Jénilson Martins Da Silva

I'm a Game Designer who gets their hands dirty in-engine. I have experience with player abilities, cameras and other systems for released projects in Unreal Engine using visual scripting. I love working on character-action games where players' dexterity and skill are actively challenged.

Currently studying at Breda University of Applied Sciences, Looking for an internship in the 2024/2025 academic year

Pango

Pango is a 3D skill-based platformer made in Unreal Engine 5.1 where you play as an android pangolin where you can roll around in levels at high speed & do classic platforming. I worked on character abilities and camera systems using blueprints and project management in this student project.

Role: Technical Game Designer

Development Time: 8 Weeks

Responsibilities:

Designed a High-level overview of the 3Cs.
Designed and developed Camera Systems to improve character feel.
Designed and implemented the Ground Pound mechanic for a more complex moveset.
Implement Audio systems.

Write & manage a Game Design Overview.
Coach the team to follow Scrum processes.
Oversee the QA processes and review the build quality.
Make trailers for Marketing.

Crash Bandicoot 3Cs Remake

Created with a Pre-Production mindset in Unreal Engine 5.1, I reversed engineered the character controller and Camera from the "Crash Bandicoot N'sane trilogy" and developed a demo level for a 3D platformer to prove how simple it is to work with the in-engine features created.

Role: Technical Designer

Development Time: 8 Weeks

Responsibilities:

Implement the full character behaviour using blueprints.
Made a "drag & drop" Camera system that is easy to use.
Refine metrics and user experience through playtests.
Made attack hitboxes that are paired with animations.
Create production-ready feature documentation.

Documented engine research and approach.
Address workflow issues based on developer feedback.
Resolve technical problems using research and new engine tech.
Implement character animations via IK Retargeting.

Quake Map - Interdimensional Castle

This is a single-player Quake map I made in Trenchbroom, set in a gothic-inspired castle. This was created to be an engaging 3D playspace where a player gets immersed into a Lovecraftian level through FPS combat.

Role: Level Designer

Development Time: 8 weeks

Responsibilities:

Ensure level accessibility, understanding, and appropriate difficulty.
Document and iterate playtest results weekly.
Prototype the level in a Gym Level.

Develop level design concepts with diagrams.
Design gameplay spaces that optimize game mechanics and features.
Integrate Quake gameplay elements post-blockout.

Shred Off | In Development

In this 3rd-person action, snowboarding shooter made in UE5, the player performs stylish tricks in the Alaskan mountains while gunning down enemies. Shred down the mountain on your snowboard to get a high score while competing against your friends!

Role: Technical Game Designer

Projected Development Time: ~32 weeks

Responsibilities:

Prototype systems for the game's concept.
Design and implement a Trick system that ties into the combat.
Design and develop a scoring system that tracks the player's total score and combo score.
Write feature documents that outline the functionality and intended experience.

Document the game's direction with frameworks like design pillars & game loops.
Presenting the project in front of large audiences during progress updates.
Collaborate with outsourced artists for game assets.
Lead scrum rituals and other artefacts of production.

Promotional Material for the game Shred Off.

Screenshot from Pango, a project found on my itch page.

Check out my Other Projects and Game Jams

GET IN TOUCH

Image of myself (Jénilson Martins Da Silva) in a garden

jenilsonmds@hotmail.com

View my CV

About me

I'm a student at Breda University of Applied Sciences, passionately pursuing "Game Design & Production" due to my love for games. Fueled by my enthusiasm for video games, I dedicate myself to learning about the process and how to build experiences that have a lasting impression on the player.

As a designer, I enjoy creating gameplay experiences, testing them, and gathering direct feedback from players to enhance the system. I have strong presentation skills and can effectively communicate ideas to large audiences. My well-structured documentation provides clear information about features and research. Above all, I'm dedicated to learning and expanding my knowledge of the industry and game development, hungry for feedback and ways I can improve myself and the features I'm building.

Besides a passion for video games, I enjoy listening to music ranging from hip-hop to Drum and Bass, watching anime, going to concerts and being around friends as an extrovert. When I'm at home, I enjoy reading detective/mystery books as well as books about design.