LATEST PROJECTS
Iron Man Action Title
March 2024 - Present
Description
In Production action title set in the Iron Man property from Marvel Comics being developed at Motive Studios, Montreal
Role
• Championed the creation of a narrative hub space where writers can deliver personal stories for our core NPC cast and level designers can launch side content
• Developed a content plan for the narrative hub space, working with members of the writing, level design, and art team to ensure narrative content, NPCs, and level art were consistent across the entire game story
• Successfully led a complete refactor of the narrative content management system that included developer scheduling, analysis of programs for viability and cost effectiveness ,and successful pitching to key directorial staff
• Worked closely with level design and writing to define, implement, and iterate on the narrative experience for 7 game levels
• Managed and reviewed animation content created by external partners for quality and usability across narrative spaces
Design Commentary
It has been a privilege to work on one of my favorite Marvel properties. I've been a part of a small but mighty Narrative Design team over the past few years and have been able to put my hands on content across the game. I've worked on implementing entire systems, developing content plans for narrative spaces, writing dialogue prompts for writers, and refining the narrative experience on many levels. I have learned so much over the course of this project and am so excited for people to see what we've been working on.
Unreleased Star Wars FPS
May 2022 - March 2024
Description
Unreleased Star Wars FPS being worked on at Respawn Entertainment
Role
• Led the Narrative Design pod as interim lead, defining sprint and milestone goals, working closely with production to balance the schedule and workload of the Narrative Design pod
• Reimplemented proprietary Unreal Engine 4 narrative delivery systems and technology in Unreal Engine 5
• Communicated regularly with team and project leadership to ensure clarity and alignment across goals and expectations
• Wrote up all initial documentation for and implemented prototypes for all critical narrative systems
• Created a comprehensive tutorial series for proprietary content management and implementation systems
Design Commentary
While I can't talk about specifics, it was an exciting experience being the first Narrative Designer on a project. I helped stand up pipelines, defined our goals and outcomes for narrative delivery in game, and ported over proprietary narrative tech into our new engine. While preproduction work had been done on some of these features, I was able to take the high concept, blue sky ideas for narrative delivery and turn them into concrete systems. I also worked as the person primarily responsible for scheduling and managing the workload and goals for the Narrative Design Pod.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Nov 2019 - May 2022
Description
The crew of the Mantis is scattered, the Empire seems unstoppable, and Cal Kestis is fighting a lonely fight. A chance discovery sparks hope that a normal life might be possible, and is absolutely worth fighting for. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor continues with third person action combat game base of its predecessor, also keeping the Soulslike and Metroidvania, while adding in more open exploration and additional combat options to make Cal an even more formidable Jedi Knight. The game is available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Role
• Oversaw all aspects of the main narrative hub as primary vision holder and content creator, collaborating closely with Environment Art, Character Art, and Animation
• Worked closely with the writing and level design team to design and implement side content and NPC interactions that provided the player with additional content and context for the activities in the narrative hub
• Owned the creation and implementation of narrative content for the High Republic Shrines, writing dialogue and crafting a narrative through line to tie these challenge spaces together
• Designed, scripted, and implemented multiple side content systems including fishing and gardening
• Created narrative archetypes for the new combatant types to ensure consistency with property lore and game tone
Design Commentary
I really came into my own as a Narrative Technical and Systems Designer on Jedi: Survivor. I had to really improve my technical skills and learn a lot about many different kinds of systems to implement everything that was needed. This was my first time doing a whole system refactor and, while I would now do things differently, I am very proud of the work I did making conversations and narrative delivery more flexible
Cal and BD look out over the vast plains of Koboh
Bode reaches out to Cal, a presumed friendly face in a hostile galaxy.
A mercenary armed with a lightsaber duels with Cal
Cal and BD look out over the vast plains of Koboh
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Dec 2018 - Nov 2019
Description
Cal Kestis is a Jedi Knight hiding in plain sight. That is until things take a turn for the unexpected and he is thrown into a galaxy spanning adventure to save the broken Jedi Order. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is a third person action combat game with Soulslike and Metroidvania aspects that casts the player in the role of a lightsaber wielding Jedi Knight during the Dark Times of the Empire. The game is available for PS4, Xbox One X, and PC.
Role
• Scripted all systemic combat dialogue for 14 enemy archetypes and all systemic dialogue for the Hero
• Wrote and implemented over 6,500 combat barks and 100 ambient conversations
• Crafted 9 of 15 enemy personality archetypes used to write combatant dialogue
• Maintained the internal dialogue database of over 17,000 lines for clarity and rewrites
• Collaborated between Writing and Audio to prepare and export lines for recording sessions
Design Commentary
Jedi: Fallen Order was my first fully fledged Narrative Design role. While my previous work had heavy Narrative aspects to it, this was purely Narrative writing and implementation. I learned so much on this project: VO recording and implementation pipelines, improved scripting, combat and ambient VO writing, character personality creation. I was able to polish these skills and more on a fantastic and talented team for a year and I couldn't be more grateful.
Cal stands against the forces of the Empire
Cal stands on the back of an AT-AT stomping through the marshes of Kashyyyk
Cal stands against the Second Sister in pitched combat.,
Cal stands against the forces of the Empire