GAME DESIGNER
Dungeon Defenders II
I initially joined as a Level Designer. I learned the systems used to make all the gameplay on a map work and how to create one from scratch. My first map was Coral Reef.
I worked closely with the environment artist and the content/design leads on the map’s design. I helped the environment artist place the different assets created for the map within the world, and I also worked on collision and level optimization in collaboration with the tech artist. This map was included in Seas of Dragonfall: Part 2.
For Seas of Dragonfall: Part 3 we made a new map: the Aquarion Throne Room.
In this update, I learned more about the systems that make up the game. In addition to doing what I had done for Coral Reef, I also helped implement new weapons (the Coral Weapons) and participated in the creation of the new boss: Corrupted Aquarion. My work included setting up Kismet, QA for the different boss phases, and fixing various bugs both for the boss and the game in general.
Then came Frostbound, an update that included a large amount of new content and a new hero: The Frostweaver.
In this update, I learned even more of the game’s systems, such as how to create new abilities, shards, costumes, flairs, and pets. While I wasn’t 100% involved in the new Elemental Rumble gamemode like other designers and the lead designer, I handled its implementation across all maps and suggested changes to older systems that only complicated the development of future maps.
I also participated in the creation of the new Elemental Commander enemies. I created the new Elemental Candy and their buffs, following the directions of the other designers and the lead designer.
This update also included a new map, Frostbound Arena. This was an Incursion-type map (a game mode with modifiers that alter the normal gameplay or how the map itself works). For this map, I worked with artists and leads who guided me to achieve the final result.
Before the next major update, we did a Valentine’s event with new consumables and skins. By this time, I was fully involved in the development and implementation of this new content in the game, and I also worked closely with the programmers to fix bugs.
The next big update: Galactic Guardians.
For Part 1, we created new costumes, flairs, pets, and fixed several bugs while preparing for the next big step: Part 2.
In Part 2, we released The Cyborg, a new hero with unique defenses and abilities. I participated in the creation of each defense and ability, along with their shards and mods.
