Olivia Thompson

• Phone: +1 416 555 0123
• Email: olivia.thompson@email.com
• Location: Toronto, Canada
• LinkedIn: oliviathompsongamedesign

Summary

Over 7 years of experience in video game design, specializing in crafting engaging gameplay mechanics and rich narrative experiences for AAA and indie titles. Successfully led design teams through full development cycles, contributing to a 15% increase in player retention for a major mobile RPG and a 20% Metacritic score improvement on a PC strategy game.

Adept at translating creative vision into actionable design documentation, prototyping core systems, and iterating based on player feedback and market analysis to deliver compelling interactive entertainment experiences.

Experience

Lead Game Designer, Ubisoft Toronto -- Toronto, Canada

Mar 2020 – present

• Directed the design of core gameplay loops and progression systems for an unannounced open-world action-adventure title, managing a team of 5 designers.

• Architected and balanced economy systems, ensuring long-term player engagement and monetization strategies, contributing to projected 25% higher ARPU than previous studio titles.

• Mentored junior designers, fostering a collaborative environment that improved team productivity by 10% and reduced design iteration cycles.

Senior Systems Designer, Klei Entertainment -- Vancouver, Canada

Aug 2017 – Feb 2020

• Designed and implemented complex survival mechanics and crafting systems for 'Gritty Realms,' contributing to its 85% Metacritic score and over 1 million units sold in its first year.

• Developed detailed design specifications and flowcharts for new game features, ensuring clear communication across art, programming, and QA teams.

• Conducted extensive playtesting and user research, analyzing data to inform design adjustments that improved player onboarding by 20%.

Game Designer, Capy Games -- Toronto, Canada

Sept 2015 – July 2017

• Contributed to the level design and narrative scripting for 'Pixel Odyssey,' a critically acclaimed indie platformer, praised for its innovative puzzle mechanics.

• Prototyped various game mechanics using Unity and Unreal Engine, quickly validating concepts and iterating on design decisions.

• Collaborated with artists and programmers to translate design concepts into playable features, ensuring a cohesive and engaging player experience.

Education

Sheridan College, Graduate Certificate in Game Design -- Oakville, Canada

Sept 2014 – Aug 2015

University of Toronto, BSc in Computer Science -- Toronto, Canada

Sept 2010 – June 2014

Skills

Game Design Software: Unreal Engine, Unity 3D, Maya, Blender, Adobe Creative Suite, Perforce, Jira, Confluence, Figma

Design Expertise: Systems Design, Narrative Design, Level Design, Gameplay Prototyping, Economy Design, UI/UX Design, Balance & Tuning, Monetization Strategies, LiveOps Design

Programming Languages: C#, Blueprint Visual Scripting (Unreal), Python (scripting)

Methodologies: Agile Development, Scrum, Design Thinking, User Research, Playtesting, A/B Testing

Soft Skills: Creative Vision, Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving, Team Leadership, Communication, Mentoring, Adaptability