Mark Rivera :D

I design levels and systems that make games feel good to play.

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I graduated with Honours from Vancouver Film School's Game Design program in 2025. My final project, Train Wreck, shipped on Steam and was nominated for Best Student Game at the Unity Awards 2025 — one of three VFS titles nominated that year.

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On Train Wreck I served as Level Designer, Systems Designer, and Project Manager across a 7-month production cycle with a 6-person cross-discipline team. I designed 4 levels with progressive mechanic introduction, built tutorialization sequences through environmental design, and balanced difficulty using ScriptableObject variables iterated across playtests.

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Before that, on Calamity Chasm with Shoutout Studios, I designed a vertical arena that won Best Team Project at VFS.

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I think about games holistically, how a level's layout shapes player behavior, how a system's variables change the emotional tone, how a design decision in one area creates problems or opportunities in another. That's the work I love.

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What I'm currently working on:

Psych Walk — Level Designer (Single Use Games, May 2025–present)

Unannounced 3D Platformer — Systems Designer, Level Designer, Lead QA (Aug 2025–present)

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Tools: Unity · Unreal Engine · Maya · Figma · Miro · Photoshop

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I'm open to full-time, contract, and remote opportunities. Reach out at markus.riv16@gmail.com

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— Mark