Portfolio

Daniel Poludyonny

Hey there! Nice to see you at my portfolio page! Have a good seat and let me introduce myself. My name's Daniel (you can call me Dan) and I love playing games. Absolutely different games, from small and easy-to-play casual games, indie and mobile games to online MMO games, class-based multiplayer shooters, RPGs, strategies, simulators, point and click adventures and other game genres on consoles, PC, web and mobile.

But... since you're here, you're probably not as interested in which games I play, as in which ones I make. I do my own games since 2005. Mostly as a contract / freelance game designer but, of course, sometimes you have to play other instruments too because this is how creativity works. Besides, if you want something done well - better do it yourself, right? My main goal is to create a top-quality game product that people will pay for and love. If it means I manage - I manage. If it means I draw or animate - I draw and animate. You can find out more about my skills in the Skills section below.

In addition to game / level design and writing experience I have such in project management, product management, assembling teams from scratch, pitching, selling, business development, customer support, quality assurance and graphical design, such as CGI, video editing as well as sound design and writing my own music. The only thing I'm still religiously afraid of is programming. But I think I might overcome that fear in near future.

Have got over 30 finished projects, some as a game designer, some as a producer and some as a one-man-band. Not all of them but the most significant are mentioned in the Projects section. Doing a lot of freelance work, but still looking for the home for my ideas and games. In my spare time I post some game reviews and my dark thoughts in this blog.

I'm always excited to meet new people and open for contacts, so feel free to use my contact form. And you can add me on LinkedIn.

Skills Game design and production
	Skill	Tools	Rating	Years
	Game design	Paper, MS Office, Google Docs (◄ my favorite ♥)		10+
	Level design	Paper, MS Visio, Unity, Flash, other tools		10+
	UI flow design	MS Visio		10+
	Creative direction	Brain, Sence of Beautiful		10+
	Planning	Pivotal Tracker (◄ my favorite ♥), MS Project, Notepad, Google Docs		10+
	Budgeting	MS Excel, Notepad, Google Docs		10+
	Butt kicking (project-wise)	Left Foot, Right Foot		10+
	Testing / QA	Hands, Brain		10+
	Bug tracking	Jira, Mantis, Starteam, Bugzilla		12+
	Mentoring	Brain, Oratory		10+
	Interviewing	Brain, Oratory		10+

Artwork, animation, sounds and music
	Skill	Tools	Rating	Years
	3D modeling + unwrap	3ds max, Maya		12+
	Texturing / CGI Post processing	Adobe Photoshop, 3ds max, Maya		12+
	Animation / posing	Adobe Flash, 3ds max, Maya, Poser, Unity		12+
	Rendering	3ds max, Maya		12+
	UI and web design	Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Image Ready, Adobe Dreamweaver		12+
	Video editing	Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere, Virtual Dub		10+
	Vector graphics	Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Flash		6+
	Music and SFX	Adobe Audition, FL Studio, Wavelab		10+

My games Project EXO
	Platform:	HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR, Playstation VR
	Employer:	VR Features
	Development:	March 2017 – July 2017
	Status:	Demo-version
	Role:	Game designer / Producer
	Job done:	• Game concept and balance for demo; • Level design for demo; • Writing / storyboarding; • Team management; • Business development; • Pitching; An innovative VR shooter with puzzle and strategy elements for top VR platforms.
	Proof:	Trailer

Tanks vs Aliens
Platform	PC, iOS, Android
Employer:	VR Features
Development:	January 2017 – June  2017
Status:	Out on Steam, release on iOS/Android pending
Role:	Game Designer / Level Designer / Producer
Job done:	• Game design and balance; • Level design; • Storyboarding / writing; • Team management; • Post-production, game effects, game web-site; • Pitching; When I joined the project it was absolutely raw and unplayable. I helped shape it into a good solid game.
Proof:	Website Trailer Steam store

