My Journey into Game Design
Ever since my parents got me a bootleg Nintendo right around the time I got chicken pox at school, there's been no turning back. I spent two weeks playing Super Mario, and just like that, I was hooked. I grew up knowing that I wanted to be part of the games industry in some form or another.
Education and Discovery
I did my bachelor's specializing in animation and lighting, hoping to join the industry as an artist. But it was during my studies in game design at Vancouver Film School that I had my 'aha!' moment. I realized my true talent lay in my creativity, my ability to build stories and worlds, combined with my slightly obsessive need for balance and organization. Game and systems design was the perfect role for me.
The Mobile Gaming Revolution
Right around the time I graduated, the mobile gaming industry was picking up tremendously. What attracted me was the idea of smaller teams building great games that could be played by a much larger and varied audience. Even though it's gotten harder now, it's still infinitely easier than publishing on PC and consoles, where the audience remains somewhat limited.
Professional Experience
My experience has led me to work on multiple titles across different studios, both in building new games from scratch and managing live titles. It's been a wild ride, full of challenges and triumphs. Each project has taught me something new about game design, player psychology, and the ever-evolving mobile market.
When I'm Not Gaming (Rare, But It Happens)
Apart from work, I'm an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction. I especially like fantasy novels (Malazan Book of the Fallen is the most epic series of all time, in my humble opinion). I enjoy playing a variety of games, both on console and mobile. It's not just fun - it's research, right?
Recently, I've begun scuba diving and plan to rack up a large number of dives whenever possible. It's like exploring a whole new world, much like the virtual worlds I design, but with real fish instead of pixel art creatures!
