Tim Huntsman | Mentor of Game Design

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Tim Huntsman

About Tim

Mentor of Game Design

Tim is in his fourth decade of designing and producing video games, simulations, LBE and table-top interactive experiences. He has a number of top-selling and award-winning titles to his name, dating from the old Atari Lynx and Jaguar platforms, to the PS1/N64/Dreamcast days, to the Xbox and the mobile eras, accounting for over $500M in sales.

Tim has worked to develop games and managed teams of over 85 people in the AAA space for companies like Microsoft, Disney, and Acclaim, among others. His areas of expertise are game/systems design, IP creation, storytelling, and the 3 C's, Economies, Production Management and Designer Mentorship.

Tim's work

Credits include Boulder Dash 30th Anniversary Edition, Cars 2, Disney Infinity, and WWF War Zone, to name a few.

Q&A with Tim

Which city are you currently based in?

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

What did your pathway into the industry look like?

I was friends with the owner of at a punk/college bar and he got licensed for the Atari Lynx. Once he found out that I was a gamer and had played board games like Car Wars, he asked me to help him create a car-combat game ... that was in 1990.

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

In 2006 I was asked to become the Sr. Producer of a new Disney studio, with a new team, on a new IP, on new hardware (the 'revolution' dev kits didn't exist yet). Not only did I get the game done and to market, but I did it on time and on budget.

What’s your advice for your students?

To understand one thing, you must learn 10,000 things. Game design is about taking abstract ideas and turning them into tangible, interactive experiences. It is hard work, but the more you understand about systems, story-telling, hardware, and the psychology of 'fun,' the better and more accessible your games will become.

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?

I have always loved working with newcomers to the games business. I love to share my insight and passion with people who want to create fun experiences. I also absorb the students' enthusiasm: it keeps me from getting jaded!

How do you stay creative outside of work?

For fun, I write stories about a group of kids in search of cryptids, I play and record music, try to set new high scores on area pinball machines, and take care of my family.

What excites you most about the future of game design?

More and more seeing the concept of augmented reality being worked on and integrated into things like our cell phones. I believe the future will brings some brilliant opportunities to do some really "out there" games and interactive experiences.

Learn more about Tim'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.

Meet Tim Huntsman

About Tim

About Tim

Mentor of Game Design

Tim's work

Q&A with Tim

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.

Meet our other mentors

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Michael Cameron

Heath Smith

Daniel Pinch

J.J. Williams

Nicolas Najm

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