What's up?

Throughout my career I've always looked to hone my skills while embracing opportunities to learn new methods to produce high-quality works. I've had the privilege to be on AAA Game Development and Animation teams around the world and continue to be passionate in creating remarkable entertainment for all audiences.

Curating environments, mechanics, and narratives into level / world designs that facilitate immersion and wonder to create memorable gameplay experiences for players of all kinds is a constant goal I strive to accomplish. Meaningful choices, strategic decisions, mastery of skill, competitive and cooperative opportunities are all a part of experiencing enjoyment out of pushing a button and seeing the results in fantastic display. 

With being on an animation team, I focus on delivering emotional storytelling and visual fidelity. On ReBoot we dug into the Unreal 4 technology to explore artistic and technical approaches to building, developing, and organizing frameworks, cross platform pipelines (Linux -> Windows), and virtual 3D spaces. It was the most ambitious project I have been on to date, with 3,300+ shots rendered 4K in a video game engine for TV broadcast, digital streaming, and 360 VR videos on YouTube.

I am passionate in creating gameplay experiences and storytelling. What matters most to me is that the audience finds enjoyment in the entertainment I help bring to them, and that they find the ride they went on memorable and remarkable.

For a detailed resume, please connect on LinkedIn and send me a message. 
Link -> https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrjames/ 

Kindly,

~chris james
Development Projects & Teams
 (animation) (games)
Project: The Island
2024-Present
Game Director

A prototype of a complete redesign of the MOBA gameplay experience, with out focus on providing something really fun for casual players interested in a Solo / PvE experience with their friends, or have an intense session of PvP session with their friends. 

Unreal Engine 5
PC / Console
Hirogami
2024-2025
Lead Level Designer

Overseeing the rational progression of the player experience for all levels, develop 4 main story levels from concept to final delivery, complete first art pass for designed levels & implement their authored cameras, and provide detailed feedback in all areas of design.

Unreal Engine 5
TBA
T.B.A (Studio Demo)
2024
Principal World Designer

Design and develop the team's main demonstration level from concept to final production, implement the final lighting pass, create multiple construction and even blueprint scripts, technical art implementation with multiple dynamic material setups, and design the introductory traversal and combat tutorial level.

Unreal Engine 5
PC
Tiny Tina's 2 (Shelved)
2023
Lead Game Designer

Lead the Game Design Team focused on the Overworld Random Encounters player experience, including a new and innovative Dynamically Weighted Objective System, design and develop new Combat Arenas for multiple world locations, and help rework the technical backend of the level gameplay implementation systems.

Unreal Engine
PC / Console
Horizon: Forbidden West
2018-2021
Senior World Designer

Product owner of a major world activity from concept pitch to pre-production to design lock + multiple open world gameplay spaces, including: Rebel Camp: Fenrise, Rebel Outposts, Gauntlet Race: Las Vegas, Underwater Caves & Ruins, and more.

Decima Engine
PS5, PS4
Reboot: The Guardian Code
2015-2018
World Building Supervisor

Create show assets (modeling, surfacing, VFX, lighting) + shot render finalizing for multiple environments produced in the Unreal 4 engine. Hire, on-board, and manage artists and delivery schedules for a new department within the studio.

Unreal 4, Maya
Netflix, YTV
2 Seasons, 20 Episodes
Barbie: Video Game Hero
2016
Previs / Layout Artist

Take storyboard and produce cameras, layouts, and previs animation for approximately 250 shots

Maya
DVD
Dungeon Defenders 2
2014-2015
Lead Level Designer

Mentor level designers, write guidelines for map creation, and redefine the multidiscipline map production pipeline, plus design tower-defense style multiplayer maps.

Unreal 3, Maya
PC
Quantum Break
2013-2014
Senior Level Designer

Create first playable levels from papermap to greybox, handle encounter design + pacing, and implement technical scripting.

Northlight Engine, Maya
XB1, PC
Agents of S.T.O.R.M.
2014
Senior Level Designer

Designed the fourth island set for a reverse-tower defense style game, focusing on camera manipulation puzzles. Defined the level design pipeline.

Unity Engine
iOS
Hitman (2016)
2012-2013
Lead Level Designer

Write cross-department frameworks for gameplay setups, greyblocking, and technical requirements.

Glacier 2, Maya
PS4, XB1, PC
Dragon Age: Inquisition
2011-2012
Level Designer

Create test dungeons to evaluate prototype player mechanics and visualize level design best practices. 

Frostbite 2, Maya
PS4, PS3, PC
Spider-Man Edge of Time
2010-2011
Lead Game / Level Designer

Define Design Department pipelines, tasks, and workflows from pre-production to ship. Design 3 C's and upgrade economy. Evaluate and mentor level designers for documentation, greyblocking, and design best practices.

Internal Editor
PS3, XB360
The Force Unleashed 2
2007-2010
Level Designer

Design gameplay and narrative encounters, script combat and event logic in LUA, and implement backend steaming logic. Author in-game cinematics with custom camera sequences, object animation, and narrative pacing.

ZED Editor, Maya, Lua
PS3, XB360, PC
The Force Unleashed:
Hoth DLC
2007-2010
Level Designer

Design gameplay and narrative encounters, script combat and event logic in LUA, and implement backend steaming logic.

ZED Editor, Maya, Lua
PS3, XB360, PC
Lucidity
2009
Bonus Level Designer

Design a handful of new maps that were additional experiences outside of the main storyline and level progression.

Internal Editor
XB360 Arcade
Indiana Jones: Staff of Kings
2007
Level Designer

Design core story encounters, script combat and event logic, and implement backend steaming logic.

Zed Editor, Maya, Lua
PS3, XB360
Canceled.
Army of Two
2006-2007
Level Designer

Papermap, layout, combat, and narrative design on levels set in Afghanistan and Iraq themes. Develop showcase gameplay prototypes as the key level designer on strike teams.

Unreal 3, SketchUp, 3DS Max, Radiant
PS3, XB360
Full Auto
2005
Jr. Level Designer

Populate levels with dynamic objects, AI path spline, collision hulls, and environment camera sequences.

MOD Level Editor, 3D Studio Max
XB360
Soccer Skillz
2003-2004
Intern Environment Artist

Model urban street building and props with a New York theme, and animate background visuals.

3D Studio Max
PS2
Studio Demo