Heartlight
Lead Technical Artist
Heartlight isn’t just a game; it's an electrifying adventure where strategy meets romance. Bring your personalized avatar and CCG decks to dive into a multiplayer world where choices spark unforgettable connections and thrilling encounters. Built with Unreal Engine 5.
I designed, developed, and led teams for:
-
Pipeline
-
Shaders & Materials
-
Avatars
-
Animation
-
Cutscenes & Cinematics
-
Blueprints & Animation Blueprints
-
Optimization
-
Visual Style
Ongoing Development by Everyrealm
Eternal Radio
Game Designer
Eternal is a 3D radio world where users join interactive livesteams as a custom avatar. Weekly programming features live talks and music from incredible artists, and access to curated IRL events.
I designed, developed, and led teams for:
-
Systems & Mechanics
-
Collectibles
-
Player Investment
-
UI/UX
-
Levels
-
Avatars
Launched May 2023 by Eternal Ratio
Parallux
Lead Designer and Developer
Parallux is an app for Mac and PC that makes it easy for brands and communities to design and host 3D virtual spaces. This MMO metaverse features a worldbuilding toolset and spatialized video/audio communications. See more info here: https://parallux.co
I designed, developed, and led teams for:
-
Visual Style, Shaders, & Materials
-
Technical Art Pipelines
-
UI/UX
-
Mechanics
-
Levels & Environments
-
Avatars
-
Partner Relations
-
Asset Integration
-
Project Management
-
Photography & Videography
Alpha released 2022 by Parallux
Amazon's Upload Experience
Lead Designer and Developer
To promote the Season 2 launch of Upload on Prime Video, we recreated the setting, Lakeview, as an MMO. Using actual 3D models from the show's virtual production, we stayed true to the designs while subtly changing layouts to create a functional level.
Users began by creating a custom avatar. Then they could interact with NPCs, chat with other players, and complete a scavenger hunt with real world prizes.
I designed, developed, and led teams for:
-
UI/UX
-
Avatars
-
Levels & Environments
-
Collectibles
-
Multiplayer Communication
-
Project Management
-
Asset Optimization
-
Photography & Videography
Released March 2022 by Parallux and Zerospace
VeVe presents FutureTechLive!
Lead Designer and Developer
A multiplayer virtual celebration of pop culture which included a scavenger hunt, dance parties, easter eggs, and space simulations. See more info here:
https://www.futuretechlive.com/
I designed, developed, and led teams for:
-
Collectibles & Easter Eggs
-
Avatars
-
Partner Relations
-
Asset Integration
-
UI/UX
-
Levels & Environments
-
Project Management
-
FX
Released August 2021 by Parallux and FutureTechLive!
Playstudios Project Polly
Lead Designer and Developer
This location based, 200+ user, AR game, Kraken Kove, was developed for iOS smartphones and tablets. It was part of Project Polly, a proof of AR's potential for Playstudios. Their virtual slots games reward players with physical prizes, which we incorporated into our game as real-life rewards drop from defeated ships.
It was designed as 1 of 5 minigames to be played at an internal Playstudios conference. To the right, the 2nd video is the prototype of the 2nd minigame.
I designed, developed, and led teams for:
-
Visual Style, Shaders, & Materials
-
UI/UX
-
Combat
-
Encounters
-
NPCs
-
Quests
-
AR Unity MARS Integration
-
Asset Integration
-
Digital Economy
-
Levels & Environments
-
Project Management
-
FX
Presented March 2021 by Parallux and Playstudios
FutureTechLive! World Builders Hub at
Comic-Con 2020
Co-Technical Director
A virtual event with curated content from 16 partners, see more info here:
https://www.futuretechlive.com/
As Co-Technical Director with Sebastian Herscher, I led design and development of:
-
UI/UX
-
NPCs
-
Quests
-
Narrative
-
Levels & Environments
-
Partner Relations
-
Project Management
-
Asset Integration
-
FX
-
Lighting
-
3D Modeling
In a month from concept to release, our team of 2 developers, 1 creative director, and 1 producer created a virtual activation for VR, PC, and Mac users to explore content from 16 different partners.
The Hub was full of XR art, cutting edge volumetric content, and portals that took players back and forth between partners' standalone experiences and the Hub. It was a dream come true to work on Comic-Con and an absolute pleasure putting it together with all the partners and people involved!
Released July 2020 by Parallux and FutureTechLive!
Mary and The Monster
Associate Technical Director/Creative Technologist
This multi-user AR/VR experience brings to life the origin story of Frankenstein through the eyes of a young Mary Shelley.
VR users can see each other as avatars and are immersed in the full scale set around them, while AR users view VR users and the entire show at 1/5th scale on a tabletop, simultaneously.
MATM was produced in partnership with the NYU Future Reality Lab, with support from Magic Leap.
See more info here: https://parallux.co/mary
Later, we made a standalone VR game based on MATM called Creature Creator. It featured hand tracking and experimental haptics from Emerge.
I designed and developed:
-
UI/UX
-
Mechanics
-
Shaders & Materials
-
Levels & Environments
-
Ports to Mobile AR, Quest, & Magic Leap
-
FX
-
Lighting
-
Sequencing Animation, FX, and Cameras
-
Motion Capture Data Cleanup
-
Project Management
Demoed at Siggraph 2019 and Premiered Internationally at the Tribeca Virtual Arcade @ Cannes XR 2020 by Parallux
Directed by Sebastian Herscher and Kris Layng, Executive Produced by Ken Perlin
Mentally In Action
Sole Creator
Available on Itch:
https://gamecenter.nyu.edu/projects/mentally-in-action-2/
In Mentally In Action, exploration progresses the story, especially when the player experiences recurring PTSD flashbacks.
