David Thompson
Melbourne,Australia
Summary
Accomplished Game Designer, Producer, and Educator with over 10 years of experience delivering high-quality gaming experiences across PC, console, mobile, VR, and blockchain platforms. Successfully led major projects, including My Little Pony: Magic Princess(50M+ players) and modding solutions for AAA titles like Baldur's Gate 3and Homeworld 3. As Game Director for Tiberian Sun Rising, demonstrated excellence in creative direction, team leadership, and complex problem-solving. A dedicated mentor and educator, developed industry-relevant programming curricula and guided aspiring developers in mastering Unreal Engine, Unity, C#, and Python.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
8
8
Shipped Titles
3
3
Certifications
5
5
Awards
Skills
- Game Systems Design & Prototyping
- Unreal Engine (Blueprint), Unity (C#)
- F2P Monetization & Player Retention
- Product Management & Roadmap Planning
- Agile Methodologies (Scrum, Sprint Planning)
- Milestone Planning & Risk Management
- Leadership & Team Management
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Stakeholder Engagement
- ClickUp, Jira & Trello
- Visual Studio & GitHub
Projects
- Tiberian Sun Rising – Game Director, Total Conversion Mod (PC, Independent).
- Unreal Plugin, C++ SDK – Product Owner, UGC (Desktop/Console/Mobile, mod.io).
- Gods Unchained – Producer, Blockchain TCG (Desktop/Mobile, Immutable).
- Pearl's Peril – Product Manager, Hidden Object Game (iOS/Android, Wooga).
- Monsters Ate My Metropolis – Lead Game Designer, CCG (iOS/Android, PikPok).
- Into the Dead (VR) – Game Designer, VR Adaptation (Gear VR/Oculus, PikPok).
- Wander – Indie Game Developer, VR and Console Indie Game (PS4/PC, Independent).
- Turbo FAST – Game Designer, Live Game Enhancements (iOS/Android, PikPok).
- My Little Pony: Magic Princess – Lead Game Designer, F2P (iOS/Android, Gameloft).
- Silent Ops – Level Designer, Action Game (iOS, Gameloft).
- Global Game Jam – Participant, 13 Game Prototypes (PC, 2011–2023).
Work History
Game Director (Mod Project)
Tiberian Sun Rising
12.2007 - Current
- Directed a reimagining of Tiberian Sun within the C&C 3: Tiberium Wars engine, adhering to EA’s C&C Modding Guidelines.
- Recognized with multiple ModDB Awards, including #1 Best Upcoming Mod of the Year (2017) and Players’ Choice Award (2018).
- Designed the innovative Dynamic Tiberium Ecosystem, enhancing gameplay depth and strategy.
- Managed a distributed team of designers, artists, and programmers to deliver a high-quality community mod.
- Authored game design documentation and prototyped mechanics to refine gameplay.
- Balanced in-game economy and combat systems for strategic gameplay.
- Directed art, animations, and VFX pipelines, ensuring consistent vision and quality.
- Engaged with the modding community to foster collaboration and fan engagement.
Product Owner - Game Features (Unreal, C++ SDK)
mod.io
05.2023 - 07.2024
- Delivered cross-platform modding solutions for major titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, Homeworld 3, and Dying Light 2 across PC, console, and mobile platforms.
- Led a cross-functional team of 12 (developers, designers, QA, frontend, and backend engineers) across 12 product releases, ensuring TRC certification and seamless delivery.
- Managed QA processes, ensuring TRC certification compliance and seamless product delivery for top-tier studios.
- Streamlined workflows by implementing agile practices and refining task management systems, boosting team productivity.
- Defined and prioritized features for Unreal Engine and C++ SDK releases, delivering innovative modding tools.
Game Development & ICT Teacher (Programming)
Box Hill Institute
05.2020 - 05.2023
- Taught Unity (C#), Unreal Engine (Blueprint), Python, and Blender, guiding 50+ students in game development units toward industry readiness.
- Designed a nationally recognized C# programming course, adopted by the Department of Education.
- Delivered programming and technical units to 200+ students over three years, fostering skills in software development and ICT.
- Mentored students in creating professional-quality portfolios through hands-on projects and personalized guidance.
External Game Assessor
Screenwest
02.2023 - 03.2023
- Evaluated 24 game submissions, assessing creative strengths, commercial potential, and team viability.
- Provided detailed feedback to developers, supporting project refinement and growth.
- Collaborated with industry experts to identify projects with the highest potential for funding and market success.
- Contributed to decision-making, ensuring a fair and thorough evaluation process to support the Western Australian games industry.
Producer & Engagement Designer
Immutable
08.2018 - 02.2019
- Delivered key milestones for Gods Unchained, introducing 547 cards and 6 God classes while resolving 1,500+ bugs.
- Led a cross-disciplinary team of 8 and coordinated with an external QA team of 4.
- Designed player onboarding, tutorial, and retention systems to improve engagement metrics.
