I like to make games that people remember. Ever since I started playing games, what mattered most was having experiences, either alone or with friends, that still mean something to me after I've put the controller down. When Halo: Reach was released, my friends and I would play into the night, either on Team SWAT or making our own levels for others to play. Due to such memorable experiences, we still make time to play together now.
Throughout my time studying Games Design BA at Brunel University, I discovered that I enjoy understanding how to alter game elements to engage the player. I believe that creating a sense of flow and enabling the player to not only progress in the game but feel like they have grown as a person helps pave the way to creating cherished memories.
Since graduating, I have been working a full-time job outside of the industry while spending my free time designing and developing my own projects. I am always seeking more opportunities to grow, such as by teaching myself Unreal Engine 5 to fully realise certain design ideas of mine.
My hobbies and their impact on me as a game designer
Photography
- Photography has helped me with understanding the impact of lighting and positioning on a scene.
- It forces me to effectively utilise the objects at my disposal, exploiting composition to get the most out of them.
- By taking photos, I am constantly iterating on qualities such as how to guide the viewer’s eye through an image.
Visiting Historical Sites
- Historical sites and the stories that took place there inspire me to conjure up new environments and mechanics.
- Understanding how different pieces of the past link together has helped me with considering how to craft engaging histories that are visible in the world surrounding the player.
- Architecture and the deterioration of historical sites gives me new ideas for environmental storytelling. Understanding why certain cultures utilise specific types of architecture can lead to interesting ideas of how your fictional societies could do the same.
Baking
- When baking, I must precisely follow instructions to ensure nothing goes wrong, forcing me to pay attention to each word used in the recipe. Similar to a design document, every word counts.
- It has given me a hunger for feedback that I can subsequently use to iterate on what I have created.
- Making something that will be consumed and judged by others can be a daunting experience, but baking has made me more confident in my knowledge that I can create something that people will enjoy.
