​​​​Tobias Heussner​

Lead Level Designer, Cold Iron Studios

March 2024 - Present

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Titles developed: One unannounced title (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5)

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• Leading Cold Iron’s level design team, reviewing and providing feedback on all levels in production together with all stakeholders, overseeing the level development from paper design to final implementation

• Scripting/Developing the subsequent iterations of the Unreal Engine Blueprint-based Campaign scripting system

• Level design and story implementation of the campaign

• Designing and implementing combat encounters and working on encounter-related systems

• Performance and memory optimization of level-related systems

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Senior Level Designer, Cold Iron Studios

August 2023 - February 2024

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Titles developed: One unannounced title (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5)

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• Scripted/Developed the initial Unreal Engine Blueprint-based Campaign scripting system

• Level design and story implementation of the campaign

• Designed and implemented combat encounters 

• Supported the system design with the development of prototypes and the design of mechanics for the combat and traversal systems

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Senior Producer, Cold Iron Studios

May 2022 - July 2023

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Titles developed: Aliens Fireteam Elite: Pathogen Expansion (PC, Xbox One, PS4, PS5),

                             Aliens Fireteam Elite - Switch Version (Switch/Cloud),
                             One unannounced title (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5)

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• Fully remotely managed and oversaw the development of the campaign of an unannounced title

• Led the development, project management, and scheduling of the Switch version of Aliens: Fireteam Elite

• Supported the content and level design team with regular check-ins, 1:1s, and design support, as well as with template creation and documentation

• Acted as product owner for a key area of the unannounced title during the prototype phase and for the campaign mode

• Developed a design pattern language for content and level design to create and document the campaign content

• Contributed to the recruitment and onboarding process for production and design roles

• Administration and improvement of the internal Confluence structure and documentation

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Executive Producer, CI Games

Jan 2021 - Mar 2022

 

Titles developed: Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 (PC, Xbox One, PS4, PS5), 
                             Two unannounced titles (PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5)
 

• Doubled as executive producer and studio head for the Warsaw team

• Modernized the development pipelines and approaches, leading the team through changing the engine used for future projects

• Worked on a vertical slice for the team’s upcoming, unannounced project

• Highly effective project management, keeping projects on budget and schedule, communication management 

• Preparation of headcounts, milestone plans, and legal documentation such as Statements of Work, NDAs

• Oversaw and remotely managed a team of 60+ developers, including staff recruitment, training/mentoring other producers

• Member of the production board for an unannounced title, which is in development with an external partner 

 

Production Director (Spain), Saber Interactive

Sep 2017 - Jan 2021

 

Titles developed: WWE 2K Battlegrounds (PC, Xbox One, PS4, Stadia, Switch),
                             NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 (PC, Xbox One, PS4, Switch), Halo: The Master                                       Chief Collection (PC), BassPro: The Strike (Switch), Cabela’s: The Hunt                                       (Switch), World of Warriors (PS4), Road Redemption (PS4, XBox One,                                         Switch)
 

• Senior Producer for all titles of Saber Interactive's Madrid (Spain) studio

• Highly effective project management kept projects on budget and schedule, communication management, drafted and executed GAAS (games as a service) roadmaps for premium games

• Preparation of headcounts, market viability checks, milestone plans, and legal documentation such as Statements of Work

• Responsibly handled all submission and approval processes with Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, Google, and Valve

• Supported the game design team and took part in the design of various projects

• Primary contact for all partners, including Epic Games, 2K, and other publishing partners, during the development of the titles

• Oversaw a team of 150+ developers, including staff recruitment, training/mentoring other producers, and coordinating all communication with Saber Interactive’s studios and partners

• Remotely managed an external team in Sweden from 2017 to 2019 

• Remote management of all Madrid teams during the COVID-19 pandemic

 

Series Editor - Focus on Unreal/Game Narrative Toolbox Series, CRC Press/Focal Press

Dec 2017 - present (Focus on Unreal); Mar 2021 - present (Game Narrative Toolbox Series)

 

• Identifying interesting Unreal Engine 4/5-related or Game Narrative-related subjects

• Finding and evaluating potential authors and supporting them during the development of their books

