I will help you with Unity game development and C# coding - beginners and intermediate

Find out more about Marek

• 1) Can you tell us about your first experience using a computer?

  The first experience with a computer that I can remember is playing games as a child. I have the most memories of the game Command and Conquer Generals. Back then it was a very challenging game for me, but I had a lot of grit and determination to win. Discipline is surely something that has stuck with me. Other games I used to play include Spore, Terraria, and Minecraft.

• 2) What is the technological evolution that has marked you most and what will be, in your eyes, a turning point in this field?

  The turning point in IT as a whole will surely be (and already is) AI. It has marked almost all of us because of its convenience, so many people, including me, are becoming lazier and dependent on it. I know many people who believe that AI will replace almost everyone in the IT sector. However, I am more skeptical about this. It has already replaced many entry-level positions but I believe that it will not (at least in the near future) replace senior positions, especially those in game development. One of the reasons for that is that game development is so complex and creative. Moreover, more people are starting to look for original content that AI can’t create. This makes me think that today is a good time to start developing games, since others may be intimidated by AI and quit their jobs, or they will be too dependent on it and won’t be able to innovate.

• 3) Explain your expertise, your interest in it and, more broadly, its importance in the computer world.

  I have been interested in game development since I was about 10 years old, so I am very familiar with Unity Engine. For the first few years, I was struggling with coding in JavaScript, then I chose an easier alternative, visual scripting, which I used for about 3 years. Finally, I transitioned to coding in C#, which is now one of my main areas of expertise. I am interested in writing clean and scalable systems. I love experimenting with new ideas and creating innovative game systems, since that is something big studios rarely do. I think that games are a great medium to entertain and also teach others, so my main goal is to share my knowledge with as many people as I can.

• 4) Do so-called 'visionaries', such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg inspire you or do you have other role models?

  I do admire Gates, Jobs and Zuckerberg, though I can relate more to game developers. I have been following Hugo Cardoso (“Code Monkey”) on YouTube for a long time and have learnt a lot from him. Recently I discovered another YouTuber who makes game development tutorials, Adam Myhre (”Git Amend”). His channel is one of the few covering advanced topics. I always get motivated watching his videos, because I see how many more things there are for me to learn. I also look up to other game developers like Tynan Sylvester (developer of RimWorld, writer of Designing Games), who I admire for his game design skills. I mainly sympathize with his idea that games are systems for generating experiences. Another developer I like is Michal Kovařík (developer of Factorio), because of how methodical he is when it comes to coding - his code is always well-tested and reliable.

• 5) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  Some time ago, I was teaching a student, who wanted help with implementing a custom lighting system for his game. This, on its own, is a really complicated task. In addition, he wanted to use a novel approach just a few years old, so I had no experience with it. Still, I decided to dive into it. However, after two lessons, I thought that the topic was beyond my capabilities, so I told him to look for another tutor. I found the topic of lighting, reflections and shadows fascinating and thought that it could be very useful for my own game, so I actually implemented it myself a few months later. By failing to teach the student, I actually learned many new things. This taught me that I should not be afraid to try new things, even though I may fail. I also realized how many new ideas you can get from other people.

• 6) What would you say to an uncomfortable person in front of a screen who says that "IT is too complicated"?

  I would tell them that IT in general is much easier than it used to be. In movies, you may see programmers frantically writing 0’s and 1’s, but that is nowhere close to how it works nowadays. There is usually no rush and you have many tools at your disposal that make programming and game development much easier than it may seem. This doesn’t mean that it is easy to develop good games, because nothing good ever comes easy, but even a 10-year-old can learn it (I taught multiple young talents). It may take you a few years to become proficient at it, but the key is to start small. Even a total beginner can create a simple 2D platformer game in 10 hours with the right guidance.

• 7) What are your other passions, related or non-related to computers?

  When it comes to programming, I enjoy refactoring code to make it more readable and easier to modify. I believe that programming isn’t about becoming smarter (even though knowing some math is useful). Rather, it is about making the code easier to work with. I also enjoy sports such as rock climbing. I like it mainly because it is much less competitive than other sports, and other climbers are always friendly and willing to help. To gain strength, I do calisthenics, since I enjoy the movements. I also enjoy reading and constantly improving myself.

• 8) What makes you a Superprof in IT?

  I am always patient with my students and adapt to their specific needs. I can help you quickly get through a school assignment if you have an approaching deadline, teach you the very basics of coding along with the best practices, or explain complicated algorithms in-depth. I can also give you additional material in the form of my own YouTube tutorials. Even in my relatively short teaching career (about 3 years) I have already helped multiple students release their first games, which demonstrates the practical knowledge and guidance I can offer. However, I am also highly interested in the theory behind how everything works. I learned almost everything I know on my own, so I can help you avoid repeating the mistakes I made.