Ed is available for hire
Hire EdEd Whitehead
Verified Expert in Engineering
Technical Designer and Game Developer
Southbank, Victoria, Australia
Toptal member since November 14, 2023
Bio
Ed is a seasoned technical designer and game developer with over a decade of hands-on experience. His expertise includes leading client-based projects and working as a solo developer and a senior lecturer in games education. Ed is proficient in Unreal Engine, Unity, C#, virtual production, as well as 3D asset production and implementation.
Portfolio
Aether Alchemist
3D Art, C#, Unity, Unreal Engine, Blender, Game Development, 3D Games
SAE Institute
3D Art, Adobe Photoshop, Blender, C#, Unity, Unreal Engine, Game Production...
Experience
- Game Programming - 15 years
- Game Design - 15 years
- 3D Art - 15 years
- Level Design - 12 years
- Unity - 10 years
- C# - 10 years
- Unreal Engine - 4 years
- Blender - 3 years
Preferred Environment
Unreal Engine, C#, Blender
The most amazing...
...project I've worked on was a game featuring an Unreal Engine-based executable and a Unity-based counterpart that seamlessly communicated between themselves.
Work Experience
Owner | Developer
2014 - PRESENT
Aether Alchemist
- Released multiple mobile games for Android and iOS.
- Engaged in contract work for various organizations, including the Alcohol and Drug Foundation and the Alex Theatre.
- Released 3D assets to the Unreal Engine Marketplace and Unity Asset Store.
Technologies: 3D Art, C#, Unity, Unreal Engine, Blender, Game Development, 3D Games
Senior Lecturer
2012 - PRESENT
SAE Institute
- Instructed courses on game design, art, and programming while supervising final projects.
- Developed new units and oversaw and aligned their delivery nationally.
- Assisted in managing an entire department of staff, which involved tasks such as delegating responsibilities, participating in hiring processes, and organizing and attending events.
- Led research and development working parties and provided reports on their findings.
Technologies: 3D Art, Adobe Photoshop, Blender, C#, Unity, Unreal Engine, Game Production, Game Design, Game Programming, University Teaching, Course Development, Game Development, 3D Games
Experience
The Other Forest | Global Game Jam 2022
https://aetheralchemist.itch.io/the-other-forestA game project centered around the theme of duality that was made for the 2022 Global Game Jam. Our concept involved a meta-commentary on game tools, resulting in the creation of a project that integrated both an Unreal Engine-based application and a Unity-based application that required seamless collaboration.
As a producer and programmer on this project, I coordinated the project while primarily focusing on developing the Unreal Engine application.
As a producer and programmer on this project, I coordinated the project while primarily focusing on developing the Unreal Engine application.
Planet B | Unreal MegaJam 2023
https://aetheralchemist.itch.io/planetbDeveloped in response to the theme "Antiquated Future" for Unreal MegaJam 2023 using Unreal Engine. Our approach encompassed mechanical and narrative angles, leading us to employ a side-profile point-and-click format reminiscent of classics like Monkey Island, a style not commonly seen nowadays. The narrative backdrop involved exploring what was believed to be an ancient ruin and finding evidence of a previous advanced civilization.
I took on the dual role of a producer and programmer, but I also contributed by creating character art and animation for the robot companion.
I took on the dual role of a producer and programmer, but I also contributed by creating character art and animation for the robot companion.
Streams | Mobile Game
A Unity-based mobile game originally conceived at Global Game Jam 2012 and later redeveloped for public release on Android in 2013.
I was primarily a programmer on this project but also managed the Android release and contributed to the design.
I was primarily a programmer on this project but also managed the Android release and contributed to the design.
Escape Vector | Mobile Game
A Unity-based mobile game that I developed and released in collaboration with another 3D artist and sound designer. I oversaw the design, programming, and its final release on the Android platform in 2014.
Arisk | Advergame
A 2D platforming game made under contract for a nonprofit organization, the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, as part of a campaign to reduce abuse of pharmaceutical painkillers. As the sole programmer for the project, I managed the game's release to Android, iOS, and Facebook.
Cyberfight | Short Film
A virtual production-driven short film shot on an LED stage at the Alex Theatre in St Kilda in 2021.
Beyond producing and starring in the film, I took on the task of crafting the environment backdrop in Unreal Engine, employing a combination of purchased and custom assets. Also, I undertook the editing process, ensuring the seamless culmination of the project. This multifaceted role allowed me to bring my creative vision to life and showcase the potential of virtual production techniques in filmmaking.
Beyond producing and starring in the film, I took on the task of crafting the environment backdrop in Unreal Engine, employing a combination of purchased and custom assets. Also, I undertook the editing process, ensuring the seamless culmination of the project. This multifaceted role allowed me to bring my creative vision to life and showcase the potential of virtual production techniques in filmmaking.
BloodRite | Animated Short Film
An animation created in Unreal Engine based on a script initially planned for the Unreal Short Film Competition and adapted to solo development when it was not accepted.
I worked on all motion capture animation, cleanup, environment construction, cinematography, sound, music, and final editing.
I worked on all motion capture animation, cleanup, environment construction, cinematography, sound, music, and final editing.
Lockdown Journey | To-do App for Mental Health
A Flutter-based app designed to help people manage their routines during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. It uses the narrative device of an interstellar journey and daily tasks on the ship to help gamify routine. Also, it has a Firebase back end for managing logins and tracking activity. The project's beta phase succeeded but did not reach full release before restrictions eased.
I oversaw both front- and back-end development, all art and design, and also managed TestFlight on iOS.
I oversaw both front- and back-end development, all art and design, and also managed TestFlight on iOS.
Education
2012 - 2013
Master's Degree in Creative Media – Animation and Interactive Media
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) - Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
2009 - 2011
Bachelor's Degree in Interactive Entertainment – Game Design
SAE Qantm College - Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Skills
Libraries/APIs
Facebook SDK
Tools
Adobe Photoshop, Substance Painter, Xcode, Blender, Perforce, DaVinci Resolve, Cockos REAPER, Jira, Git, Confluence
Frameworks
Unreal Engine, Unity, Flutter
Languages
C#, C++
Paradigms
Agile
Platforms
iOS, Android, Firebase
Storage
JSON
Other
Game Development, 3D Games, Game Design, Level Design, 3D Art, Game Production, Game Programming, Research, Character Rigging, Character Animation, 3D Character Modeling, Filmmaking, Acting, Production, Video Editing, Motion Capture, iClone, App UX, University Teaching, Course Development
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