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I help teams quickly create emotion-centered experiences that lead to positive change. My games, team building events, and educational activities have helped thousands of players to connect, learn, and grow. You can reach me on LinkedIn. Here are some projects I've worked on:

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Starlight

2D platformer enabling players to confront themes of change, loss, and death in a aesthetically distanced and safe sci-fi platformer.

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Roles: Writer, Gameplay Designer, Developer

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Tools: Pico 8, Lua, Aesthetic Distance

Player Feedback: "Playing Starlight reminded me that loss and change are okay because that's part of the cycle of life."

 

"The double-jump mechanic's floating nature really sucked me in."

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Play In Browser​

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Read Retrospective

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Repair 

Crew

Multiplayer VR experience empowering young players and first time users to experience wonder together.

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​Roles: Writer, Gameplay Designer​​, Producer

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Tools: Clear Documentation, Narrative Transportation,  Emotion Centered Design

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Testimonial: "Nick's documentation enabled us to stay in alignment while working toward a very tight deadline."
 

Peter Buskir 

Designer/Developer

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The World Sim

400 player simulation helping players to understand the historical processes that shape the world using a live-action role playing game.

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Roles: Gameplay Designer, Facilitator

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Tools: Paper Prototyping, Transformative Learning, Fruit Loops

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Testimonial: "Nick’s energy and enthusiasm was a key reason for the World Sim’s success as it gained international recognition."

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Michael Wesch

Anthropology Professor and Serious Game Designer

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Read About in the New York Times

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Falling Up

Creating empathy and understanding around aging and Alzheimer's disease.

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Guiding undergraduate students through ethnography and game design.

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Roles: Developer, Writer, Mentor, Digital Ethnographer

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Tools: Unreal, Digital Ethnography, Transformative Learning​

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Testimonial: "Nick became our go-to guru for game design and we managed to build a fantastic three dimensional game in a single semester that was listed in Blackwell’s 10 best class artifacts of 2015."

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Micheal Wesch

Anthropology Professor and Serious Game Designer

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Meal Sharing

Online platform connecting travelers and locals for home-cooked meals all across the world.

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Roles: Interaction Designer, User Researcher

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Tools: Paper Prototyping, Emotion Centered Design​

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Testimonial: "Nick helped grow Meal Sharing from the ground up and always challenged the team to think about the platform from different angles. Without his insight, we would not have been able to be where we are today."

 

Jay Savsani

Founder

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Happy Thoughts

Multiplayer online environment that brought players together to share happy thoughts during the heart of the Covid lockdown.

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Roles: Interaction Designer, Developer

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Tools: Javascript, P5JS, Node.js, InVision

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The Flying Bike Photo-Journalist Tour

Asheville bike tour that gives riders a more intimate connection with each other while reframing the aftermath of Hurricane Helene as a story of resilience and hope. 

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'Pokemon Snap - like' picture taking mechanics help players to connect with each other and their environment.

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Roles: Gameplay Designer, Writer

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Tools: Paper-Prototyping, Electric Bikes

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Testimonial: "Nick was clear with his design process and kept an excellent balance between listening to our needs and holding us accountable to the difficult task of working out the little details."

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Torin Kexel

Owner of The Flying Bike

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The Flying Dutchman

Narrative-driven escape room that facilitates bonds between teams and families while immersing them in a romantic pirate escape room adventure.

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Roles: Gameplay Designer, Puzzle Designer, Writer

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Tools: Paper Prototyping, Narrative Transportation, Emotion Centered Design​

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