KENNESAW, Ga. | Mar 31, 2025

Growing up, Luke Gamage was often captivated by video games and found himself pondering his own future as a game designer.  Now a student in Kennesaw State University’s College of Computing and Software Engineering, he’s turned a class project into a design studio with its first game set to launch on Steam in April.

“I always thought it would be awesome to create my own games,” said Gamage, a KSU Journey Honors College student who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Game Design and Development. “When I figured out that was an actual career path, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.”

During Gamage’s freshman year at Georgia Connections, he enrolled in a 3D modeling class, which sparked his passion for creating and coding. During his senior year, Gamage participated in a monthlong game jam, where he created his first standalone game. This project would ultimately solidify his dream of becoming a game developer.

Gamage later enrolled in KSU’s College of Computing and Software Engineering due to the university’s robust computer game design and development program, one of the few programs of its kind nationwide. The program focuses heavily on the technical aspects of game development, which complemented his career goals.

“KSU’s game design program had exactly what I needed,” Gamage said . “It prioritized coding, which is the side of game development I wanted to focus on. It was hands-on, and the professors were supportive.”

While navigating the demanding world of game design, Gamage learned to balance school with personal projects. He kept a strict schedule, dedicating weekdays to coursework and reserving weekends for his game development projects. It was during this time that he created Bytesize Games.

The studio sparked the idea and further creation of his video game Pac’s Revenge. Originally built as a retro-inspired project for a class assignment, the game quickly became something much bigger. Combining elements of classic arcade games like Pac-Man and Doom, Pac’s Revenge features many levels to explore, enemy battles, action-packed combat, and secrets to discover, all set to a heavy metal music soundtrack.

“It started out as just a class project, but we all loved the idea so much we decided to keep working on it after the semester ended,” Gamage said. “The game just felt special, and we knew it had the potential to be something more.”

Gamage has been joined on this endeavor by Toby Mose, Ben Hedges, and Brandon Dominguez. Mose and Hedges are both KSU alumni while Dominguez is a current student. Gamage has also received guidance from KSU faculty throughout his journey. He credits assistant professors Henrik Warpefelt and Sungchul Jung for being instrumental in his game design efforts.

“Luke has always demonstrated an incredible passion and drive for game design,” Jung said. “His ability to think both analytically and creatively has truly set him apart. His work on Pac's Revenge showcases his development skill set as well as his deep understanding of game mechanics and player experience. He is a great student, and I am happy to support him.”

With Pac’s Revenge set to debut on Steam in April, Gamage and his team are excited to see their hard work pay off.

“We’re all incredibly excited to finally get it into people’s hands,” Gamage said. “It’s been a long road, but it feels great to see it all coming together.”

The journey hasn’t been without challenges, especially with the business side of things. From taxes to managing a small studio, Gamage realizes that learning the ropes of entrepreneurship is as complex as game development itself.

“Even though it’s been tough, it’s been worth it,” he said. “I’m passionate about the game we’re creating, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make it a reality.”

– Story by Raynard Churchwell

Photos by Darnell Wilburn

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.