...From 2014 at the Helm of Music and Sound Effects at Samsung’s Game Studio in Manaus, Antonio Teoli, 30, has built his career—much like Sabrina—within notable yet small companies with teams of 50 to 100 employees. With a background in music and game design from Anhembi Morumbi, Teoli always aspired to work on game soundtracks. During his fifth month at university, he secured his first job in the field at Devworks Game Technology, which no longer exists. He then moved on to Hoplon, one of Brazil’s prominent game companies, where he was responsible for audio direction, composition, and sound effects. “Talent for game work in Brazil is highly valued in the market,” Teoli says.

While still in college, Teoli built a significant portfolio. His work at the end of the course earned him the Best Sound Design Award from Anhembi Morumbi. “This category didn’t exist, and it was created to recognize my work done for the college,” Teoli recounts. He also received two other awards from Anhembi Morumbi: Best Portfolio, for professional work done during his course, and Panoramas do Design, for work displayed at the college, where students, alumni, professors, and industry professionals competed.

“I believe the awards opened doors to the companies I worked for afterward.”

Sabrina Carmona also focused on practically demonstrating her academic learnings to the market. She started a master’s program right after completing her higher education in digital games technology at PUC-SP. At that time, she created a blog where she wrote about her academic research and began giving lectures. “That’s how I was found and offered a job in the field,” she says about her first role as a game producer at a small company in São Paulo.

David de Oliveira Lemes, a professor at PUC-SP, emphasizes the need for young professionals to stand out to secure a job in the game industry. “In Brazil, the industry is still forming, and few manage to land positions at game development companies. Those who succeed are proactive and graduate with a portfolio.” As game-related higher education offers a multidisciplinary background—3D modeling and animation, programming, drawing, and creative writing for scripting—many students find employment in other areas not directly related to game creation, such as advertising.

“Throughout the course, all subjects require a certain number of practical assignments. Some students see these as just tasks to pass the year, while others view them as an opportunity to build a portfolio,” Lemes explains. “This is highly valued by employers. To get a job in the field, it’s not enough to have a resume with a game degree. You need to show what you’ve done practically.”