Game Dev Lightning Talks at Tripwire Interactive

Name: Game Dev Lightning Talks at Tripwire Interactive
Start: 2025-09-09T18:00:00-04:00
Location: Tripwire Interactive

Schedule

Tue, 09 Sep, 2025 at 06:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

Tripwire Interactive | Roswell, GA

We are sorry that Tim Lindsey had to postpone his presentation on Elder Scrolls IV, but it gives you the chance to enjoy a number of presentations by some of Georgia’s veteran game developers. Think of this as a taste of what is to come at SIEGE in October.
Professional Progression Systems with Patrick Fram
Progression systems aren’t just about XP bars and unlocks; they are perhaps a designer’s most powerful tool for guiding player behavior. Drawing from my experience as Lead Progression Designer on XDefiant, this talk explores how progression system design and incentives can encourage teamwork, reduce toxic play, and keep players engaged. Attendees will learn practical, proven techniques for using progression design to subtly shape how players play, where they play, and how long they stay.
The Hybrid Role of Technical Design with Brandon Moss
This session breaks down what a Technical Designer actually does, how the role varies from studio to studio, and the skills you can develop to move toward this career path. Even if Technical Design isn’t your goal, you’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of how it strengthens collaboration across teams, improves development pipelines, and ultimately makes for better games—for developers, managers, and players alike.
How to be an Effective Games Artist (a.k.a. How to NOT Drive Producers and Engineers Crazy) with Ezra Kirsch
Building a successful career as an artist requires many skills. Beyond proficiency in your craft, you must have a talent for networking, the ability to market yourself with confidence, and a professional yet personable personality. However, when it comes to establishing yourself in the game development industry, it's not enough to be an effective artist - you have to be an effective developer as well. In this brief run-down, Ezra Kirsch will share some of the best tips she's accrued over her career as an animator in game development that aren’t often discussed outside of studios. Come learn the skills that'll help aspiring artists skyrocket their marketability to recruiters and that’ll help established games artists maintain the sanity of their teams.
Speakers
Patrick Fram is a generalist game creator, designer, and one-man development studio rolled into one. With 18 years in the industry, he specializes in progression and systems design, but his toolkit spans art, animation, programming, and audio. He led the progression and metagame design on Ubisoft's XDefiant, designed puzzles, minigames, and levels for South Park: the Fractured But Whole, and contributed to The Division 2 and Rocksmith. Patrick thrives at the intersection of creativity and data-driven design.
Ezra Kirsch is an ATL-based motion designer of eight years and has operated in game development as an animator, UI artist, and art director. Beyond games, she's worked with Crayola, Marriott, the Discovery Channel, The Center for Puppetry Arts, Emory’s Science Gallery Atlanta, and more. Ezra is also a former ASIFA-South committee member and is a regular partner in arts education and career development initiatives through RE:IMAGINE ATL. Recently, she served as the art director and UI designer on Name Change Simulator, a visual novel that helps users auto-fill name and gender change applications, the launch trailer for which accrued over 15k views on TikTok.
Brandon Moss is a Georgia-based Technical Designer and musician with a passion for creativity and technology. With years of experience across design and engineering, he is particularly interested in how hybrid roles like Technical Design are reshaping career paths in the industry—opening doors for developers with diverse skill sets and helping teams collaborate more effectively.
When: 6-9 pm September 9
Where: Tripwire Interactive
How Much: Free for GGDA members; $10 all others
Get your pass at https://www.ggda.org/events/ue5-and-elder-scrolls-oblivion-2006-v-oblivion-2025-the-new-the-old-amp-the-ugly