Games

I'm passionate about games as interactive creative media, learning tools, and laboratories for understanding human behavior.

Games often involve rule-based systems that create incentives and disincentives for different types of player interactions. Some games are fun, but not all games are meant to be fun (see Papers, Please or That Dragon, Cancer).

Because games are interactive, they can build empathy by putting the player in unusual situations or forcing them to make difficult choices. The nature and balance of their rules creates economies of action that can support myriad different themes. A game like Shadow of the Colossus would not work in any other medium.

When designing games, I am often reminded of problems I encountered while studying philosophy and public policy in school. It can be challenging and rewarding to think about not only what a game world should look like, but what balance of rules are both feasible to implement and would support the world I envision.

Leveling Up

In 2023, I completed a Certificate in Game Design from the University of Washington. I've developed several game demos published on itch.io and have participated in five game jams. I am active in the Seattle Indies, Duckfeed.tv, and Bethesda game modding communities like Lexy's.

I average one digital game per week and take notes on everything I play. I enjoy many different types of games but gravitate toward toward smaller, single-player titles. Want a recommendation? Try out Disco Elysium or the games of Lucas Pope.

I run or participate in a few tabletop roleplaying sessions a month—games like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, Shadowdark, or Call of Cthulu.

Years ago, I made over 200 gameplay and tutorial videos for YouTube and had a blast doing voice work for the Skyrim Book Club.