20 years ago today, I started my first day working in the games industry. Was at Climax Brighton, in the UK. Younger folks may know them as "Black Rock", who made Split/Second and Pure. Brighton is fantastic, I'm happy I got to spend my last few years in the UK living there.

For me working in games was something I always wanted to do, but I had no "in". Had a degree, but no contacts, didn't have the foggiest how to get into the industry. I bought a copy of the pricey "Edge" magazine. All the junior coder job ads want two years coding experience. Wha?

I had no real knowledge of the UK industry. The internet at the time was somewhat secretive of the UK industry. I never found or knew of the fabled "FatBabies" site. All I knew of local was Mythos Games (X-Com), they were in my "home-taaaaawn" of Harlow, they'd folded in 2001.

Tried a few agencies, and had no luck, and turned to non-games stuff, I tried applying to do software at some random firms; media companies, banking... Also nowt.

I think I found Climax through Yahoo of all places, since the bad experience with agencies, I tried going direct. I called them (on the phone; I know! ) to ask how to apply, got an email address and sent along my CV.

Turned up in the typical wet-behind-the-ears fashion to a games interview as a youngster, with a button-up-shirt and tie (I recommend skipping the tie). Clutching my "portfolio" on a CD-ROM, with no idea what to expect to be asked.

The interview was only about hour or two - with just the Tech Director. No whiteboard, not much in the way of probing technical questions. Mostly about stuff I did at college and in my free time. I got an offer a few days later, and of course was over the moon and jumped at it!

It's been a bit of a rollercoaster of a time in that 20 years. Certainly a lot of ups and downs in the last decade for me; the shine has admittedly worn off somewhat. Supermassive teams, internal-politics... Agh. I do miss smaller tight-knit teams and shorter dev cycles!

My first decade though I'm super grateful for and look back with fondness; through my years at Climax in the UK, then moving to Neversoft in California (my first west-coast visit was for the interview). Fortunate to have lots of great leads, solid teams, fantastic camaraderie.

Was thrown in at the deep-end at the start for sure, but when you have the right people around you, a good helping of trust and reassurance - it's a lot easier.

Oh well, 20 years in games! I'm not sure I have another 20 in me, but who knows? :)