From History Buff to Game Developer: My Journey into Video Games

Welcome to my blog! My name is Mattia Poggi, and I’m thrilled to share my journey as I carve out my path in the world of video game development.

Why Video Games?

Ever since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by their ability to tell stories, create immersive worlds, and bring people together through shared experiences. This passion, combined with my love for history and storytelling, led me to pursue a BA in History and Oriental Civilizations and an MA in Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa.

Over the years, I’ve realized how video games perfectly blend creativity, technology, and narrative—making them the ideal medium to bring my ideas to life. This realization inspired me to transition into game development, where I can channel my enthusiasm into crafting engaging experiences for players.

My Projects So Far

I’ve had the opportunity to work on three projects that reflect my skills and creativity:

1. The Penguin Queen's Odyssey

   
   

   An extravagant 2D adventure set in ancient Egypt, where I explored storytelling and level design while creating an engaging narrative about a heroic penguin queen.

   
   

2. Shadows of Adrianople

   
   

   A historical-fantasy survival game set in the late Roman Empire, that challenged me to implement AI behavior and design immersive mechanics using Unity’s NavMesh.

   
   

3. The Vandal

   
   

   A mobile visual novel set in the 6th century, following the journey of a Vandal warrior from Carthage. It features a branching decision system where your choices shape the story and lead to multiple possible endings.

   
   

Each project has taught me something new, helping me improve my understanding of Unity, C#, and the creative process involved in designing games. I've gained insights into blending gameplay mechanics with engaging narratives, and I’m excited to continue building on these skills.

In the coming weeks, I’ll dive deeper into these projects. I’ll share how I brought them to life, the challenges I faced, and the lessons I learned.

What’s Next?

I’m excited to soon begin working on a monster-catching game with a friend. This collaborative project will explore new gameplay mechanics, team-based problem-solving, and creative world-building.

Why This Blog?

I’m starting this blog to document my journey, share insights, and connect with fellow developers. Whether it’s unraveling a tricky programming challenge or reflecting on the storytelling potential of games, I hope this space inspires and resonates with others.

Let’s Connect

I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to comment below, share your thoughts, or connect with me on LinkedIn. And feel free to check out my works and let me know what you think!