Mark Girouard Game Development Instructor

Mark Girouard is a game development instructor and freelance designer with over 15 years of experience in designing combat systems, levels, and characters for AAA titles. He currently teaches classes in level design, combat design, rapid prototyping, and game theory at the Academy of Art University. Girouard also works as an independent consultant helping studios with gameplay design, boss battles, and gamification.

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Mark Girouard Game Development Instructor

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Mark Girouard

Game Development Instructor

markggamedesign@gmail.com
www.destragar.com
www.linkedin.com/in/markgirouard
(415) 317-3885

Summary:
I have spent the last four years splitting my time between teaching and
short term game contracts. My experience and skill set in game
development and teaching game development is wide ranging and diverse.
I am well versed and have taught all aspects of game theory from
mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics, traditional table top gaming and
gameplay loops. The level design classes I teach are based on creating
complex AAA quality action adventure environments and missions that
would fit into games like Uncharted or Skyrim. I created and am now
teaching a combat class focused on melee combat set in a 2D world. By the
end of the semester each student has created a working prototype worth 3-
7 minutes of gameplay. Level design, combat, rapid game development and
game theory have been the majority of my class subject matter but I have
branched out to teach production methodology as well as team based
projects and graduate level thesis work.

Game Development and Teaching Skills

 Metagame Design and Visualization from moment to moment gameplay to the
individual systems
 Traditional Tabletop game creation and its relation to video games
 Character Combat Design and Implementation
 Level Design from Documentation to Blockout to Mission Implementation
 Finding the Fun Factor through the iterative process and rapidly creating small games
 Production methodology like Waterfall, Agile and Scrum.

Education
Academy of Art University and University of San Francisco (Dual Degree)
BFA, Illustration 1991

Teaching Experience
Academy of Art University (Sept 2013 - Present)
Game Design Instructor
 Level Design for Action Adventure/RPG and FPS Games
o Create AAA action adventure levels using Unreal
o Beautiful Block Mesh
o Level/Mission Maps and Documentation
o Scripting Gameplay using Blueprint
 Game Design Theory
o Designing and creating Table Top Games (D&D module, Board
Game)
o Gameplay Loops, Mechanics, Dynamics and Aesthetics
 Combat in Games
o Designing and documenting a combat system focused on melee
with complimentary ranged weapons
o Implementing 2D side scrolling combat into a playable vertical slice
o Enemy Archetypes and Combat Progression
 Rapid Game Development
o Rapidly create small games that capture the addictive fun of a
theme or game genre
o Work under tight deadlines and fulfilling client needs while
engaging the audience
o Polishing and taking a prototype from rough to finished portfolio
piece

Game Development History

Sanzaru Games (2018)
Spyro Reignited (Shipped 2018)
 Enemy/Boss Designer
o Enemy Designer -Implemented and tuned many unique enemy
archetypes for final game release.
o Boss Designer -On point designer for the four Boss fights in the
game.

Destragar (Sept 2013 - Present)

Freelance Game Designer
 Game Design Consultant (2016)
o VR robot fighting game design and tuning
 Game Design Consultant (2015)
o Metagame and gameplay tuning for a space battle shoot-em up
 Game Design Consultant (2014)
o Gamification of a horse racing game app.

Sanzaru Games (2010 - 2013)

Dark Manor(Free to Play Hidden Object Game)
 Senior Game Designer
o Tuning and progression of economy
o Designing and laying out hidden object scenes.
o UI Design

Sly Cooper 4 (Shipped 2013)

 Senior Game Designer- On Point Designer for the Arabia Episode/Chapter
of Sly Cooper 4.
o Designed multiple (6) missions including Boss Fight
o Levels designed from initial concept and blockout to final
scripted polished level
o Designed and Implemented 2 unique game mechanics. RC
Helicopter and Turret Battle

Sega Studios/Secret Level (2009 - 2010)

Iron Man 2 (Shipped March 2010)
 Main Hero Combat Designer- Designed Iron Man and War Machine’s melee
combat and weapons systems. Responsible for tuning, implementing Iron Man
and War Machine’s behavior, movement and combat.

Shaba Games (April 2006 – January 2009)

Spiderman Web of Shadows (Shipped October 2008)
 Combat Designer- Designed combat moves for many characters and enemy
archetypes. Implemented multiple enemies, tuned, polished until shipped.
 Boss Designer- Designed and implemented multiple boss battles.