Tim Huntsman

Meet Tim Huntsman

TapStar Interactive, Smartbomb Interactive
Tim Huntsman

About Tim

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.

WWF War Zone
Disney Infinity
Cars 2

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

Game Design Essentials

3 months - Beginner

Find out what makes an addicting game, exploring game mechanics and systems, genres, level design and world building. Expect a mix of theory, paper design, concepting and hands-on practice.
Game Programming Essentials

Game Programming Essentials

3 months - Beginner

Ideal for beginners, you’ll start with the fundamentals, learning the basic syntax of C++. Gain and understanding of key programming concepts used in development, and create a simple game from scratch.
<b><br>Game Design</br></b>Bachelor of Game Development


Game Design
Bachelor of Game Development

24 months - Beginner to Advanced

Learn to plan, develop, and implement immersive and interactive games. Using industry software and practices, build the techniques and knowledge that will help you succeed in the video game industry.
<b> <br>Game Programming</br></b>Bachelor of Game Development


Game Programming
Bachelor of Game Development

24 months - Beginner to Advanced

Learn to program game systems using industry workflows and techniques. Guided by game dev experts, you'll create a playable game while building essential interpersonal skills and industry knowledge.
Game Design Foundations

Game Design Foundations

9 months - Beginner to Intermediate

Go from beginner to intermediate as you learn to deconstruct games, tackle design problems, create great user experiences, write design documents, and develop a game pitch. Finish with a playable game!
Game Programming Foundations

Game Programming Foundations

9 months - Beginner to Intermediate

Develop excellent game programming foundations in this comprehensive course. Using C++, learn to build fun 2D and 3D levels with fully interactive animated characters. Finish with a 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.

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