LATEST PROJECTS
Unreleased Star Wars FPS
May 2022 - March 2024
Description
Unreleased Star Wars FPS being worked on at Respawn Entertainment
Role
• Reimplemented proprietary Unreal Engine 4 narrative delivery systems and technology in Unreal Engine 5
• Defined sprint and milestone goals, and balanced scheduling and workload for the Narrative Design pod
• 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
• Fully refactored the conversation system, modifying all functionality to work for individual NPCs instead of
groups only
• Acted as primary owner, scripter, and designer of the conversation system, revising and adding features and
functionality throughout production
• Worked closely with Tech Design to reduce manual database input in comparison to the previous project’s
workload
• Oversaw all aspects of the main narrative hub as primary vision holder and content creator, collaborating
closely with Environment Art, Character Art, and Animation
• Designed, scripted, and implemented multiple side content systems including fishing and gardening
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