I’m Lee; a graduate with a passion for all things design and writing. Creating levels and maps has been something that always fascinated me, which led to creating dozens of maps in the Far Cry 2 editor and Little Big Planet, before steering me on to college, and then University, where design is again my main focus.
Writing and narrative design has also been huge for me. Currently I write and run a series of table top roleplaying games over a handful of differing gameplay systems, and whilst studying at undergraduate level I was a sub-committee member for the largest society on the campus; the Staffs Tabletop Gaming society.
In the end, I want to create experiences that will bring joy to whoever plays them.
Hobbies
My main hobbies generally tend to revolve around media, be it film and tv, gaming, reading, or music. I can find enjoyment in almost all genres of media, allowing me to broaden my intake of concepts and ideas.
Aside from this, history is my number two passion. Funnily enough this passion was also kickstarted by gaming, however it has grown into a beast of its own now. The main areas that I find interest in are the Late Roman Republic and early Empire; The Three Kingdoms period of China, and the Sengoku period of Japan. I do also enjoy many other areas of history though, such as the Napoleonic wars, and the American West. (Currently diving into Chinese literature and Anglo-saxon history)
Areas of Interest
Level Design
Level design is a great passion of mine. As mentioned above the creation and breakdown of levels is something that I’ve always enjoyed doing, even recreationally before attending university to study games was something I even realistically considered.
Weaving narrative and plot into levels, and giving players a true insight into the world that they’re currently playing in is something that I strive to do.
Games Design
Aside from level design, the creation of concepts and mechanics is also something that greatly interests me. Creating the vehicle that players will use to experience unforgettable moments would be extremely rewarding, and taking these projects through initial concepts, to a finalised product is elating, even with the short timeframes that University presents.
Writing
I feel as passionate about writing as I do design. Whether this is creating characters and dialogue, or world building. I draw upon what I know from both real world history (A hobby of mine), and other forms of media and genres that I consume; be it fantasy novels, or sci-fi films.
My main experience with writing comes from the afore mentioned tabletop roleplaying games, where generating believable scenarios, characters, and locations are all paramount in sucking the players into your world, and creating real immersion at the table.
QA
My final area of interest is in Quality Assurance. Constant testing and iteration throughout University has lead me to develop an observant eye toward games, in terms of design, balance, and bugs; allowing me help create the best player experience possible.
Games should of course be released in the best state that they can be, so I believe that adding my critical eye throughout the development cycle can only really help a project. I’ve tested dozens of projects throughout my time at University, including both my own, and those belonging to peers.
Lee Griffith 