Castle Keeper Platform: Android, iOS Employer: Sphinx Games Development: May 2015 - December 2016 Status: Demo-version Role: Game Designer / Producer Job done: • Assembled team from scratch • Game design / balance; • Team management • QA This game is a historical action strategy for handheld devices. Key game features: • Massive online PvP battles (up to 800 units simultaneously) • All job is done by villagers Proof: Gameplay video playlist on YouTube (Russian) Seva Sovenkin's University Platform: Android, iOS Employer: Compeidos Development: August 2014 - February 2015 Status: Released Role: Game Designer / Producer Job done: • Educational narrative • Game design • User experience • Team management • QA This is a set of educational game apps for kids aged 2-5, divided by four topics: Language, Math, Logics and Creativity. All games contain a cumulative amount of 37 mini-games. Proof: Gameplay video playlist on YouTube (Russian) Battle For The Galaxy Platform: Android, iOS Employer: AMT Games Development: August 2013 - August 2014 Status: Released, post-release development Role: Game Designer Job done: • Game design / balance; • Monetization. This sci-fi action strategy game set up in the far future is all about building your space base and fighting other player bases. Splendid visuals and SFX included. I did the best I could in terms of game design to deliver a top-notch result. Proof: Watch trailer on YouTube iTunes Store download page Google Play download page Legendary Saga Platform: Android, iOS Employer: AMT Games Development: October 2013 - August 2014 Status: Released, post-release development Role: Senior Game Designer Job done: • Game design / balance; • Monetization; • Supervision over game design department. A new version of an older Role-Playing Game. I managed and supervised the game design and balance process. Proof: Google Play download page iTunes Store download page Official forum (also installed and set-up by myself) Epic War: Tower Defense 2 (promo game) Platform: Web / Flash Employer: AMT Games Development: October 2013 - October 2013 Status: Released Role: Game Designer Job done: • Game design / balance. A promotional game for another game called Epic War: Tower Defense 2. The purpose of the game was stimulating player traffic for the main game with game promo codes as a reward. The game provides about 15 minutes of a good ol' school "kill-em-all" gameplay. The initial game design and balance took a single weekend and is my personal performance record at the moment. The entire development took about 3 weeks. Proof: Play the game in your browser (Flash required) Drop Rush Platform: Android, iOS Employer: Myself Development: May 2013 - October 2013 Status: Demo-version Role: Game Designer / Producer / Level Designer / One-Man-Band Job done: • Game concept and design; • Level design; • Testing and QA. A very nice platformer about a drop of water whose aim is to feed a thirsty flower. Avoid angry wasps, caterpillars and other enemies who will also try to drink you up, and collect stars on your way to the flower. The demo version included 8 levels and the basic gameplay. Proof: Download the demo version (Android, APK)
Shopkeeper
	Platform:	Android, iOS
	Employer:	Keiss Games
	Development:	March 2012 - October 2012
	Status:	Unknown
	Role:	Game Designer
	Job done:	• Game design; Developed entire game design and balance from scratch which included over 200 text pages and economics that featured over 350 unique items.
	Proof:	Documentation only

Angry Heroes
Platform:	Android, iOS
Employer:	Artibus LLC
Development:	June 2011 - June 2012
Status:	Released, post-release development
Role:	Game Designer / Producer / One-Man-Band
Job done:	• Game design; • Production planning and management; • Sounds and music; • Testing and QA. Game concept, design, balance, quality assurance, planning, customer support, business development, marketing, localization, sound design, music, voice overing and a lot of other stuff.
Proof:	Google Play download page iTunes Store download page Official page Watch trailer on YouTube (also made and voice-overed by me)

Toon Farm
	Platform:	iOS
	Employer:	Cosmobits (MacPhun LLC)
	Development:	May 2011 - October 2011
	Status:	Released
	Role:	Game Designer
	Job done:	• Game design; I started work on the project when it was already 8 months in development. Performed deep problem analysis, and developed improvements strategy. Developed a detailed game design according to employer's requirements. Performed a thorough supervision of the development process.
	Proof:	iTunes download page. Note: the game no longer works as its owners discontinued its support.

Pirate Rampage
Platform:	Facebook
Employer:	Proxima Games / Digital Chocolate
Development:	September 2010 - March 2012
Status:	Released
Role:	Game Designer / Producer / One-Man-Band
Job done:	• Game design; • Production planning and management; • Game art; • Sounds and music; • Testing and QA. My own project with two programmer fellas and one artist. Did everything except programming and most art.
Proof:	It was on Facebook and Kongregate but is discontinued now.

