Billy Guzik
Game Designer & Gameplay Programmer
Digital Games
Changeling VR
Link to ChangelingVR’s Website: here
Project Overview:
Duration: 4 Months (May 2023 – August 2023)
Team: 7
Role: Game Developer/Level Designer
Game Engine: Unreal Engine 4
Type: Internship
Summary:
ChangelingVR is a VR narrative mystery game. You play as detective Aurelia Walker, a private eye gifted with the unique ability to dream-walk, allowing her to see the thoughts and memories of anyone she touches. What started as a simple house call to check on a baby who won’t wake up, it quickly becomes clear that everything is not as it seems. Remember who you are, for these memories are not yours.
Responsibilities
- Created and iterated through core gameplay loops and level designs to find one(s) that stuck.
- Implemented blueprint-based level streaming to smoothly connect all areas of the level together.
- Created teleporters using blueprints to work in conjunction with level streaming.
- Grayboxed the level to create a fun and engaging environment.
- Optimized the level to ensure good player experiences.
Athame
Project Overview
Duration: 8 Months (October 2023 – May 2023)
Teams: 5 (October – November), 5 (January – May)
Role: Team Lead/Producer
Game Engine: Godot Engine 4.1
Type: Academic/Personal Project
Summary
Athame is a top-down fantasy RPG deck-builder where the player takes control of a young wizard who has been bestowed a powerful ancient artifact by their deceased grandfather, with instructions to deliver it to Mount Orfeo at all costs. With the power to freely craft, create, and customize spells using magic from all disciplines, break through those who stand in your way to fulfil your grandfathers dying wish.
Responsibilities
- Implemented player movement and combat animations.
- Designed and Implemented player movement and combat states.
- Implemented JSON for data input and saving.
- Designed and Implemented onboarding for crafting and combat.
- Utilized Trello and leveraged agile development principles to manage the project and team
NASA X-Hab Program
Link to article about the project: here
Project Overview
Duration: 4 Months (August 2023-November 2023)
Team: 10+
Role: Game Design Team Lead
Game Engine: Unreal Engine 5.2
Type: Academic/Personal Project
Summary
The NASA X-Hab program challenges students to design and engineer solutions that address critical needs of the Artemis program. Our challenge is to design a piece of upper-body exercise equipment that can induce a strenuous workout in astronauts on Mars so that they stay healthy. The equipment must also come with a device that can monitor vitals and environmental conditions. The project is a collaboration between various engineering disciplines and a group of game design students.
Responsibilities:
- Presented research and ideas to NASA in order to seek approval to begin development.
- Documented all aspects of development including research, a setup guide, the games blueprints, game states, and future plans.
- Facilitated communication between engineers, investors, and designers.
- Laid the groundwork for future development in Unreal Engine 5 via Perforce.
Asmodeus
(no currently playable version available)
Project Overview
Duration: 3 Months (February 2023 – May 2023)
Team: 4
Role: Gameplay Designer/Programmer, UI/UX
Game Engine: Unity
Type: Personal Project
Summary
Asmodeus, the King of Hell, has been slain, and his throne now lies vacant. With various powers across the universe coveting the throne, take control of one of these factions and slaughter your way through the 9 circles of Hell to claim the throne in this roguelike deck-builder.
Responsibilities
- Created and iterated through multiple paper prototypes
- Designed and implemented a unique rotating shop system
- Designed and Implemented menus
- Utilized Trello and leveraged agile principles to manage the project
Nuclear Purr
Link to Devpost page: here
Project Overview:
Duration: 24 Hours (November 3rd-4th 2023)
Team: 6
Role: Gameplay Designer/Programmer, UI/UX
Game Engine: Godot Engine 4.1
Type: Game Jam (Wolfjam Hackathon 2023)
Summary:
Embark on a thrilling post-apocalyptic adventure as a courageous cat cafe owner in this top-down dungeon crawler. Roam the radioactive wasteland, rescuing adorable cats and gathering essential resources to sustain your sanctuary. Battle scavengers and survivors, earning upgrades to fortify your defenses and protect your beloved feline companions.
With each daring expedition, forge a haven amidst the chaos, proving that love and determination can thrive even in the bleakest of times. Can you navigate the dangers of the nuclear world, ensuring the safety of your cafe and its whiskered inhabitants?
Responsibilities
- Designed and implemented player states and combat mechanics
- Implemented win/loss conditions
- Designed and implemented all menus
Creepy Castle
Link to Itch.io page: here
Project Overview:
Duration: 3 Days (August 4th-6th 2023)
Team: 4
Role: Gameplay Designer, UI/UX
Game Engine: Unreal Engine 4
Type: Game Jam (Indie Dev Game Jam #1)
Summary:
Slaughter! Upgrade! Survive!
Creepy Castle is a 3D Bullet Heaven that has the player defend the inner courtyard of a castle against an endless horde of monsters that grow in difficulty as time goes on. Slaughter your enemies, upgrade and acquire abilities, and survive as long as you can!
Responsibilities
- Designed and implemented inventory system
- Designed and implemented shop and experience system
- Designed and implemented player HUD and functionality
Into the Unknown
Project Overview
Duration: 4 Months (February 2022 – May 2022)
Team: 4
Role: Gameplay Programmer
Game Engine: MonoGame
Type: Academic Project
Summary
Into the Unknown is a side-scrolling action platformer where you play as an explorer delving into the depths of what appears to just be a cave, but quickly turns into much more. Maneuver around the levels with engaging platforming whilst avoiding or defeating enemies and collect the pieces of an ancient tablet to uncover a startling secret.
Responsibilities
- Designed and Implemented enemy interactions and animations.
- Designed and Implemented player interactions.
- Implemented gravity and collision.
Analog Games
Aspera TTRPG
Project Overview
Duration: Ongoing (October 2023 – Current)
Team: 4
Role(s): Writer, Designer, Lead Tester
Tools: Google Docs, Adobe InDesign
Type: Personal Project
Summary
Aspera is a Sci-Fi Tabletop Role-Playing game where players take on the roles of vibrant characters from a distant science fiction future. In this world, space travel has been trivialized and a humanoid species has begun its conquest across the galaxy, discovering new planets and powerful resources. As colonies have begun to develop on distant planets, the very essence of this humanoid species begins to twist and alter. The Terrans, as they are known, begin to adapt to their new environments, modifying their very biology.
In a time of rising conflict, with many gaining new abilities and magical powers, anything can happen in the world of Aspera. The question is, what will you do?
Responsibilities
- Designed and iterated over 90 pages of content for the core rulebook.
- Connected with outside artists to produce assets for the book
- Published the core rulebook to multiple online outlets.
- Continuously updated published ruleset based on feedback received from players.
Ascend & Arise
Project Overview
Duration: 4 Months (February 2023 – May 2023)
Team: 5
Role: Game Designer, QA
Tools: Adobe Photoshop,
Type: Academic Project
Summary
Ascend & Arise is a rouge-lite inspired dungeon crawler board game that has up to 5 players ascend through 3 floors of a pyramid whilst battling enemies, avoiding traps, collecting treasures, and defeating bosses, before returning to town to upgrade and acquire new equipment and combat dice. Race to slay the boss of the 3rd floor and claim the spoils of victory!
Responsibilities
- Created a system allowing players to procedurally generate each floor using a variety of hexagonal tiles.
- Created a system of advancement allowing players to get noticeably more powerful as the game continued.
- Designed and developed core mechanics and gameplay rules.
- Assisted in creating the physical board game tiles and cards.
- Created the physical box for the board game.
Billy Guzik's Portfolio 