Gameplay + Combat Designer
I wasn’t allowed to have video games as a kid. It might seem weird that I am absolutely obsessed with them (always was). Being one of 4 siblings, I understand that our parents just wanted us to focus on our studies and not have yet another divisive toy to fight over. That never stopped me from spending as much time at friends’ houses as possible, playing GoldenEye and SSB on N64, or CoD and Guitar Hero on PS2. It also didn’t stop me from inheriting some old RPGs from my nerdy grandfather who, together with my father, spurred my deep love for fantasy and sci-fi.
I would like to think that the years I lost not having my own consoles -never getting to truly immerse myself in the nostalgia of Zelda, Mario, Pokemon, and so many more- only led to a more varied life experience (and not just all the time spectating and absorbing games I wasn’t allowed to have). I was a boy scout for 9 years, and after getting too far ahead in swimming lessons I went on to try water polo, octopush (underwater hockey), trampoline, learned how to unicycle/juggle and even built my own stilts. I completed my Specialist High Skills Major in manufacturing in high school which included some robotics and computer engineering courses, culminating in our extra-curricular robotics club making it to the international level of F.I.R.S.T. Robotics competition in our first year. I can complete a rubiks cube in under 2 minutes, I can juggle, I’ve done fire breathing and skydiving once, and I’ve done a few dozen triathlons. I even won an acting award for a musical where I played a young teen with autism and was highly non-verbal.
All of this might sound like a big list of not-so-humble-brags, but I only like to share this small glimpse into the wide variety of things I have invested time and effort into, and to add that I am always learning. I think of myself as an empathetic person, so being part of all these unique groups and mindsets gives me a rare and valuable insight to the average player.
I LOVE MULTIPLAYER GAMES. To me, games are made for relaxing, socializing, sharing, and enjoying together. That is where multiplayer games shine, with all those elements built into the core game loop. While I do prefer action-based games, I also enjoy a wide range of strategy, puzzle, and sandbox games. My approach to all game design is that it should be immersive, emergent, engaging, and smooth. UI should serve its purpose in as minimal a way as possible while providing maximum information at a glance. Combat should be responsive, interactive, and balanced around two-way interactions. Check out my MOBA hero kits for some insight into my thought process when it comes to thematic, combos, and unique ability design.
“I think it’s more accurate to think of aesthetics as a key ingredient in a recipe, as opposed to the icing on the cake. “
- Stephen P. Anderson Creating Playful, Fun, and Effective User Experiences