Meet Michael Wahba

Michael is an accomplished game developer and our newest Game Design Bootcamp instructor, bringing experience from both indie and AAA game development. Currently working at Maxis on The Sims franchise, his journey began right here in Calgary as Lead Writer on the indie game Atrio: The Dark Wild while studying at the University of Calgary and supporting projects at the LINDSAY Lab.

"Games are the ultimate storytelling medium, the synthesis between art and technology. I think a lot about John Lasseter's quote: 'The art challenges the technology, and the technology inspires the art.'"

Michael's academic journey took him to the University of Southern California for a Master of Fine Arts in Interactive Media, where he worked on groundbreaking projects including collaborating with the Vatican to digitally recreate Pope Leo's Library and serving as technical lead on The Immersive Archive, showcased at SIGGRAPH and AWE. His graduate studies culminated in directing a team of 30+ students to develop Egregore, a first-person adventure game set in contemporary Cairo—demonstrating his ability to lead large, complex creative projects.

From Biology to Games: An Unexpected Path

Michael's path to game development wasn't traditional. Originally studying Biology with plans to become a doctor or bioinformatician, he discovered that games was the only industry he could truly imagine himself working in.

"I have always loved games but never thought I would work in the game industry. As I got older, I realized that games was the only industry I could imagine myself working in."

His perspective on the industry is both passionate and practical: "We are not only solving creative problems but technical problems as well. It brings together my love for storytelling and cutting-edge technology in a way that you don't find anywhere else. The people are the best part of working in the game industry—we all could make more money elsewhere, but we are here because we love games, and that passion shines through in everything we do."

Michael's Teaching Philosophy: Methodologies Over Tools

"My job is not to teach students how to use specific tools, but rather teaching them the methodologies and mindsets by which they can adapt to any creative problem they face."

Michael's approach combines humour to keep students engaged, hands-on exercises with peer feedback, and strong community building. Recognizing that tools change constantly and information is available online, he focuses on teaching adaptable principles and creating connections between like-minded learners.

Teaching Experience & Beyond Games

Michael's teaching journey spans from instructing MCAT prep courses to serving as a teaching assistant for USC's intro coding course, plus diverse tutoring experience from high school math to teaching a fifth-grader game development in Minecraft.

Outside of games, Michael trains in Mixed Martial Arts, combining Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Wrestling. "A lot of the qualities that make a good game developer also contribute to MMA. The same way a game developer needs to know art, programming, narrative, etc., a mixed martial artist has to know striking, grappling, clinching, etc."

Why Michael Teaches

"It is amazing getting to connect with students and see how they grow over the course of the program." Michael particularly connects with career changers, having made that transition himself. His most meaningful moment came when a student reached out during a personal crisis, still wanting to attend class because of the community they felt with classmates.

"Frankly, everything I teach, the students can find online themselves. The real value is coming together with like-minded people, sharing ideas and feeling like we are a part of something larger."

Michael's Advice for Aspiring Game Designers

"If you want to get into the game industry, you are going to have to work hard. There are no shortcuts or free lunch." But he's optimistic: "You need to create a body of work to show that you can do the job. The good news is that you have everything you need right now to make a game. All the tools you can download for free, and all the knowledge you can find online. All that is missing is your vision."

Why Learn from Michael?

Michael brings a unique combination of AAA industry experience, indie game development, and genuine passion for teaching. His journey from Biology to game development, coupled with his focus on methodologies over tools, provides students with both practical skills and the adaptable mindset needed to thrive in the dynamic game industry.

Ready to Start Your Game Design Journey?

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn or visit his website at mwahba.ca. Join our Game Design Bootcamp to take the next step in your career with guidance from industry veterans like Michael.