Name - Mackenzie Horn (He/Him)
Course - BA(Hons) Games Design and Production
Year - 4th
What made you choose to join the Games Development Society?
I've always been passionate about making games and getting into the later years of university I wanted to take part in more things and get to know people more. AGDS was something I had already taken part in before as a member so when the elections were being run, I thought 'what better society to run for, that the one about making games. Literally what I've based my career on".
What initially sparked your interest in game development, and what are some of the most rewarding aspects of creating your own video games?
I've always wanted to develop my own games ever since I was young. I chose a lot of computing-based subjects and always did really well in them. I even still own my P7 yearbook with the question "What do you see yourself doing in 2025" and my answer was "finishing up my last year of University doing game development" so I'm only a year off that estimate. Making games to me has been so rewarding as I've always enjoyed puzzle solving and seeing things come together from nothing which making games is all about.
Can you share a particular games development project that you’re proud of?
My DES315 project for sure. It was such a great opportunity to make a game for a professional client and work together in a proper team. We made Dead Mass, a horror, puzzle, survival game where the player would use their dead bodies from failed attempts to complete puzzles and create safe pathways. I was Producer for this project and I couldn't have asked for a better team and I look back on that project and am always grateful I had that opportunity.
What are some of your favourite genres or game experiences to create?
I love making horror games as there is so much potential in that one genre, it can be anything in any style and as long as its scary to someone, it can be classed as horror. They're one of the easier genres to do in my opinion.
If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future, and why?
I would go to the future if I was able to return to my time after and it would be to see where humanity gets to in let's say 10 - 100 - 1000 years and see if i can take some technology back to the present day. That and see the winning lottery numbers.
What's your favourite board game or video game, and what makes it so enjoyable for you?
Favourite story game? Ghost of Tsushima. The story in that game paired with the combat, the soundtrack and the acting is just perfect, its so immersive and is such a beautiful game. I'd love to go back and play it again without knowing anything about it.
What's the most adventurous thing you've ever done or would like to do in the future?
I went on a trip to Asia with about 2 weeks notice and definitely not enough money because my friends were headed back to China after finishing their year and they were making stops off in other countries first so they dragged me along for it. Spent about a month traveling and wayyyyy too much money but I do not regret it at all.
If you could have any animal as a pet, regardless of practicality or legality, what would you choose and why?
A Macaque, one of my favourite monkeys and I always love seeing videos of them doing funny stuff.