The mechanics, plot, and graphics of my senior capstone are based on hours of personally conducted interviews and medical research. The narrative reveals the depths of horror and trauma that armed conflict creates, and sheds a light on the past and present treatment of a surviving veteran.
I designed and developed the:
-
Mechanics
-
Narrative
-
Levels & Environments
-
FX
-
UI/UX
-
Audio
When designing the movement and interaction mechanics, I tried to mimic real world actions as closely as possible to remain accessible to a player with any level of VR experience. M.I.A. is a seated experience where players operate a wheelchair to move and interact by using the grip buttons on VR controllers.
Published May 16th 2020 ft. sound by Landon Rudd and advised by Winnie Song and Mitu Khandaker
Crater Creator for the AMNH
Lead Developer and Co-Creator
Crater Creator is a multiplayer game, designed for the American Museum of Natural History, to educate people about moon craters.
Players use their phones to launch personalized asteroids towards a shared moon. After impact, players learn about the kind of crater their asteroid created.
All of the scientific info presented was based on research conducted or verified by Dr. Steven Jaret.
I designed and developed:
-
Mechanics
-
Physics and Collisions
-
UI/UX
-
Networking
-
3D Models
Crater Creator was selected to run at 4 events in 2019:
-
AMNH Spacefest
-
AMNH Scientific Staff Outreach Event
-
AMNH & NYU Joint Showcase
-
NYU Game Center Winter Showcase
Finished Development May 2019 with Carol Chen, Ellie Lin, Michael Dellapi, and Chenyu Sun
MMK: Monsters, Mechs, & Kaiju
Sole Creator
An FPS/3rd person hybrid multiplayer PvP game. Players either hunt down or control massive mechs, monsters, and kaiju.
Rangers defend the city with guns, explosives, and mechs.
Cultists destroy the city with artifacts, spells, and monsters.
Design and development has included:
-
Setting up Camera, Character, & Controls
-
Creating design documents
-
Drawing rough maps
-
Greyboxing & kitbashing levels
-
Prototyping movement and combat mechanics
Ongoing Development
Pogo Knights
Sole Creator
Available on Itch:
https://keananpucci.itch.io/pogo-knights
Pogo Knights is a "pogo stick jousting" game. Use your pogo skills to stab your opponent's head and plant it on the central pike to score!
You begin in a level select title screen. Touch a rhombus with your knight to play in that arena.
I designed and developed:
-
Combat
-
Levels
-
Sprites
-
UI/UX
-
Audio, FX, and Juice
Published Jan 5th 2020
Real Al's Humanity Academy
Co-creator
Available on Steam:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1025710/Real_Als_Humanity_Academy/
Real Al’s Humanity Academy combines wacky minigame action, an Adult Swim style sense of humor, and the world’s most human robot to give you a VR party game unlike any other.
I designed and developed:
-
Mechanics
-
Easter Eggs
-
Levels
-
Lighting
-
FX
-
UI/UX
-
Audio
-
Animation Integration
In Real Al, you learn everything you need to know about the human condition through a series of ten second minigames: you’ll rob houses, bounce eggs, meet puppets, and exorcise demons - just like a normal human! You can attempt to graduate from the Academy by entering the “Human Training Mode” or face off against your friends for a place on the “Human Leaderboard” in the unlockable “Endless Mode.” There’s never been a better time to learn how to be human. Enroll today!
Released April 1st 2019 with Brett Moody and Matthew Ricci
BFDA Tektiles Products
Lead Engineer and Developer
As part of the Pratt Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator's Tektiles Program, I co-created an AR jacket and a Performance Art Visualization insole. These textile products focused on integrated electronics and sustainability.
I designed and developed:
-
Mechanics
-
FX
-
UI/UX
-
Procedural Environments
-
Arduino Hardware & Software
-
Networking
-
Data Analysis
To accomplish this, I joined an incredible cohort of fashion designers, industrial designers, and creative technologists. We conducted user research by hosting ideation events with the community. Then from these findings, we conceptualized 100s of product iterations alongside the chosen jacket and insole.
Presented August 2018 with Pratt BFDA
VR Vinyl
Sole Creator
Play it!
For my Hypercinema final project, I chose to flesh out music albums through immersing the audience in their cover art.
I designed and developed:
-
Levels & Environments
-
Mechanics
-
FX
-
UI/UX
-
Animation Integration
-
Audio
In creating these interactive worlds, I hoped to stay true to the tone of the music. This project was inspired by visual albums, such as Lemonade, which supplement music with more context.
The walkthrough video uses the non-VR fallback keyboard and mouse controls, but the experience was designed for VR from the ground up.
Presented in Gabe Barcia-Colombo's 2018 Hypercinema class
Overconsumption
Co-creator
Two players operate paddles to collect normal heads, and deflect toxic heads towards their fellow player!
I designed and developed:
-
Mechanics
-
UI/UX
-
Projection Mapping
-
Collisions
-
Levels
Heads become toxic and overcome with greed by consuming money or food objects. These greedy heads drain the player’s opacity on contact, but when normal they add to the player’s color, signifying a positive life influence. Toxic heads revert to their original colors after a short time, representing how we can make amends to unhealthy lifestyle choices. However, if enough toxic heads come into contact with the player, the player’s head will disappear, again representing the significant impact of the people we surround ourselves with.
After this project was selected for exhibition at MCC’s mediaWorks_2018, we rebuilt the physical component and switched all the obstacles to money to make the theme more cohesive. It received an overwhelmingly positive response from the crowd, and served as a large attraction that stood out due to its interactivity.
Presented at MCC mediaWorks_2018 with Lisha Payne
