Jobs in Games: Kayfo's Doumgou Tibiang Yeshua on how to get a career as a developer

Behind every game is a team of creative developers making it happen. In our Jobs in Games series, we highlight some of the individuals working in the games industry, whether they are veteran developers with big hits under their belts or entirely new to the industry.

We ask how they broke into the sector and their advice for others on making a career in games.

In this interview, we catch up with Kayfo Games developer Doumgou Tibiang Yeshua, to discuss his entry into games, alternative career paths, and advice for people looking to break into the industry.

Pocketgamer.biz: Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you initially get into the games industry?

Doumgou Tibiang Yeshua: I hail from Chad and began my games industry career in 2023 as a game development intern at Kayfo Games in Dakar, Senegal.

I had already been developing games independently, but this internship allowed me to deepen and refine my skills while gaining a clearer understanding of the industry’s challenges and demands.

How did you land the role of game developer at Kayfo Games?

During my internship, I focused on being highly involved and consistently delivering quality work. My commitment and attention to detail, along with the support and guidance of my colleagues, helped me build a solid foundation.

Thanks to these efforts, I was offered a full-time position as a game developer at Kayfo once my internship concluded. 

What's your day-to-day like at the company? Do you have a go-to ritual before stepping into the office?

Each day at Kayfo is dynamic, and I usually work on one or more projects at a time. I like to start my mornings by checking my emails to see if there are any meetings scheduled or project updates I need to review. We also typically have a team meeting in the morning to discuss the various tasks with the whole team. 

This helps ensure everyone is aligned on our goals for the day and allows me to coordinate effectively with my colleagues.

As for my go-to ritual, I generally like to listen to some good music and catch up on the news before heading into the office. It’s a small routine, but it helps me start the day with energy and stay connected with what's happening around the world.

Why a career in games? And if not games what would you have been doing?

Firstly, I love playing video games, and I also enjoy creating things that are valuable and meaningful to people. For me, a career in game development combines these two passions—bringing creativity and functionality together to create engaging experiences that people can enjoy. 

If I hadn’t gone into games, I would likely be in a field where I could still build or create things for others like software development or a creative tech role. But ultimately, game development feels like the perfect balance between creativity and technical skill, which I find so exciting.

As someone with experience in software engineering and game development, how do you balance your career between these two fields?

Balancing both fields has been a rewarding part of my career because the skills from each field complement and enhance the other.

In software engineering, I’ve developed strong foundations in problem-solving, coding best practices, and scalable architecture—skills that are essential in any technical field. When applied to game development, these skills allow me to create reliable, efficient systems that enhance the player experience.

On the other hand, game development brings a unique creative element that keeps my work exciting because it challenges me to think beyond functionality and consider user engagement, narrative, and immersive experiences.

By balancing these two fields, I get to approach technical challenges with a creative mindset and bring structure and efficiency to my game development projects.

What's been your most memorable, funny or unexpected experience you've had while working on a game? 

One of the most memorable moments for me was the release of one of the first games I worked on, Electric Blue: Gecko Dash. It was really rewarding to see my friends taking screenshots of the game to share with others.

It was an unexpected and heartwarming feeling to know that something I contributed to was being celebrated by people close to me. Moments like these make all the hard work worth it.

Has there been any particularly big highlight of something you're most proud of so far in your career?

One of the highlights I'm particularly proud of is seeing Electric Blue: Gecko Dash, surpass 500,000 downloads on the Play Store. It was incredibly rewarding to watch the game reach such a wide audience and know that so many people were enjoying something I helped bring to life.

If you could play one video game forever, what game would it be and why? 

If I could play one video game forever, it would be Stardew Valley. It's a relaxing game that I can easily lose myself in. I love the idea of managing my farm, growing crops, raising animals, and building relationships with the characters in the game.

Do you have any advice for people pursuing a career in game development? As well as any advice for people laid off/struggling with work? 

My advice for anyone pursuing a career in game development is to start creating games on your own, even if they’re small projects. Keep learning and improving your skills, and always stay in the mindset of continuous growth.

The more you practice and experiment, the better you'll get. Don’t hesitate to share your creations with your community, friends, or even on social media—feedback and visibility are important in building your network and improving your craft. 

As for those who have been laid off or are struggling with work, my advice is to hang in there and not get discouraged. It can be tough, but persistence is key.

Keep applying for jobs and use this time to further develop your skills or even explore different areas of the industry. The right opportunity will come along, and your hard work will eventually pay off.

What are you working on right now? Are there any upcoming projects you're particularly excited about? 

Right now, I'm working on a web-based game with a meaningful impact, developed in collaboration with the Pan Africa Gaming Group. I’m also focusing on evolving and improving the games we have at Kayfo Games.