James Sabol
As a recent graduate, I am looking to start my journey into the gaming industry! I have an undying passion to create unique gameplay experiences, challenging mechanics, and engaging content. This passion comes from a lifelong love of games and a desire to spark that same joy in others.
I have experience in quest and narrative design, level design, and combat design, and my scripting proficiency in Blueprints, C#, and Python allows me to prototype, implement, and iterate quickly on my ideas. I have experience working within and leading teams of up to 8 creatives, and I am knowledgeable of different department's roles, responsibilities, and road blocks.
I derive the most fun by creating game systems and mechanics that not only I would want to play but also I feel take advantage of the storytelling capabilities of the games medium. Games create a world outside of yet inextricably linked to our own, and I would love to meet every one of my players in that magic circle.
Ideation
Brainstorming game features, mechanics, and concepts is what excites me most about game design.
I have experience iterating on both my own ideas and the ideas of other creatives.
Storytelling
Crafting a narrative in which the player feels not just a part of but instead the driver of the story is what drives me to make great game stories.
The game stories I have designed range from dealing with goofy yet endearing parodies to confronting serious mental health issues and fears.
Level Design
I have crafted dozens of levels, in genres ranging from 3rd-person action adventure to FPS platforming to 2D beat-em-up.
I strive to design and guide players through challenging and engaging experiences that take full advantage of game mechanics.
Combat Design
Combat design lights my creative fire because of the granular attention to detail. Every phase, from pre-production to polish, requires an attentive eye to perfection.
I've designed combat systems for 3rd-person action-adventure and 2D beat-em-up, and these combat systems light up my dreams with thoughts of balance and particle effects and animations.
Scripting
I'm proficient in C#, Blueprints, and Python. I can quickly prototype and iterate on my designs. I've programmed enemy A.I., player mechanics, and level design tools.
My communication skills paired with my scripting proficiency also allow me to easily communicate between departments to help facilitate workflow.
Quest Design
Quests form the spine of the players' directed goals within a game. Crafting compelling and engaging quests are what keep players coming back to their favorite games.
I have experience in quest design ranging from branching dialogue trees in Unreal to developing grand, text-based adventures in Twine.
