps they found and how the support structures helped them overcome those challenges.
Whether you're a student looking for your own path or a studio head looking to build a better internal culture, join us for a constructive look at the practical magic that happens when industry pathways and emerging talent meet.
Session Takeaway
- Gain first‑hand knowledge from those that have made the transition from education to industry.
- Learn how studios and programmes support graduates through mentorship and pathways.
- Gain clarity on practical next steps for moving from education into professional practice.
Session speakers
