Indie Game Developer Specialization

After 20 years in the industry, AAA game expert Bryan has worked on titles like Too Human, X-Men: Destiny, Rollers of the Realm, Debris, and now Far Cry 6.

Cameron Cintron has been writing code for mobile games for 12 years, working with studios including Blue Street Studios and Azure Games while also teaching game programming at Columbia College Chicago. He mentors CGSI Game Programming students with a focus on the systems and patterns that hold up when a project ships to real stores rather than just a class assignment.

Casey is a multi-disciplined designer—he creates levels, designs gameplay systems, and leads design teams. He’s operated in the industry for over a decade and currently works at Traega Entertainment.

Chris Kefalas has spent 21 years designing games at studios including Striking Distance, Sumo Digital, Ubisoft, Sucker Punch, Codemasters, Rare, and Radiant Worlds. His credits include The Callisto Protocol, Watch Dogs: Legion, Far Cry 6, Hitman Season 2, Crackdown 3, Kinect Sports, and Operation Flashpoint. He mentors CGSI Game Design students through the design fundamentals that survive long production cycles and platform shifts.

Eric is a Design Manager at PlayStation's Bend Studio. He is excited to share his journey and knowledge he has gained with others.

Filip has been teaching for 10+ years, with a current focus on Game Programming in Unreal Engine. Armed with a B.Sc. in Computer Science, Filip has worked at both AAA and indie studios since 2007.

While at Ubisoft, AAA programmer Firas released almost a game a year including Far Cry 3, 4, 5, Assassin's Creed 3, Your Shape, Splinter Cell: Blacklist and Watchdogs 2 and 3.

Glenn Storm brings 26 years across game design and feature animation, with credits including Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Iron Giant, and Sinbad through stints at Realtime Associates, DreamWorks Animation, Warner Bros Animation, USC's Institute for Creative Technologies, and the New York Film Academy. The Iron Giant alone earned an Annie Award and an LA Film Critics nod for Best Animated Feature. He mentors CGSI Game Design students with the rare cross-medium perspective that comes from shipping in both.

Jason Barlow is Course Director for CGSI Game Design, drawing on 16 years across game design education and production. He shapes the program around the design thinking, prototyping, and shipping discipline that studios actually hire for.

Mathieu Bissonnette has spent 20 years designing games at Ubisoft, Eidos, Ninja Theory, and Cirque du Soleil, with credits including Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Stories: The Path of Destinies, and Season: A Letter to the Future. He mentors CGSI Game Design students through the rare combination of cinematic storytelling and live-experience design his career has shaped.

While at award-winning game studio Blazing Griffin, Michael released titles like Murderous Pursuits, The Ship: Remasted, Distant Star: Revenant Fleet and Dino Tribes.

With over 6 years of experience in the game industry, Ming has worked for Ubisoft, Activision, and Gameloft. He has also applied his programming skills in a wide range of areas.

Philippe is a Lead Game Designer at Ubisoft. He specializes in 3Cs, Rational Systems Design, Meta-game/Economy Design, and Designer Mentorship. He’s worked on Far Cry, Watch Dogs, and Hyperscape.

Rob has developed games and experiences for a number of platforms from mobile and desktop to virtual reality. He specializes in creating gameplay mechanics and quick-fire game prototypes for a number of video game companies.

Ryan Laley is a notable figure in the game development community, known for his expertise in using Unreal Engine, a popular game development platform. He has gained recognition for his comprehensive tutorials and educational content, which he shares on various platforms such as YouTube and Twitch. Through his detailed and accessible tutorials, he has helped many aspiring game developers learn the intricacies of Unreal Engine, covering topics from basic concepts to advanced techniques. His approach is characterized by his clear and concise explanations, making complex topics more understandable for beginners and experienced developers alike. His contributions to the community extend beyond tutorials; he often engages with his audience through live streams, Q&A sessions, and community forums, providing personalized guidance and support. In addition to his educational content, he is actively involved in the game development industry, working on his own projects and collaborating with others. His hands-on experience and continuous engagement with the latest developments in Unreal Engine technology keep his content relevant and up-to-date. Overall, Ryan Laley is a respected and influential educator in the game development field, dedicated to empowering others through knowledge sharing and community engagement.

Tim is in his fourth decade of designing and producing video games. He has a number of top-selling and award-winning titles to his name.

Tom Oliver is Course Director for CGSI Game Design, with 13 years across game development and credits including Stuntfall. He shapes the program around the prototyping, iteration, and shipping discipline that turns design ideas into playable products.

Troy is an award-winning game designer and executive with over 25 yrs of game development experience at major companies like Microsoft, Ubisoft, Insomniac, EA, Disney, and Samsung.