- Conducted competitive analysis to inform strategic decisions and feature development.
Product Manager - Mobile
Wooga
04.2015 - 09.2015
- Managed marketing and launch strategies for Pearl’s Peril Mobile, driving visibility and user acquisition.
- Adapted the game for iPhone 4, improving compatibility and performance for a broader audience.
- Led sprint planning and A/B testing, optimizing features based on analytics to improve key metrics.
- Collaborated across teams to enhance user experience on Facebook and Mobile platforms.
Lead Game Designer
PikPok
02.2014 - 01.2015
- Designed core systems, monetization strategies, and gameplay mechanics for Monsters Ate My Metropolis (iOS/Android), a collectible card game for Adult Swim.
- Adapted Into the Dead for VR, creating immersive VR-specific gameplay mechanics and refining user comfort through testing and iteration.
- Enhanced Turbo Racing League (iOS/Android) with iterative improvements, balancing gameplay mechanics and refining user experience.
Game Design Advisor (Volunteer)
Wander
12.2012 - 05.2014
- Refined game systems to enhance collaboration and immersive exploration in a non-combat MMO (PlayStation 4, Steam PC).
- Advised on gameplay mechanics to align design ideas with team capabilities and budget constraints.
- Conducted testing for VR (Oculus DevKit) and PlayStation 4, ensuring TRC compliance and optimizing player experience.
- Mapped PlayStation 4 controls and improved tutorial flow to meet platform requirements.
- Supported PAXAus game promotion by onboarding players to VR demos and maintaining equipment.
- Streamlined project scope by prioritizing achievable features and reducing development risk.
Project Manager
Appster
01.2013 - 12.2013
- Managed 4–5 concurrent game projects, delivering on time and within budget while overseeing up to 10 projects in various stages.
- Directed remote cross-functional teams, ensuring alignment with project goals and quality standards.
- Scoped, budgeted, and tracked milestones, resolving bottlenecks to meet deadlines.
- Collaborated with sales and clients to align project goals and maintain strong relationships.
Lead Game Designer
Gameloft
03.2011 - 08.2012
- Led design for My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (50M+ players), creating progression systems, mini-games, and monetization strategies to drive engagement and retention.
- Designed multiplayer levels and modes for Silent Ops, including the first single-player campaign mission with narrative elements and tutorials.
- Collaborated across teams to deliver cohesive gameplay experiences and align design with IP and strategic goals.
- Pitched concepts to publishers and executives, securing alignment on game vision and business objectives.
Education
Bachelor of Multimedia Software Development - Game Design And Interactive Media
Swinburne University of Technology
Hawthorn, VIC, AustraliaCertificate IV TAE40116 - Training and Assessment
Inspire Education
Brisbane, QLD, Australia03.2020
Certification
- Certificate IV Training and Assessment (TAE40116) – Inspire Education, March 2020
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) – Scrum Alliance, August 2013
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) – Cisco, August 2022
Accomplishments
- My Little Pony: Magic Princess – Lead Game Designer for a F2P mobile game with 50M+ players, celebrating its 12th anniversary in 2024.
- Tiberian Sun Rising – Game Director for a total conversion mod; earned multiple ModDB Awards, including Honourable Mention (Mod of the Year, 2019), Players' Choice (2018), and Best Upcoming Mod (2017).
- ClickUp Verified Power User – Ranked in the top 10% globallyfor productivity and collaboration (November 2023).
- Global Game Jam Melbourne – Recognized with Best Game(Check Mates, 2014) and Judges' Favourite(Whip Frog, 2011).
Affiliations
- International Game Developers Association (IGDA)
- Global Game Jam (GGJ)
- Game Industry Gathering (GIG)
Hobbies
- Baking: Enjoy experimenting with recipes, combining creativity with precision.
- Karate: Dedicated to discipline and continuous self-improvement.
- Reading: Focused on personal growth and staying updated with industry trends.
- Traveling: Appreciate diverse cultures and experiences, enhancing adaptability.
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
Product Owner - Game Features (Unreal, C++ SDK)
mod.io
05.2023 - 07.2024
External Game Assessor
Screenwest
02.2023 - 03.2023
Game Development & ICT Teacher (Programming)
Box Hill Institute
05.2020 - 05.2023
Producer & Engagement Designer
Immutable
08.2018 - 02.2019
Product Manager - Mobile
Wooga
04.2015 - 09.2015
Lead Game Designer
PikPok
02.2014 - 01.2015
Project Manager
Appster
01.2013 - 12.2013
Game Design Advisor (Volunteer)
Wander
12.2012 - 05.2014
Lead Game Designer
Gameloft
03.2011 - 08.2012
Game Director (Mod Project)
Tiberian Sun Rising
12.2007 - Current
Bachelor of Multimedia Software Development - Game Design And Interactive Media
Swinburne University of Technology
Certificate IV TAE40116 - Training and Assessment
Inspire Education
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), August 2022
- Certified Scrum Product Owner Scrum Alliance August 2013
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