Email: ajmurdoch96[at]gmail.com

2023 - 2024: Atrodreamer Studio
Gameplay Programmer
Programmer/Designer

During my employment at Astrodreamer Studio I was responsible for leading a number of projects, including in-house IP development and a variety of client projects, such as rapid prototyping and tools development.

2021 - 2023: Pocket Sized Hands
Gameplay Programmer
Programmer/Designer

While employed at Pocket Sized Hands I was primarily tasked with designing and implement gameplay mechanics. During my time at PSH I worked on developing VR games, porting games to Nintendo Switch, Sony PS4, and Sony PS5, and game design for in-house IP to be taken into full production.

2019 - 2020: Abertay University
Research Assistant to the Psychology Dept.
Programmer/Designer

Employed by Abertay and deployed to work for HRI, I was the sole developer on an artificial chatbot web application. I was hired to help further design the functionality of HaRi-Bot, and implement the designs agreed upon by my client. Throughout my employment I had to learn a number of languages such as ASNP.NET, Javascript, HTML, and SQL, to develop and maintain HRI’s application, HaRi-Bot. In parallel to learning several languages to complete the work necessary, I had to learn to use various innovative AI tools that are currently being developed by Microsoft, such as natural language inference systems and their chatbot development framework. Working with HRI & Abertay taught me the importance of the ability to learn quickly and adapt to difficult situations, while balancing the expectations and requests of a client. 

2019: CivTech Accelerator Engineering Challenge
Programmer/Designer

Towards the end of Dare Academy I began working with a team on a project for the CivTech engineering challenge, to propose innovative technological solutions to problems put forward by different public bodies. My team and I worked with West Dunbartonshire council to find technological solutions to keeping all of their employees informed on the frequent changes to their council’s employee programmes and benefits, and how to deliver staff training online.

2019: Dare Academy
Team Lead/Gameplay Programmer/Designer/Environment Artist

My team and I developed a prototype of Spellcasters for Dare Academy 2019, an innovative rhythm-based magic combat game, and won both the Dare Academy and Dare Academy Player of the Year awards for 2019. Through experimentation, and a tight reign on scope, we were able to deliver a unique and well polished experience to present at EGX 2019. Dare Academy provided me a great opportunity to showcase my ability to create unique game designs and translate them into fun gameplay, and the experience of working in a small team with an incredibly tight deadline. 

On Spellcasters I developed core gameplay functionality, developed a custom 2D physics system, and worked on VFX such as particle systems, screen shake, parallax, and lighting. I created all environment art, and created the original game concept and designs.

2019: Abertay University
Computer Games Technology Graduate

In 2019 I graduated from Abertay University’s Computer Games Technology course. My honours project involved context-aware procedural generation of trees, implementing a space colonization algorithm to allow trees to grow into the space available to them with mind to natural forces such as phototropism and contested resources. Using a mesh generation shader I authored, a large quantity of these procedurally generated trees could be rendered each frame, displaying their ability to grow into the space they each afford each other.

2018: Abertay Challenge Internship
Lead Designer

I was employed as lead designer across two projects on the Abertay Challenge internship in 2018. One project I would work on would continue to be developed into HRI’s HaRi-Bot, and following the Abertay Challenge internship I would continue to work with HRI throughout my 4th year of uni to help with HaRi-Bot’s early designs and use of Microsoft’s innovative technology. The second team I lead design on were tasked with developing a mobile game prototype to help with a company’s brand awareness and marketing. Abertay Challenge provided me experience in leading teams and working through difficulties as they arose across multiple projects. 

Languages
C#
C++
Javascript
HTML

Software
Unity 3D
Git
GIMP
Blender
Maya
Unreal

Skills
Gameplay Programming
Physics Programming
Artificial Intelligence
Gameplay Design
Character Design
Environment Art