ARROW HEADS

ESAC - Winner of Best Student Game in Canada (2016)

Arrow Heads began as a student project in early 2015 and, after winning both local (Level Up – Toronto) and national (ESAC) competitions, was released as a commercial product on Steam in late 2017. Our success led us to showcase the game at E3, PAX East, and PAX West.

During this time, I had the opportunity to pitch Arrow Heads live on the Twitch stage. Shortly after I assisted in negotiating a deal with an arcade company to create a cabinet version. It was tested in arcades across North America and China, marking a pivotal moment for our team. This experience ultimately led to the founding of OddBird Studio, the first of two indie startups I helped co-found.

Responsibilities

Co-developed gameplay mechanics and progression of arena and arcade modes.
Designed isometric levels that encouraged circular movement around arena stages.
Recorded, analyzed, and distilled player feedback during playtesting to inform future gameplay changes.
Pitched game to publishers and industry professionals during Pax West, including on the live Twitch stage.

Learnings

Gained valuable experience in team collaboration, recognizing the importance of clear and concise communication within a fast-paced development environment.
Learned the value of gathering player feedback at public and live events. Player insights provide honest, actionable data that can guide and refine future design decisions.
Realized that student game success doesn't automatically translate to market success. Upon release, a game must stand on its own merit, regardless of the team's background, underscoring the need for a polished, credible product.