Dyala Kattan-Wright
Game Designer
I am a game designer with experience in everything from systems and level design to UI/UX and writing. Above all, I just love making cool things with cool people. I'm all about story, systems, and social game play, and I strive to always be learning and exploring new topics.
Work Experience
Senior Systems Designer, Monomi Park 2022 - present
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Working on Slime Rancher 2
Founder, Creative Director, Game Design, Echodog Games 2018 - present
Signs of the Sojourner (PC/Switch/Xbox/PlayStation)
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IGF Excellence in Design nominee 2021
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Edge Magazine Artisan Award winner 2020
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Golden Joystick Best Storytelling nominee 2020
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Dreamhack Anaheim Best RPG winner 2020
Creative Lead/Lead Game Designer, Nix Hydra Games December 2015 - June 2017
PuzzleScapes: Jigsaw Stories (iOS/Android - Puzzle Game)
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Led development team, driving creative direction and vision
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Managed schedules, priorities, tasks, and identified dependencies for designers, programmers, and artists
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Designed principal systems and provided direction and feedback on additional game systems, UI/UX, art, monetization, audio, content, and writing
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Worked with business strategy team and company founders to ensure design direction and creative vision aligned with overall company brand and goals
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Mentored and helped to grow junior talent
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Prototyped and pitched multiple game ideas to senior leadership
Egg! (iOS/Android – Co-op Pet Sim)
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Managed designers and led overall development team, driving creative direction and vision
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Coordinated with art and tech directors and project manager to set schedules, priorities, tasks, and identify dependencies
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Designed principal systems and provided direction and feedback on additional game systems, UI/UX, art, monetization, content, and writing
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Wire-framed user flows and UI for various features
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Analyzed live data to drive design decisions and monetization strategies
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Directed external audio contractor
The Arcana (iOS/Android - Visual Novel)
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Acted as project manager for team
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Dealt with legal and licensing requirements
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Set schedules and managed shared resources
Game Designer, Nix Hydra Games September 2014 - December 2015
Egg! (iOS/Android – Co-op Pet Sim)
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Designed or co-designed nearly all systems and features, including multiplayer pet adoption
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Designed, implemented, and balanced content and new egg pets
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Designed and balanced minigames and microgames
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Contributed to overall creative direction and branding
Egg Baby (iOS/Android - Pet Sim)
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Designed, implemented, and balanced content and new egg baby pets
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Designed and balanced minigames and microgames
Level Designer, Nickelodeon Games Group December 2012 - July 2014
Monkey Quest (PC - MMORPG)
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Designed and implemented levels in Unity 3D including enemies, puzzles, quests, NPCs, cameras, SFX, lights, tutorials, and multiplayer sections
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Designed and implemented new hazards and boosts for platforming sections
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Refactored quest flow, entirely overhauling the lower level quest progression and streamlining the new player experience
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Worked with the creative team to define and integrate an epic overarching story into the game world
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Collaborated with engineers to overhaul and expand level and content creation tools
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Maintained documentation for level and quest design and progression
Junior Game Designer, Nickelodeon Games Groups January 2011 - December 2012
Petpet Park (PC - MMORPG)
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Designed and implemented quests, NPCs, achievements, items and other content
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Contributed to the design and implementation of major game features including player owned pets, friends lists and activities, character leveling, a dynamic quest log, minigames, and more
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Collaborated with engineers to overhaul and expand quest and content creation tools
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Tracked and managed the virtual currency and experience economies
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Participated in designing and running weekly community events
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Maintained documentation for content, game economies, and system designs
Designer and Producer, Carnegie Mellon University August 2009 - May 2010
SurfaceScapes (Microsoft Surface Table - D&D)
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Worked on student team to create a system for Dungeons & Dragons on the Microsoft Surface Table
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Designed systems to accommodate the improvisational and narrative aspects of D&D
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Acted as producer for the team, maintaining schedules and tasks
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Maintained communication with professional partners, including Microsoft, Penny Arcade, and Wizards of the Coast
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Created sound effects to enhance the immersive nature of the system
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Presented the project at the Game Developers Conference in 2010
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Presented the project at the Penny Arcade Expo East in 2010
QA Tester, EA Mobile November 2007 - June 2008
Various Projects
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Tested EA Mobile games on a variety of handheld devices
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Wrote detailed bug reports and feature requests
Design Intern, Sony Online Entertainment January 2007 - August 2007
EverQuest Online Adventures (PS2 - MMORPG)
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Designed and implemented quests, items, and abilities
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Wrote quest documentation and project reports
Education
Carnegie Mellon University, Entertainment Technology Center Pittsburgh, PA - 2010
Master in Entertainment Technology: an interdisciplinary master's degree focused on project groups and rapid prototyping of entertainment experiences
University of Califonia, San Diego San Diego, CA - 2007
Bachelor of Arts, Literatures in English
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Secondary specialization in Italian literature