About Me

My name is Alana and I am a programming student at AIE Melbourne, currently working towards my Advanced Diploma in Professional Game Development. I have a strong interest in AI and gameplay programming, with a solid foundation in both C++ and C#. Over my time as a programmer I have gained practical experience in both Unreal Engine and Unity, developing a variety of games and projects to continuously refine and expand my skills. 

The decision to study programming started with a conversation with a close friend who introduced me to AIE and what they offer. Previously I had explored web development and really enjoyed the process of creating websites, and when presented with the concept of 'Games Programming', I immediately started exploring what that is, what it entails, and installed Unity to making games.

This exploration laid the foundations of programming, learning basic concepts and algorithms as an introduction to C#. I was able to build upon this when I began studying at AIE, and started game development in Unreal Engine and learning C++. 

Now I am excited to dive deeper into the potential of AI in video games while continuing to expand my skills and understanding of gameplay systems. My goal is to collaborate on exciting projects with other creative developers, pushing myself to grow as a programmer and contribute to the gaming community.

Outside of game development, you can find me out in the mountains climbing rocks or roller skating around at the skate park.  I like to keep myself active and moving around,  while also still challenging myself by pushing both my physical and mental limits. 

Being outdoors is also a great excuse to bring along my explorative pup, Moxxi, with me. She has endless energy and loves her frisbee, so we are often down at the park throwing her frisbee around. At the end of the day, we like to unwind with an evening walk and spending the night hanging out.

I'm also a big music lover! When I am working I will most likely have my current favourite album or artist playing. I often spend my weeknights or weekends seeing my favourite bands live when they're in town, as it's the perfect excuse to catch up with some friends while also enjoying some great tunes.

And of course, I love playing games! Just to name a few that I love:

• The Sims

• The Witcher 3

• Outer Wilds 

• Boulders Gate

• The Binding Of Isaac

• Borderlands