One-Armed Bandit: Progressive Jackpot
	Platform:	VKontakte
	Employer:	Proxima Games
	Development:	July 2010 - September 2010
	Status:	Released
	Role:	Game Designer / Producer / One-Man-Band
	Job done:	• Game design; • Production planning and management; • Game art; • Sounds and music; • Testing and QA. Generally, just a reskin of the previous project.
	Proof:	Trailer on YouTube VK.com (requires registration)

VideoPoker: Progressive Jackpot
Platform:	VKontakte
Employer:	Proxima Games
Development:	March 2010 - July 2010
Status:	Released
Role:	Game Designer / Producer / One-Man-Band
Job done:	• Game design; • Production planning and management; • Game art; • Sounds and music; • Testing and QA. There were two programmers and myself in the team. The programmers did the coding, I did the rest.
Proof:	Trailer on YouTube VK.com  (requires registration)

MahJong Quest 4
	Platform:	PC
	Employer:	iWin Inc.
	Development:	June 2009 - December 2009
	Status:	Frozen
	Role:	Producer
	Job done:	• Production planning and management; • Production budget and costs development; • Game design support. • External contractors hiring and management; Also: • Team recruiting; • Daily meetings with San Francisco and Los Angeles colleagues; • Weekly reports; • Game reviews with company management. There was a simple goal: to show BigFish Games with their Mystery Case Files who is the boss with four times smaller budget. The team did a pretty good job, but two months before the project deadline the company management was fired and so was everyone else.
	Proof:	In the freezer.

JoJo's Fashion Show 4: The Mystery Of Fashion Diva
Platform:	PC
Employer:	iWin Inc.
Development:	February 2009 – May 2009
Status:	Subcontracted to another company
Role:	Producer
Job done:	• Game art production planning and management; • Game art direction. Managed the development of art for the game until eventually the team switched to another project and we had to give this one to another company.
Proof:	Somewhere in Dnepropetrovsk.

JoJo's Fashion Show 3: World Tour
	Platform:	PC
	Employer:	iWin Inc.
	Development:	February 2009 – October 2009
	Status:	Released
	Role:	Producer
	Job done:	• Production planning and management; • Collaboration with SF office. Assisted the communication between producers and managers in San Francisco and Russian developers.
	Proof:	Trailer on YouTube Official page

WapLand
Platform:	Mobile
Employer:	ArMobi
Development:	June 2008 – February 2009
Status:	Released
Role:	Game designer / Producer
Job done:	• Game design documentation and specifications development; • Production planning and management; • Art management; • External team management. • Team recruiting. • Marketing materials development It was a blend of a game and a wap-sites catalog with the sites looking like houses. Did the design and requirements, hired an external team and managed the development.
Proof:	Flushed with a tsunami.

Wallace & Gromit Adventures
	Platform:	Mobile
	Employer:	Studio X
	Development:	June 2008 – November 2008
	Status:	Released
	Role:	Game Designer / Producer
	Job done:	• Game design documentation and specifications development, according to client's requirements; • Production planning and management; • Art management; • External communication. My team developed all core elements of the game: essential game assets, game mechanics, level editor and so on. Eventually we had to pass the project to another developer as we ran out of own investments.
	Proof:	Official page Trailer on YouTube

Destruction Derby 3D
Platform:	Mobile
Employer:	Studio X
Development:	June 2008 – September 2008
Status:	Closed
Role:	Game designer / Producer
Job done:	• Marketing presentation development; • Outsourcing team management. I pitched the game concept and the presentation (on the picture). Then we subcontracted the game to another developer. The developer failed the task.
Proof:	Burnt down by customer's sight.

