Reed Miller
ANIAM: A Pre-Production CapstoneddddddMIMICRY
Mimicry is an in-development stealth action game that I am currently working on as a member of Icarus Alpha Development. As part of the development team, one area I am responsible for was the design of the tutorial level. The goal of the design was to simply introduce the basic mechanics of movement to the player in a linear and easy-to-approach manner, segregating the level into sections that focus on individual mechanics, which grow more complex as the player moves through the level.Official Paper Map, detailing the initial design of the levelIteration 1: Simple Blockout detailing level path and obstaclesIteration 2: Implementing Terrain and Refining ObstaclesIteration 3: Implementing Procedural Foliage and More Complex TerrainPaper Map and Blockout Progress
Mechanic Design
Another area of development I was tasked with was the engineering of certain mechanics available to the player. This included creating a throw input that allowed the player to throw any grabbed objects, with it being fully functional and potentially incorporating a distance visual feature in the future. I also was responsible for developing an interaction system in which the player could interact with items and NPCS.
Throwing MechanicInteraction System: Opening/Closing a DoorMechanics Progress
About Me
Reed Miller is an undergraduate senior at the University of Texas at Dallas, majoring in Arts, Technologies and Emerging Communications with a concentration in Games and Animation, as well as minoring in Business Administration.
Reed is flexible in his approach to game design, having experience in concept art, level design, narrative design, and game design and playtesting. He is also a great team-worker and a profound communicator, willing to work on anything that needs to be done.
Artist Statement
When I brainstorm ideas for content, my initial plan consists of simply studying history. I approach ideas through my interest in history, and through that search, I come up with ideas that may not just express my heritage but also explore ideas unheard and unseen. I do this to evoke a sense of relaxation, a way to express my feelings in a way that draws me away from the stresses of modern life. The medium that resonates with me the most is digital 2D art, uniting a love for both drawing and electronics.
My work is inspired by the Expressionist movement of the early 20th century, which reflects my beliefs in adding emotion in my work. When it comes to subject matter, I like to create my versions of cultures that I’m familiar with, as a means to express those cultures and inspire people to learn more about them. My ideas usually stem from traditional artworks of various cultures, which I use not just as inspiration but as a baseline for authenticity and staying true to the ideas of the people who created such works. Lastly, I hope that my projects lead people to learn more about underrepresented cultures around the world and to truly explore what lies beyond our cultural bubble here in the West.