Eric Jensen | Mentor of Game Design

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Eric Jensen

About Eric

Mentor of Game Design

Eric is a Design Manager at PlayStation's Bend Studio, where he has worked for the last 16 years. He has worked his way up from QA and has had his hands in just about everything from asset management, localization, motion capture and cinematics, to a wide variety of design roles.

Most recently, he was the Lead Open World Designer on Days Gone, where he worked on all the open world systems, population, missions, and more. He is excited to share his journey and knowledge he has gained with others.

Eric's work

Credits include Days Gone, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Resistance: Retribution, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror and Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow, to name a few.

Q&A with Eric

Which city are you currently based in?

Bend, Oregon, USA

What did your pathway into the industry look like?

I started out in QA nearly 16 years ago. I nearly immediately fell in love with game development and wanted to know the ins and outs of everything. From there, I moved into general production work, ranging from asset management to localization, cinematic/mocap work, and then finally some low-level design scripting and population. That’s when I knew I wanted to pursue my design career, which I’ve been doing for the last 10 years. Now I’m a Design Manager and co-leading our team.

What has been the best experience of your career so far?

The greatest experience of my career has been working on a new IP from earliest ideation, to announcement, to gameplay reveal, to launch. That is such a reward.

What’s your advice for your students?

Never stop learning, and never stop creating.

Learn Game Design from industry pros

Game Design Essentials

12 weeks - 20hrs weekly

Find out what makes an addicting game, starting with game mechanics and systems, genres, level design and world building. Expect a mix of theory, paper design, concepting and hands-on practice using Unreal Engine and start building a game!

Game Programming Essentials

12 weeks - 20hrs weekly

Ideal for beginners with little or no programming knowledge! Starting with the fundamentals, you'll master the basic syntax of C++, get to know the most important programming concepts used in development, and create a simple game from scratch.

Game Programming Foundations

36 weeks - 20hrs weekly

Go from inexperienced programmer to capable Unreal Engine developer! Once you've learned C++, begin building fun 2D and 3D levels with fully interactive animated characters. Finish with a playable game and a great understanding of Unreal Engine's interface and tools.

Game Design Foundations

36 weeks - 20hrs weekly

Using real-world case studies, you will learn how to deconstruct games, tackle complex design problems, see what makes a good user experience, bring your own ideas to life, write design documents, and develop a game pitch. Finish with a fully playable game!

What do you enjoy most about being a CG Spectrum mentor?

The moments in my career when I grew the most was when I had someone mentoring me. It's super exciting for me knowing that I can now be that growth for someone else.

How do you stay creative outside of work?

I love photography, woodworking, building and working on cars and motorcycles. It's never a dull day!

What excites you most about the future of game design?

As the technology advances, we are presented new and exciting ways to design games for a constantly evolving and growing audience.

Learn more about Eric's experience or connect with him on LinkedIn.

Your mentor is ready, are you?

New intakes at the beginning of the month, every month. Enquire today to secure your seat.

Known for Disney Infinity

Meet Eric Jensen

About Eric

About Eric

Mentor of Game Design

Eric's work

Q&A with Eric

Which city are you currently based in?

What did your pathway into the industry look like?

What has been the best experience of your career so far?

What’s your advice for your students?

Learn Game Design from industry pros

Game Design Essentials

Game Programming Essentials

Game Programming Foundations

Game Design Foundations

What do you enjoy most about being a CG Spectrum mentor?

How do you stay creative outside of work?

What excites you most about the future of game design?

Your mentor is ready, are you?

New intakes at the beginning of the month, every month. Enquire today to secure your seat.

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