Hello! I’m Alex.

I’m a software engineer in the game industry, primarily focused on development tools and maintainable systems.

I have a bachelors degree in computer science from the University of Texas at Austin, and I’ve been making games since 2019.

My goal is to make cool things that help you make cool things.

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About Me

How I go about my work and some of the skills I have gained so far.

My Approach

Attentiveness

I believe the best thing you can do as a developer is listen to your team and understand their workflow. When you can understand how they do what they do, it becomes easy to find ways to make that process more easy and enjoyable for them.

Iteration

Workflows, needs, and goals will evolve over the course of a project. Because of that, I put emphasis not only on creating useful tools and systems, but making sure that I can build upon them so that they continue to meet the needs of the developers.

My Skills

Languages:

C++, C#, TypeScript, Java, PostgreSQL, Python

Software:

Unity, Unreal, Git, GitHub, JetBrains IDEs, Perforce, Jira

Practices:

Agile, Waterfall, Communication, Documentation

Professional Projects

A sample of the projects that I have worked on in a professional context.

Omni One SDK

Company: Virtuix

Date: Oct 2023 - Sep 2024

Description: Omni One is a VR platform that includes a 360 degree treadmill harness. The Omni One SDK is the set of plugins that game developers use to port their Unity or Unreal projects onto the platform.

My Role: When I was a software engineer at Virtuix, I was responsible for implementing the SDK plugins for Omni One alongside my team of two fellow developers. My accomplishments on this project were:

  • Implemented new features within the Unreal and Unity versions of the SDK, including movement input integration, achievement tracking, and in-app purchases

  • Created automated unit and integration tests for new features

  • Collaborated with users of the SDK to assist development and troubleshoot issues

  • Built and maintained a publicly-accessible documentation website using Docusaurus and Doxygen

Results: When we released the SDK to the public, multiple studios began integrating it into their games. We received positive feedback that noted the helpful guides in the documentation and intuitiveness of implementing features.

Bubble Punks

Company: Merge Conflict Studio

Date: Nov 2023 - Apr 2024 (Contract)

Description: Bubble Punks is the working title for an exciting momentum-based 3D action platformer created by Merge Conflict Studio that centers around using bubbles to bounce through levels and capture enemies. Currently still in development, the game is not yet publicly available.

My Role: As a technical contractor for the project, I worked alongside a small team of engineers to architect and implement major gameplay systems. My accomplishments were:

  • Created a configurable and extensible state machine system for the player package in Unity, encompassing both traversal and combat behavior

  • Set up and maintained version control for the project using GitHub

  • Iterated upon systems as needs evolved to increase effectiveness and ease of use for the studio's designers and artists

Results: The studio showcased a vertical slice of the game at GDC Play 2024, where it was praised for its fluid movement, engaging combat, and unique mechanics. Further development on the project is in progress.

Personal Projects

A sample of the projects that I have worked on in my free time.

For details on these projects and more, including game jam submissions, check out my itch.io page!

Draggin’

Date: Jan 2025 - Present

Description: Draggin is an arcade-style action game that centers around clicking and dragging a magic selection box to defeat waves of enemies.

My Role: I am the systems architect and lead engineer for Draggin. Some of my accomplishments on this project so far have been:

  • Architected event driven gameplay systems to allow ease of access to information project-wide without tight coupling of dependencies

  • Created a robust player upgrade system that allows for quick and flexible upgrade implementation

  • Built a save and load system paired with a save editor wizard to speed up debugging

Results: Draggin is currently in development and is slated for release in Q3 of 2025. Beta testers have complimented the game on its engaging mechanics, polished art, and addictive game loop.

Steam Page: here.

Puncherman!

Date: Jan 2023 - May 2023

Description: Puncherman! is a "Comedy Physics Dad Simulator" where the player completes fatherly chores in an open environment, equipped only with the ability to punch.

My Role: I made a small-scope version of the concept alongside two fellow programmers and a 3D artist. My primary accomplishments were:

  • Implemented the core punching mechanic including physics and animation

  • Designed a modular hierarchy of “Punchable” components to allow dynamic environmental interactions

  • Oversaw playtests and incorporated player feedback into gameplay

Results: We released Puncherman! on Steam and garnered positive reviews which cited the game’s fun gameplay and charming tone. The project is currently on hiatus, but we are likely to revisit the concept on a greater scale in the future.

Steam Page: here.

HeartStrung

Description: HeartStrung is a 3D puzzle platformer centered around novel movement dynamics, with a charming comicbook narrative. The player is connected to an immobile character, which can only move by being thrown. This movement constraint allows interesting platforming and puzzle dynamics to arise.

My Role: I made this game as the capstone project of my bachelors degree in computer science at the University of Texas, Austin. I was a member of a 6-person team and my main accomplishments were:

  • Designed and iterated upon the “throw” mechanic central to the game’s puzzles

  • Developed a modular event-driven state machine used for the player character and their immobile companion

  • Created and maintained the team’s version control using GitHub

  • Oversaw playtesting and iterated upon gameplay based on player feedback

Results: When the project was complete, we uploaded Windows and Android versions to Itch.io and displayed it at a student games showcase. The game received positive feedback on its story, puzzle design, and smooth movement feel.

Itch.io Link: here

Date: Jan 2023 - May 2023