California, USA, 21st May 2026, ZEX PR WIRE — Video game developer and technical director Hooman Arman Nissani is advocating for broader access to coding and technology education forZ young people, emphasizing how early exposure to programming can shape careers in rapidly growing industries like game development and interactive media.
Nissani, founder of the independent studio Nissani Interactive, says his own career began with curiosity and access to learning resources at a young age.
“When I was growing up, I didn’t just want to play games,” Nissani said. “I wanted to understand how they worked. Learning to code opened that door for me.”
The global video game industry has expanded dramatically over the past two decades. According to industry research firm Newzoo, the gaming market now generates over $180 billion annually, with more than three billion people worldwide playing video games. Behind those games are millions of developers, programmers, designers, artists, and engineers.
At the same time, access to computer science education remains uneven. According to nonprofit organization Code.org, only about half of U.S. high schools currently offer computer science courses, leaving millions of students without early exposure to programming and digital problem-solving skills.
For Nissani, those gaps represent both a challenge and an opportunity.
“There are many talented students who never discover programming simply because they were never introduced to it,” he said. “Sometimes all it takes is one class, one mentor, or one project to spark that interest.”
Nissani’s own journey reflects that idea. Growing up in Glendale, California, he became fascinated with games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Half-Life, Final Fantasy VII, and StarCraft. But instead of stopping at gameplay, he began exploring how those worlds were created.
By age 12, he was teaching himself programming languages such as QBASIC, JavaScript, and C++, often learning through books and online tutorials from the Glendale Public Library.
“I remember trying to build small games just to see if I could make systems interact,” Nissani said. “Once you start building something yourself, you realize how powerful technology can be as a creative tool.”
After studying computer science and game design at the University of California, Irvine, Nissani began his professional career in 2009 as a gameplay programmer. Over time he worked on several large projects including the open-world RPG Eclipse of Empires, the cyberpunk action game Neon Circuit, and the strategy sandbox title Frontier Architects, contributing to artificial intelligence systems, dynamic environments, and procedural game mechanics.
Today, through Nissani Interactive, he continues to explore new technologies including AI-driven characters and adaptive storytelling systems.
While the gaming industry continues to grow, experts note that the need for technical talent is expanding as well. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for software developers are projected to grow much faster than average through the next decade, reflecting the increasing role of technology across industries.
Nissani believes that introducing students to coding early can help prepare them for that future.
“Programming teaches you how to think through problems,” he said. “Even if someone doesn’t become a game developer, those skills translate to many fields.”
He also sees gaming as a powerful gateway to technology education.
“Games often spark curiosity,” Nissani said. “Many developers start out because they love playing games. Then they discover they can build those worlds themselves.”
A Call to Action
Nissani encourages individuals to support technology education within their own communities.
Parents, educators, and students can explore local STEM programs, coding clubs, community workshops, and library technology classes. Free online tools and beginner game-development software also make it easier than ever for students to start experimenting with programming.
“People don’t have to wait for big programs or policies to change,” Nissani said. “You can start learning or teaching these skills on your own. Curiosity is the first step.”
He also encourages professionals in technology and gaming to mentor younger developers and share their knowledge with students who may not otherwise have access to the field.
“The more people we introduce to coding and creative technology,” Nissani said, “the more ideas we’ll see shaping the future of interactive media.”
To read the full interview, visit the website here.
About Hooman Nissani
Hooman Arman Nissani is an American video game developer, game designer, and technical director based in Culver City, California. He is the founder of Nissani Interactive, an independent game studio focused on narrative-driven experiences and AI-powered gameplay systems. With a background in computer science and game design from the University of California, Irvine, Nissani has worked on several major video game projects across PC and console platforms and is known for his work in game systems programming, artificial intelligence design, and procedural world development.
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