Matt Ware, Game Programmer

Ecoscape

2

2023

3 Months

UE5

Created with an artist partner, Ecoscape lets the player create their own animal habitat. It features procedural generation, a designer-accessible data-driven design, and many custom-built AIs.

Used Unreal Engine's procedural mesh API to create dynamic terrain, fences, and other visualisations.
Used custom data assets to easily create new items, including editor tools to automatically generate icons, significantly increasing productivity, especially for my partner.
Integrated external libraries (FastNoiseLite) into an Unreal C++ project.
Created many AI behaviours and animation graphs for different animals.
View the source code here.

Pirate Survivors

9

2024

4 Months

UE5

As the sole programmer, I worked with artists and designers to create a multiplayer survivors-like. I created systems to smoothly replicate thousands of actors, and editors for designers to easily create upgrades without code.

Used Unreal Engine and C++ to create a multiplayer survivors-like.
Worked with designers to create systems to rapidly iterate on weapon types and upgrades with properties and blueprint code.
Used Unreal Engine's reflection system to create dynamic upgrades that can upgrade any property on a player or weapon.
Created a custom system to replicate thousands of XP objects smoothly.
Created a lobbying interface that leveraged the Steamworks API.
Implemented multiple multiplayer-aware AI behaviours.
View the source code here.

Echoes Of Serenity

Solo

2024

4 Days

C#/Raylib

For a week-long university game jam, I created a top-down survival game in C# and Raylib. With no engine, I had to create a tilemap renderer, world generator, UI system, audio system, and all the games content and art. The game received the most ambitious idea award and impressed industry professionals in attendance.

Created a 2D procedurally generated survival game solo in 4 days with Raylib and C#.
Used a data-driven approach to rapidly add new tiles and items.
Created an easy-to-use UI system on top of Raylib.
Shared ideas with and tested the games of fellow developers during the week-long jam.
View the source code here.

Chemicode

Solo

2023

2 Months

UE5

Created to a brief for an educational game, Chemicode simulates chemical interactions. A player can complete an assignment with physical actions, or with a script created in a custom drag-and-drop scripting language created for the game in C++. I also created all the art.

Created a custom block-based visual scripting UI and virtual machine in C++ to facilitate a unique gameplay mechanic for a chemistry puzzler.
Created data models to easily implement interactions between different chemicals.
Stuck to deadlines and hosted playtests to gather information on what should be changed.
Created models in Blender and textured them in Substance Painter.
View the source code here.

PAPI

5

2024

3 Months (Ongoing)

C++ / OpenGL

An ongoing project for my second year, this project is a multiplayer 2D shooter. It features a custom OpenGL renderer with batching and instancing, Steamworks-based networking, a C++ reflection system, and FMOD audio. I also manage the project.

Helped write a multiplayer 2D game in C++ from the ground up.
Wrote a renderer in OpenGL, featuring batched rendering, instanced tilemap rendering, and MSDF text rendering.
Implemented multiplayer features with Steamworks, including encoding and decoding binary messages, and creating a basic C++ reflection system that processes header files using C#.
Held weekly stand-ups to track progress with teammates, help resolve roadblocks, and assign tasks.
View the source code here.

2D Games

Solo / 3

2022

2-3 Months

GameMaker

During my college course, I wrote multiple 2D games in GameMaker. One was a top-down survival horror, and the other a character-switching puzzle platformer.