• Providing feedback on manuscripts and ensuring series consistency

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Senior Producer (Spain), Saber Interactive

Aug 2016 - Sep 2017

 

Titles developed: NBA Playgrounds (PC, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch)

 

• Highly effective project management, task tracking, product life cycle, and communication management

• Handled all submission and approval processes with Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, and Valve

• Supported the game design team and took part in the design of various projects

• Staff recruitment and management, expanding the team from 35 developers to 75 developers

• Managed an external team in Sweden remotely

 

Producer, Virtual Toys

Jan 2014 - Jul 2016

 

Titles developed: Pirates: Treasure Hunters (PC, PS4), Looney Tunes Galactic Sports (PS                                       Vita), The Muppets Movie Adventures (PS Vita)

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• Organized project management, task tracking, localization management

• Creating levels and courses for various projects optimized for performance, game flow, and player interaction

• Led a game design team and took part in the design of various projects 

• Remote management of the external team in Sweden

• Translation and localization management of the texts from Pirates: Treasure Hunters ​

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Chair of the Executive Board - SIG Game Writing, IGDA

Apr 2013 - present

 

• Manage a volunteer community of writers working together to improve the state of the art of video game writing and narrative

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Senior Level Designer, Bigpoint Berlin

Jun 2010 - Jan 2014

 

Titles developed: Drakensang Online (Browser/PC), Hellblades (Browser/PC)
 

• Promoted to Assistant Lead Level Designer in March 2012

• Level gameplay, flow, and environment design from concept to the final version

• Quest conception and implementation, world-building, and supporting the writing team in the development of the major plotlines

• Prepared the patch notes for all weekly and major releases of Drakensang Online, a live service, free-to-play AAA-MMO

 

Concept Designer, Radonlabs

Nov 2009 - May 2010

 

• Responsibly supported the business developer in acquiring new projects and developing new IPs 

• Worked in cross-industry project acquisition, bridging medical research and gaming to create learning and rehabilitation environments

• Wrote and developed pitch and concept docs for own and third-party projects and project acquisition

 

Associate Producer, Radonlabs

Dec 2008 - Nov 2009

 

Titles developed: Drakensang – River of Time (PC), Treasure Island (PC)
 

• Executive Producer for “The Dark Eye – Drakensang Gold Edition”

• Supported the producer in completing executive and management tasks

• Kept track of the budget and schedule as well as organized and led sub-teams for special tasks like cut-scenes, bug management, and motion capture planning

• Established and administrated TechExcel DevTrack and DevPlan

 

Assistant Producer, Radonlabs

Mar 2007 - Nov 2008

 

Titles developed: The Dark Eye – Drakensang (PC), Riding Star 3 (Nintendo DS)
 

• Executive Producer for “The Dark Eye – Drakensang Demo” 

• Managed and established the quality assurance department

• Assisted as a level designer in other projects

 

Level Designer, Radonlabs

Apr 2005 - Feb 2007

 

Titles developed: Paws & Claws: Pet Vet (PC), Let's Ride! Championship Dreams (PC), 
                             Riding Star 2 (PC), Crazy Chicken: Approaching (PC), Dragon Hunters: Die                               Drachenjäger - Die Prüfung (PC), Meine Tierschule (PC), Let's Ride! Friends                               Forever (PC), Kids Zone: My Horse Gang (PC), Verliebt in Berlin (PC),                                         Sportfischen Professional (PC)

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• Lead Level Designer for several projects, responsible for the level conception, planning, and execution, ensuring that performance and creative goals are met 

• Developed and blocked out interior and exterior locations 

• Scripted events, AI, technologies, and triggers 

• Assisted in game design and was responsible for playability and balancing

 

Lead Game Designer / Director, Tricium Factory

Jul 1998 - Mar 2005

 

Titles developed: Geniu$: The Tech Tycoon Game (PC), Genius: Biology (PC, Uncredited)
 

• Led and organized this student indie development group 

• Concept writing, level design, and story development

• Acted as primary contact for businesses and networks

• Developed programs and presentations for the DAI (German Institute of Archeology)

• Assisted Radon Labs GmbH as a level designer and tester