Max-Martin Sherie

Promotion 2022
Training Video Game
currently works at DontGiveUp Interactive
position Programmer & President
location Occitanie

Create your own game, your own studio, your own path.
Max-Martin is one of those people who don't wait for doors to open: they build them themselves. After a school career marked by a passion for video games, he joined the video game course at ESMA with one idea in mind: join Ubisoft or set up his own company. He did both.
Today, as Chairman of DontGiveUp Interactive, he is developing his first independent project while laying the foundations for a real studio. Here he talks about his career path, his interest in programming, his taste for logic, and the encounters that marked his training.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us what you do today?

I’m a programmer and president of DontGiveUpInteractive, a studio I co-founded recently.

I’m currently the only full-time employee. I’m working on the prototype of our first game, while structuring the company and looking for funding. The feedback from the first tests has been encouraging. The job involves a wide variety of tasks, but is still very stimulating.

What made you decide to join ESMA?

I discovered ESMA at a job dating event in Agen. Students were presenting their projects, which I was able to try out. What I saw made me want to do the same thing. I’ve had a passion for video games since I was a child, so I started designing levels at a very early age, and at secondary school I discovered programming.

ESMA seemed like the ideal place to learn how to create games.

What have you gained from training in video games?

It gave me a solid grounding in all the areas involved in developing a game: programming, art direction, technical skills and tech art. I was then able to specialise in what I liked best: development.

The courses and the personal time allowed me to deepen my skills and become fully operational.

travail max martin sherie — *Max-Martin Sherie - ESMA promotion 2022*

What stood out most during your training?

The people I met, without a doubt. Some of the teachers, of course, but also my classmates, who are now close friends. The network I was able to build around this shared passion for video games is very valuable to me.

Which subject did you particularly enjoy?

Programming. What I like about this field is its logic: you design coherent systems, almost like puzzles to be solved. Starting from a simple base to build something complex and interactive is extremely satisfying.

Was creating your own studio one of your initial goals?

Yes. When I joined ESMA, I had two goals: to join Ubisoft or create my own studio. I was lucky enough to achieve both. Today, I can say that these ambitions have come true thanks to my training, but also to my perseverance.

jeu video max martin — *jeu Vidéo Makina - ESMA 2022*

Is there a project you’re particularly proud of?

My final project, Makina, had a big impact on me. We wanted to create an innovative game that broke new ground, and the school trusted us to create it. It was presented at the Montpellier Stream Show, where it won the award for best independent game, at the Toulouse Game Show Montpellier, and at the Toulouse Streamer Show.