Connor Orton MA, BSc

Game Programmer/Designer

I am a graduate of Indie Game Production MA where I achieved a pass and I’m also a graduate of Games Production BSc where I achieved first class honours. My other educational achievements include diplomas in the subjects of 2D, 3D game development and ICT. I can write code in several programming languages including C#, C++ and Python alongside having experience with the latest industry standard software, source control and most up to date game engines. I am currently working on a couple of indie game projects in my own time that I plan on eventually publishing. I am always eager to learn and develop new skills required for any games development role.

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Game Portfolio

Kingdom of Eternia - RTS TD (Master's Dissertation)

Kingdom of Eternia is a RTS tower defense game written in C# and is being developed using Unity that I created for my master's degree disseration. It has evolved over the years from a tower defense focussed game to more emphasis on the RTS genre. The game features RTS elements such as unit hiring, controlling and combat alongside a unique tower building system that allows you to choose a tower and tower attachment to create useful combat combinations. The game also features a custom wrote A* pathfinding algorithm that is used for grid-based actions such as finding the shortest path and so on. It is being developed by myself and my partner who is a 2D artist and together we plan on publishing this to multi-platform stores. 

My main responsibilites are:
- Designing the various game concepts including the story and setting, gameplay systems and user interface
- Asset pipeline management with source control
- Engine asset & scene implementation
- Writing game system, user interface and gameplay scripts
- Building and exporting the game

All artwork created by Natalie Smith of Fine Chap Games.

Development Video

With Four Paws I Remain, Unity, C#

With Four Paws I Remain is a 2D adventure exploration game written in C# and created in Unity which features a cat on a journey to find the sea to hunt and survive in a world changed by climate change. It was created as part of a 2 week games jam and I have plans to develop it further in the near future. The game will feature platformer puzzles and cat-like antics such as hunting for food, meeting other cats and more.

All artwork created by Natalie Smith of Fine Chap Games.

Development Video

Blight of the Rose - Demo, Unity, C#

Blight of the Rose is a multi-platform 2D survival horror game demo developed in Unity and written in C#. It is being developed in a team of two. The game is set during an apocolpyse style event where a city is overrun by zombie-like beings. One of the main themes of the game is connectivity and the reliance on technology and this theme is featured heavily in the storyline as the player relies on their mobile phone and a modified respirator to survive and locate other survivors.

My main responsibilites are:
- Designing the various game concepts including the story and setting, gameplay systems and user interface
- Asset pipeline management with source control
- Engine asset & scene implementation
- Writing game system, user interface and gameplay scripts
- Lighting and rendering management using Unity's URP
- Building and exporting the game

First development preview below. Disclaimer: Most assets are placeholder and are expected to be changed before project finish. All artwork created by Natalie Smith of Fine Chap Games.

Development Video

Once Upon A Fantasy - Android Demo - Unity, C#

Once Upon A Fantasy is a pixel art 2D tower defense game demo developed in Unity and written in C# for android devices and PC. The game features building towers that are utilized to defend against waves of enemies. The player is able to build a tower base that buffs the tower and a tower weapon that fires projectiles towards enemies, combining these elements together will create devastating combat combos to claim victory against the opposing force.

My main responsibilites are:
- Designing the various game concepts including the story and setting, gameplay systems and user interface
- Asset pipeline management with source control
- Engine asset & scene implementation
- Writing game system, user interface and gameplay scripts
- Building and exporting the game

All artwork created by Natalie Smith of Fine Chap Games.

Development Update Video

Pixel Pinball Arcade - Unity, C# (2020)

Pixel Pinball Arcade is an android arcade game developed in Unity written in C# and released for free on the google play store. Inspired by the popular arcade machine pinball. The game was developed in a team of two which included myself and a 2D artist. This was my second project working in a team of two.

My main responsibilities were: 
- Designing the various game concepts which examples include gameplay systems and user interface 
- Asset pipeline management with source control
- Engine asset & scene implementation 
- Writing game system, menu and gameplay scripts 
- Audio development 
- Exporting and uploading to the play store

All artwork created by Natalie Smith of Fine Chap Games.

Pixel Pinball Arcade

Gameplay Video

RPG Mechanics Asset Pack - UE4 BP (2017)

Battle Beasts RPG Mechanics asset pack is a collection of RPG mechanics that was developed using Unreal Engine 4 with blueprint visual scripting. It was created as part as my programming module on my BSC Games Production undergraduate degree. The game mechanics included are inspired by the Pokemon game franchise. The main mechanics and systems the asset pack includes are:

- Combat system (Control your beasts against your opponent, use abilities and items to defeat them, features battles against npcs and random encounters.)
- Dialogue system (Features multi choice questions and multiple outcomes depending on dialogue choice.)
- In-Game database system (For showing the player what beasts exist in the game and if they have captured them)
- Engine System databases (To manage units, unit abilities, items etc.)
- Shop system (Combined with the dialogue system to allow the player to purchase items using currency from a merchant.)
- Bank system (Combined with the dialogue system to store player beasts in a unit storage)
- Trade system (Combined with the dialogue system to trade player beasts with NPCs.)
- Utility menu (To allow the player to access in-game database, beast team, inventory and options for game preferences.)
- Player unit progression (Beasts level up and learn new abilities depending on their level.)

Preview Video

Survival Training VR Simulation - UE4 BP (2017)

Survival Training VR is a virtual reality simulator demo was developed in Unreal Engine 4 with Unreal Blueprint as part as my BSC games production dissertation project where the intention was collating data on if the user can learn survival skills in virtual reality. After completing all tasks the player was informed how they did on the quiz to let them know if they learned from the simulation.

Preview Video

Isolation Complex - UE4 BP (2017)

Isolation complex is a short first person puzzle game demo developed in Unreal Engine 4 using Unreal Blueprint, it was created as part of my BSC Games Production as my dissertation project to collate data to see if players could play a game and solve puzzles under specific conditions I.E under a certain time, before I changed the idea topic. It features adventure and puzzle game elements where the player must solve a variety of logic puzzles to escape the room.

Gameplay Video

Once Upon a Castle - UE4 BP (2015)

Once Upon a Castle is a tower defense game demo that was developed in Unreal Engine 4 using Unreal Blueprint visual scripting as part as my Foundation Degree. It features real time player combat with enemy waves which damage player defenses, resource gathering, tower building which featured the base and the weapon selections and more.

Gameplay Video

Dash and Stack - Unity, C# (2015)

Dash and Stack is a complete android game developed in Unity and written in C# designed for older android phones. I developed this project with a friend and it was placed on the google play store for free. I co-designed the game and game modes. I implemented the user interface art assets and interaction scripts and implemented the audio whilst my friend wrote the various gameplay scripts.

Gameplay Video

I Am Alone - Ren'Py, Python (2015)

I Am Alone is a visual novel demo was developed in the Ren'Py engine as part as my level 3 extended diploma. Written in the python programming language. It has puzzle elements with a horror narrative feel where the player has to explore a mysterious underground facility solving various puzzles to find answers of who called them there.

Gameplay Video

Operation Health - Game Maker, GML (2012)

Operation Health is a 2D platformer demo that was developed using Game Maker written in GML as part of my level 2 creative media course as we were tasked to great a game with the topic of healthy living. It was used as my final major project during my level 2 creative technologies course. It features action platformer elements with a comedic narrative. The player must progress through the level whilst shooting and defeating enemies until they reach the end of the game.

Gameplay Video

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