PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
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Multiple years of game design experience specializing in online multiplayer, UX and system design
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Proven leader with Design Director, Lead Designer and Product Owner experience on multiple titles
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Adept at crafting, promoting and integrating new design processes and documents for design teams
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Well versed in coordinating, scheduling, and executing features across multiple game teams and disciplines
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Experienced in managing and mentoring designers at various degrees of skill and responsibilities
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Proficient in the practices of prototyping, playtesting and iteration of features
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Familiarity with programming concepts, tools (Unity and UE 5) and languages (C++ and C#)
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Numerous interactions with media and PR through interviews and public speaking
HARD SKILLS
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Confluence
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Figma
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Adobe Photoshop
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Adobe XD
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Unreal 5
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Unity
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C#
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C++
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Twine
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Perforce
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JIRA
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Microsoft Office
WORK EXPERIENCE
April - July 2024
Director of Design
Wolf Games - Madison, WI (Contract - Remote)
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Unannounced title (Mobile)
- Consulted on a startup venture using proprietary AI tools to facilitate the creation of content for a new gaming experience
- Helped guide and develop multiple UI and gameplay prototypes using Figma, Twine and Unity
2021 - 2024
Design Director
Lost Boys Interactive - Madison, WI (Remote)
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WWE 2K22, WWE 2K23 and WWE 2K24 (Console and PC)
- Collaborated with our client studio to translate their vision into creative pillars and deliverable features for the product
- ​Managed and/or directed a mixed team of 8 internal and client studio designers at varying degrees of seniority and responsibilities
- Established documentation and data implementation best practices to help create a standardized approach/vocabulary, which also facilitated the onboarding of new designers
- Handled the coordination of all task estimation, scheduling and backlog prioritization for the design team
- ​Worked with my team to identify friction points in our tools/processes, iterated on proposed solutions and addressed many resulting in significant time saving and quality of life gains
- Defined clear channels for transparent communication within the design team, between our team and other disciplines, as well as with stakeholders​​​
2019 - 2021
Senior Designer
PerBlue - Madison, WI (Hybrid)
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Disney Heroes: Battle Mode (Mobile)
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Lead Designer
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Responsible for both designing and overseeing the designs of multiple F2P mobile PvP and PvE features
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Managed and mentored 3 junior designers
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Part of the leadership team involved in the day-to-day prioritization and determination of the game’s creative direction
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2010 - 2018
Designer II
Electronic Arts - Orlando, FL (On-Site)
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2017 - 2018: NBA Live 19 (PS4 and XB1)
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Product Owner
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Pitched, designed and coordinated the implementation of a new asynchronous online multiplayer mode called Court Battles
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Constructed all UX wireframes, organized usability testing and iterated based on UXR results
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Developed all core systems including asynchronous matchmaking, rules of engagement, short / long term compulsion loops and rewards
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2015 - 2017: NBA Live 18 (PS4 and XB1)
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Lead Online Designer and Product Owner
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Orchestrated a new online live-service feature called “LIVE Events” including post-launch tools
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Crafted and facilitated the creation of a new single player campaign mode called “Pro-Am Tour”
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Collaborated on a game-wide messaging system used for objectives, rewards and notifications
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2014 - 2015: NBA Live 16 (PS4 and XB1)
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Lead Online Designer and Product Owner
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Designed an entirely new cooperative and competitive online multiplayer experience called “LIVE Pro-Am”, which was used as the marketing focal point for NBA LIVE 16
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2013 - 2014: Madden NFL 15 (PS4 and XB1)
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Lead Online Designer and Product Owner
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Devised a supplemental matchmaking system to classify users based on their playing habits to address the issue of online toxicity in our competitive H2H mode
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Responsible for drafting and evangelizing the long term creative direction of online features
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2012 - 2013: Madden NFL 25 (PS4, XB1, PS3 and 360)
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Lead Online Designer and Product Owner
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Successfully designed and directed the resources for a progression based online competitive multiplayer feature within our live-service mode, Madden Ultimate Team and consulted on the same feature for NCAA 14
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Spearheaded the designs for all core systems required on each of the new 1st party platforms
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Established new processes for the Online and Social Features team which resulted in increased efficiency, accountability and team morale
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Coordinated the feature work, schedule and backlog management for a satellite team
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2012: Madden NFL 13 (Wii-U)
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Lead Game Designer
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Directed all creative decision making, priority determination and the presentation of these to studio leadership
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Redesigned, prototyped and playtested changes to core gameplay interfaces in order to fully utilize the advantages of the Wii-U’s unique controller
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Mentored two junior designers for the duration of the project
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2010 - 2012: NFL Blitz (XBLA and PSN)
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Lead Game Designer
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Responsible for all creative decision making and priority determination
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Designed the entire online ecosystem including three unique competitive multiplayer experiences, an in-game economy and a storefront to compliment them
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Managed and maintained the schedule and backlog for the online team and occasionally the entire NFL Blitz team
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2008 - 2010
Designer I
Electronic Arts - Orlando, FL (On-Site)
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2009 - 2010: Madden NFL 11 (360 and PS3)
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Online Designer
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Owned the complete design of a major online multiplayer feature, Team Play
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Organized extensive amounts of prototyping and playtesting to fine tune the Team Play feature
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Coordinated a team of various disciplines to create the Madden NFL 11 demo including some unique viral marketing features
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2008 - 2009: Madden NFL 10 (Wii)​
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Re-designed, prototyped and guided the implementation of a more intuitive way for users to interact with Madden gameplay and UI using the Wii controller
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Undertook the design and playtesting of multiple core features and screens
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Worked to improve community relations by reaching out and initiating both controlled messages and free-form conversations on our forums
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2006 - 2008
Associate Designer
Electronic Arts - Orlando, FL (On-Site)
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2007 - 2008: Madden NFL 2009 (Xbox, PS2 and Gamecube)
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Responsible for the direction and design of all non-gameplay related features
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Utilized my programming background to help overcome the challenge of limited resources by learning our UI system in order to implement and debug new screens
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2006 - 2007: Madden NFL 2008 (Xbox, PS2 and Gamecube)
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Designed the core UX and systems of a major new feature, Fantasy Challenge
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2006 - Superman Returns: The Video Game (Xbox, PS2, 360, PS3)
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Responsible for the level design and implementation of all mini-game missions and objectives
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Implemented game features through the use of proprietary scripting tools
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Quality Assurance/Embedded Tester
Electronic Arts - Orlando, FL (On-Site)
2005 - 2006
EDUCATION
Full Sail University Winter Park, FL Graduated November, 2004
Associate of Science in Game Design and Development
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MADISON, WI 53718
PHONE: (407) 375-5880 • YURI.BIALOSKURSKY@GMAIL.COM