Hello, I'm Ethan.
Programmer, Technical Designer, Designer
Ever since I was a kid I was creating things, whether they were card games, writing stories, coming up with game ideas, or designing superhero gadgets. It wasn't until high school when it really dawned on me that my entire life I had been moving towards the path of a creative pursuit. That is when I decided I wanted to make video games.
In order to achieve this, I moved to Florida to attend UCF, and got a B.S. in Computer Science. Afterwards I went to FIEA to get an M.S. in Interactive Entertainment as a Technical Designer. I find creativity in how I program solutions to problems, and I see the technical limitations behind the designs I work on. Whether I am programming or designing, I find ways to use both of those skills to add my own unique blend to any project I am on.
My dream is one of creation, and I plan to one day be the Creative Lead of a company. I also plan to eventually retire by making my own indie game company and making a few games that I have dreamed about for a long time.
Technical Designer Definition
As the term Technical Designer is not the most stable of a definition across the industry, I am hesitant to refer to myself exclusively as a Technical Designer. Here is how I define myself:
I know how to program and I know how to solve problems the same as a programmer, except I also understand design and with that know how my changes and features will impact the broader aspect of a game. I can build more robust systems by knowing the future needs of the project, and I can better identify when a task as written does not match the task as intended. I can plan my work smarter to save time on the task, and to save time in the future as the task will be completed with consideration of future needs and modifications.
Leadership
Throughout my days, I have been seeking positions of leadership, working with Lockheed Martin during my Undergrad as the Sponsor Liaison, working with the the 338th Training Squadron of the United States Air Force as the Project Lead, and attempting to get into any other leadership role I could find. I like working with others, and I will always look for the next rung on the ladder towards my inevitable goal as the Creative Lead of a company.
Fedoras
Look, you made it this far reading, might as well reveal a fun fact about me. And potentially my biggest flaw. I have perhaps an unnecessary amount of Fedoras. I got into the style in High School, and enjoyed wearing them and collecting a few for a good year before I even learned of all the stereotypes. What can I say, Neal Caffrey from the show White Collar looked good in one so I got my first one at a Hard Rock Cafe in Baltimore after my dad offered to buy it as a gift. At the time of writing this fun paragraph, I have over a hundred. Judge me as you wish, I have no regrets.