Party Island Pool 2-in-1™
	Platform:	Mobile
	Employer:	Digital Chocolate Inc.
	Development:	December 2007 – July 2008
	Status:	Released
	Role:	Game Designer / Producer
	Job done:	• Production planning and management; • Game design documentation and specifications development, according to client's requirements; • External communication. • Weekly meetings and external communication; • Project presentations; • Print-ready marketing materials for company products; • Resources management; • Team recruiting. Great idea, great team and great employer. The game has got 4th place among 10 best mobile games of 2008 (pocketgamer.co.uk). We did better than Townsmen and even Peggle! The first three games in the chart had much more significant budgets.
	Proof:	Official page Trailer on YouTube #4 in Top 10 games of 2008 Silver Award by Pocketgamer

Mechanismo
Platform:	Mobile
Employer:	Global Fun
Development:	April 2007 – September 2007
Status:	Released
Role:	Game designer / Producer / One-Man-Band
Job done:	• Concept & game idea; • Game design documentation and specifications development; • Production planning and management; • Art management; • External communication. • Project presentations; • Print-ready marketing materials for company products; • Business and partner development; • Market research. • Resources management; • Team recruiting. The game is based on Rube Goldberg concepts. The game featured 60 fascinating levels, realistic for a J2ME game physics and a lot of other awesome stuff.
Proof:	Official page Trailer on YouTube Gameplay video on YouTube MobileGameFAQs review (Silver Award) PocketGamer review (Bronze Award)

Genetica
	Platform:	Mobile
	Employer:	Global Fun
	Development:	May 2007 – September 2007
	Status:	Released
	Role:	Game designer / Producer / One-Man-Band
	Job done:	• Concept & game idea; • Game design documentation and specifications development; • Production planning and management; • Art management; • External communication. • Project presentations; • Print-ready marketing materials for company products; • Business and partner development; • Market research. • Resources management; • Team recruiting. Innovative puzzle game somewhat similar to jigsaw puzzles. Complete puzzles and create some cool creatures. The game achieved Gold Award from MobileGameFAQs.
	Proof:	Official page Trailer on YouTube MobileGameFAQs review (Gold Award)

Space Tactics
Platform	Mobile
Employer:	Kvazar-Micro
Development:	January 2006 – June  2006
Status:	Demo-version
Role:	One-Man-Band
Job done:	• Game concept development; • Game design & level design development; • All game assets. The game was a StarCraft-like space real-time strategy for mobile devices with touch-screen based on Symbian UIQ 2.1/3.0 (a long before iPhone). The demo-version development took about 6 months.
Proof:	Fell into oblivion

Nuclear Dreams
	Platform:	Mobile
	Employer:	Kvazar-Micro
	Development:	August 2005 – January 2006
	Status:	Demo-version
	Role:	One-Man-Band
	Job done:	• Game concept development; • Game design & level design development; • All game assets. The game was a Fallout-like post-nuclear strategy for mobile devices with touch-screen based on Symbian UIQ 2.1/3.0 (a long before iPhone). The demo-version development took about 6 months.
	Proof:	Destroyed by time.

The ultimate list

Here's the ultimate list of game projects that I've ever worked on as a game designer / producer / artist or all of them at the same time. Of course there were also non-game projects. But that's boring.

Project name	Year	Project name	Year
Nuclear Dreams Space Tactics Leisure Suit Larry Mobile Darkest Fear 2 Disney Mermaid Mobile (pitch) Painkiller Overdose (pitch) European Football 2007 Bigfoot Challenge Chicktris Mobile UBS Football Championship Destruction Derby 3D (pitch) Christmas Mystery Genetica Mechanismo DChoc Party Pool 2-in-1 Adventures of Wallace and Gromit WapLand Jojo's Fashion Show 3: World Tour	2005 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2009	Jojo's Fashion Show 4 (pre-production) MahJong Quest 4 VideoPoker: Progressive Jackpot One-Armed Bandit: Progressive Jackpot Pirate Rampage Codename: Towns (concept) Toon Farm Shopkeeper Christmas FRENZY Angry Heroes Online Drop Rush Epic War Tower Defense 2 (Promo) Legendary Saga Battle For The Galaxy Seva Sovenkin's University Castle Keeper (Demo) Tanks vs Aliens Project EXO	2009 2009 2010 2010 2011 2011 2011 2012 2012 2012 2013 2013 2014 2014 2015 2016 2017 2017