We started SilverFernPlay in 2019 because too many talented developers were hitting walls trying to bridge the gap between traditional game development and the unique challenges of social casino platforms. What began as weekend workshops in a shared Auckland workspace has grown into New Zealand's most focused education program for cross-platform social gaming.
Started with five developers meeting every Saturday morning at a co-working space in Ponsonby. We were all struggling with the same thing - how do you make social casino games that actually work across iOS, Android, and web without losing your mind? Those early sessions were messy, caffeinated, and surprisingly effective.
Three of our original workshop attendees landed positions with international social gaming studios. That's when we realized we might be onto something bigger than casual meetups. We formalized our first structured curriculum and moved to a proper teaching space in Glen Eden.
Developed our signature cross-platform integration methodology after working directly with two Auckland-based gaming companies. This became the foundation of our advanced program track and helped us understand exactly what the industry needed from new developers.
Our autumn 2025 program will include direct industry partnerships and real project experience. We're not just teaching theory anymore - students work on actual social casino games that ship to real users. It's taken us six years to get here, but we finally have the industry connections to make this level of practical education possible.
We don't just teach game development - we focus specifically on the complex challenges of social casino platforms. Our approach combines hands-on technical skills with real understanding of player engagement mechanics and monetization strategies.
Managing player progress, currency, and social features across iOS, Android, and web platforms requires careful architectural planning. We've developed specific patterns that handle sync conflicts and offline scenarios effectively.
Local gaming preferences differ significantly from global trends. Understanding cultural factors and payment behaviors helps developers create more engaging social casino experiences for regional markets.
Hiring managers in social casino development look for specific technical skills and project experience. We break down exactly what to include in portfolios and how to demonstrate cross-platform competency effectively.
Step-by-step breakdown of integrating friend systems, leaderboards, and gift mechanics in Unity-based social casino games. Includes actual code samples from shipped projects.
Petra spent four years as a senior developer at Zynga before returning to New Zealand to focus on education. She developed the cross-platform integration methodology that became our signature curriculum approach. Her background in large-scale social gaming gives students real insight into industry practices and expectations.
Before joining us in 2021, Petra worked on three major social casino titles with combined DAU of over 2 million players. She brings that practical experience directly into our classroom, showing students not just how to code, but how to think about scalability and player experience from day one.