Conor Kirkby
Games Programming Tutor
Bio
Code That Brings Games to Life
Conor Kirkby is a Tutor in Games Programming at SAE Institute London. With a background in computer science and hands-on indie development experience, Conor specialises in helping students understand how games are built from the ground up, transforming ideas into playable systems through code.
Conor’s journey into games programming began with a deep love of games but no formal technical background. Starting from scratch, he immersed himself in programming principles and quickly discovered a passion for problem-solving and system building. That moment of clarity, when code first “clicked,” shaped his approach to both development and teaching.
Industry Experience
After graduating, Conor joined a small indie development team working on a promising project, where he was mentored by experienced developers and strengthened his technical skills in Unreal Engine. The team took part in multiple UK government-supported programmes, including Tranzfuser and Dundev, gaining first-hand experience of professional development pipelines, pitching, and collaborative production.
During Dundev, Conor spent a month working in Dundee, an experience that pushed his skills forward and exposed him to new ways of working within the games industry. He later stepped into the role of Lead Programmer, taking ownership of core systems and tackling new technical challenges that accelerated his growth as a developer.
Creative Philosophy
For Conor, programming is about creating something from nothing. He believes strong fundamentals, patience, and curiosity are the key to mastering game development, especially for those who don’t come from a traditional coding background. His teaching focuses on demystifying programming, encouraging experimentation, and helping students build confidence through iteration and problem-solving.
Having made countless mistakes himself while learning to code, Conor brings empathy and realism into the classroom, showing students that progress comes from persistence as much as technical skill.
Player Profile
Favourite tools
Unreal Engine & JetBrains Rider
Biggest inspiration
Naoki Hamaguchi and Hideo Kojima
Fun fact
Conor once met Naoki Hamaguchi at an industry event, who was kind, supportive, and encouraging about his career in games development.
