Hello! I'm Will.

Welcome to my portfolio! I'm a versatile game developer based in Manchester and have just finished University where I have achieved a first class degree. I developed and published my first game (Orion Defenders) on itch.io when I was 19, and have enjoyed developing many more projects and expanding my skills and knowledge ever since. I am currently working on extending my custom built Binary Spatial Partitioning Dungeon Generator into a full game, hopefully for release soon!

​​Here you can see some of my favourite projects, both professional and personal, all of which have taught me many new skills in various engines (such as Unreal and Unity) and languages (C# and C++). I have always been interested in finding technical solutions to problems, especially in the context of games where the outcome can be a really enjoyable experience for the player, and so I apply a high level of polish to the projects I work on.

If you have any questions or want to get in contact for any reason, please feel free to contact me! My details can be found on the contact page, linked at the top.

Professional Projects

Highlighting my best professional work to date. 
Please click the images to find more information about each project.

Dimension Drifters

Fast paced, 3D split-screen kart racing game. 
​Highlights:
  • Kart-like car physics and player controller
  • AI that drives round the track, uses items and takes different routes
  • Split screen multiplayer setup
  • Various item pickups such as a boxing glove and hammer item
  • General game loop
  • Track generation system
  • Cinematic cutscene

Wave Function Collapse Level Autocomplete System

A level 'autocomplete' system built using the Wave Function Collapse algorithm.
Highlights:
  • It takes example inputs and partially filled levels, and generated surrounding environments accordingly!
  • Editor extension - can be integrated into Unreal easily.
  • Custom editor UI - focuses on ease of use.
  • Wave Function Collapse algorithm allows for low sample size and similar outputs to be produced from small inputs.

VCR

Networked 3D ghost hunting game developed in my placement year for a studio.
​Highlights:
  • Several player controllers in C++
  • Network prediction of movement abilities
  • Networked animations
  • Various environmental objects that the player can interact with
  • Recording player progress via Steam

Personal Projects

Showcasing some of my latest personal projects that I have developed in my free time.
Please click the images to find more information about each project.

Binary Spatial Partitioning Dungeon Generator

Dungeon level generator based on the Binary Spatial Partitioning algorithm. Generates dungeons that contain various rooms and corridors filled with traps, enemies and treasure chests!

Highlights:
  • Fast, efficient algorithm
  • N*N size content pieces
  • Customisable parameters
  • Instant access to infinite variations of dungeon levels

Facial Detection CCTV

A CCTV system that utilises OpenCV to detect and store the faces of people it sees!

Highlights:
  • Facial detection using Haar Cascades​
  • Automatic storage of discovered faces to a database
  • UI built in C++ using wxWidgets package

Ultimate Tanks

A small game I built to learn Unreal Engine. Inspired by Wii Play Tanks!

Highlights:
  • Randomly moving and shooting AI
  • Was essentially my crash course of learning Unreal Engine
  • Custom bullet pathing utilising reflection vectors.

Game Jams

Please click the images to find more information about each project.
Showcasing the games I helped to create during my university game jams.

​Beat Boxing

Locally multiplayer rhythm game featuring automatic beat detection from audio files.
Highlights:
  • Automatic beat detection based on music files
  • Guitar hero-esque player controller
  • AI that hits notes and uses abilities
  • Smooth UI/UX
  • PVP Controller/keyboard support

​Wild Woods

2D bullet hell game made in my first year of University.
Highlights:
  • My first 2D game
  • Various bullet hell patterns
  • Several environmental traps

​Absorbots

3D third person shooter. Shoot the robots before they merge into a boss!
Highlights:
  • Merging AI that grow increasingly larger
  • Wave based game loop
  • Boss fights
  • Various weapons and unlockable map areas

Experience

2020 - 2021
Computer Games Programmer
Canalside Studios
  • Programmed core features of VCR game.
  • Developed networked solutions to technical problems.
  • Worked closely with designers to implement assets, effects and sounds.
  • Managed content sharing via setup of the source control software Perforce, boosting cooperation.
  • Optimised game performance by converting blueprints into efficient C++ code.
  • Improved high-latency player feedback via implementation of network prediction.
Summer of 2019
Work Experience
KPMG Manchester
  • ​Proof-read client reports for quality assurance.
  • Shadowed junior consultants in client phone meetings.
  • Reviewed cyber team policies and procedures.
Summer of 2019
Document Sorter
EDM Group Stockport
  • ​Processed and organised scores of documents.
  • Taught co-workers how to use computer systems resulting in an improvement of quality checking efficiency.
  • Worked with a team to digitize over 17 million documents in a short time span.
  • Checked data for errors as part of an extended contract.