top of page

CV

About Me

I've always been a gamer so when I got the chance to work at Dambuster Studios at the end of 2018 it was a dream come true. I've worked there for 6 years now in the QA department working from Tester to Senior Technician. I now lead a scrum group of Technicians and run a team that is focusing on Level Design testing. In 2021 I worked a secondment in the Level Design team working on Dead Island 2 where I used UE4 to create gameplay spaces across multiple levels. 

​​​​​

In 2022 I was invited to join members from Dambuster Studios to multiple events to advertise Dead Island 2 in the run up to it's launch. I attended a private event in London, GamesCom in Cologne, supervising journalists in the studio, and PAX East in Boston USA. I was proud to be asked to these events as it showed that the studio appreciated the work that I do. 

Professional Experience

Level Design (Secondment)
Dambuster Studios

October 2021 - December 2021

Dambusters_Logo.png

​​​​​

  • Using UE4 to develop interesting and memorable game play spaces like open world exploration rooms and enemy setups

  • Frequently playing my own content and actioning feedback to refine the experience

  • Collaborated with developers from other disciplines to implement new ideas

    • Worked with a programmer to create a setup where a specific enemy type would spawn depending on the player progress through the crit path

  • Using Adobe PhotoShop to create 2D maps

  • Regularly updating my seniors with the progress I'd made

  • Following correct processes when submitting work

  • Participated in review meetings

Senior QA Technician (Embedded LD) - March 2023 -> Present
QA Technician (Embedded LD) - July 2020 -> March 2023
QA tester - December 2018 -> July 2020
Dambuster Studios

Dambusters_Logo.png

 

Embedded LD​:

  • Leading a small team of QA technicians

    • Assigning tasks, providing feedback, solving problems, liaising with other departments, reporting to leads etc.

  • Working closely with the Level Design team (and others)

    • Providing high quality feedback​ on player experiences, emotions, pacing and other aspects

    • Creating task work to specifications​ and providing accurate time estimations

    • Liaising with Lead and Senior Level Designers

  • Creating a pipeline for information back to the QA team and delivering reports to leads on work we've carried out

    • Keeping documentation up to date

  • Attending regular meetings with Level Designers, producers, directors etc. 

​​​​​​​​

Senior QA:

  • Leading a Scrum Group

    • Helping to improve, train and guide them

    • Perform annual appraisals and monthly 1-2-1 meetings

  • Planning upcoming work, organising and assigning tasks

  • Regular tasks from my Leads, completed in a timely manner to a high quality

  • Developing new processes including; reports, test plans, spreadsheets, e-mails, etc.​

  • QA duties involving play tests, bug logging / reproducing, ad hoc tasks etc.

    • Using a keen eye, determination, persistence and communication, liaising with other developers if required to investigate tougher issues

    • Working to tight deadlines providing consistent, high quality, results even during busy periods

    • Participating in cross departmental meetings, focusing from a QA perspective​​​​

​

​​​​​

  • ​Fast learner with software's and computer programs/systems

  • Willingness to learn and not to be afraid to ask for help

  • Leadership capabilities

  • Embrace a holistic approach to design

  • Efficiently work alone or as part of a team

  • Punctual, honest, good time management

  • Good communication skills

  • Happy and always willing to help a colleague

  • Use my own initiative

  • Well-mannered with a can-do attitude

Skills

​​​​

  • Industry experience in Level Design​

  • Proficient with UE5, both at work and personal projects​​

  • White box to a high standard

  • Scripting with Blueprints in UE5

  • Professional level QA Bug Reporting (6 years)

    • Able to Debug own work​

  • Ability to maintain multiple documents to high standards

  • Proficient with Adobe Photoshop

  • Design document experience (University projects, exposure to them at work)

  • Presentation experience

  • 2.2 Degree in Computer Games Design and Production

Technical Skills

Characteristics

Hobbies and Interests

 
Level Design Projects
By now I'm sure it is clear, but in my spare time, as well as playing games, I like to create level design projects in Unreal Engine 5. Some of my work is present here in my Portfolio. If you haven't already, please do have a look.

Elden Ring
I'm currently playing through Elden Ring on PC. I have both a solo and co-op session going with a group of friends. When playing with friends we have lots of fun seeing each other fail and enjoying the moment when we finally prevail over a tough opponent! 

When I'm playing solo I take my time to enjoy the design of the game. The fact that you can see for miles, the large buildings and landmarks in the distance that I know I will reach at one point, the way the game tricks you into tricky situations are all so fun to explore. I remember a moment when I was lured onto a small island in a swamp by a group of weak enemies, feeling ready to easily dispatch them, only a moment later to be ambushed by a dragon! 

Badminton
I play badminton for a local club, Carlton Badminton Club, where I have played for approx. 8 years. I really enjoy the sport and the social aspect of being in a club, the people are really fun and make each game enjoyable. This year I am playing in the Premier Division in Nottingham which has so far proven to be an enjoyable experience. 

In my first match, me and my partner managed to come the closest of the 3 pairs to winning a match, which felt like a great achievement as this was my first premier division standard match.

My Son, Jude
In February 2020, just before covid locked down England, I was graced with a son, Jude. It wasn't an easy job raising him through the lockdown, but me and my wife Jen enjoyed seeing our little baby grow into the cheeky boy he is today. He has such a fun personality and always makes us laugh with his cheeky antics and jokes. 

I am slowly starting to build his interest in games and he already loves to play Rocket League, Sonic, Mario Kart and Open TTD (Transport Tycoon Delux). Open TTD is played on the PC and the aim of the game is to build a transport empire using land, air and water vehicles. Jude can now use the mouse to navigate the UI and enjoys nothing more than building his own railways, only to blow them up with the bomb tool! 

He is slowly getting to grips with a controller for Mario Kart and Rocket League, but he is more than happy watching himself on the replay after a goal is scored, or driving around a track with steering assist enabled. 

Thomas Clarke Portfolio

tintin976@hotmail.com

  • alt.text.label.LinkedIn
GoogleDrive.png

©2022 by Thomas Clarke Portfolio. Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page