Celeste Ramirez is building worlds.
More specifically, she’s developing the world of Deadwood, a video game in development from Steamroller Studios in Eustis, Fla. Steamroller Studios is a full-service programming, concept art and animation studio, with a team who has worked on games like Rise of the Tomb Raider, Worms W.M.D. and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.
Celeste, a rising Junior studying Computer Science, has spent the summer interning with the company, where she has focused on hard skills like coding but also gained experience with presenting product. It’s been a great experience, she says, and it’s brought her to a place where she didn’t expect to be two years ago.
“I was always the person who didn’t think she would be good at computer science,” Celeste says. “But that’s because I had a limited vision of what you could do as a programmer. This blends my background in art with coding.”
With just a few foundational programming classes in her toolbox, Celeste faced a steep learning curve her first few weeks at Steamroller Studios. A combination of off-hours studying and a supportive studio staff erased that disadvantage.
“Everyone was understanding and helpful. It’s tough sometimes to be learning everything from scratch, but everyone starts at the bottom,” Celeste says.
Celeste leaves Steamroller studios with a new knowledge of the C# programming language and having strengthened her skills in other languages. She also improved her knowledge of the video game engine Unity. Overall, she’s returning to Florida Poly with a multi-dimensional approach to programming.
“It’s a change in perspective,” Celeste says. “I used to think of programs in a linear sense and this helped me break from that.”
“Celeste has brought enthusiasm and a fire for learning to her internship,” says Mark Cleaver, studio manager. “Even as a sophomore I can see the depth of her knowledge shining through.”
