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Tiago Massochin Selfie

My life is about games

Being a child of the nineties born in the interior of Brazil, you can imagine that I would hardly have any contact or a future related to games or technologies.

But that never stopped me. At the age of 3, I was already learning to use my parents' DOS computer to be able to play games on floppy disks. Identifying the "symbols" on the keyboard and repeating the order my father had written for me with the command to open a DOS game. I can say that I learned to use a keyboard even before I learned to write.

All my dedication and curiosity have always been motivated by games, a passion I've always had. Whether it's creating new games to play with my friends on the street, modifying the rules of chess so we can have a quick game over break at school, or spending hours playing and talking about video games.

Nowadays, I follow my dream of working as a Game Designer, always trying to create new and remarkable experiences that somehow manage to inspire, in the same way as the first games I played, that same passion in the future generations.

Experience

Experience

2024 - Present

Ubisoft Toronto

At Ubisoft Toronto, I apply my dual expertise as a Game and Level Designer to craft compelling progression systems and immersive environments that elevate player engagement and satisfaction. My approach centers on creating dynamic gameplay experiences, designing systems and worlds that resonate emotionally with players.

As a Level Designer, I excel in developing World Gates and Points of Interest (PoI) that enhance narrative flow, gameplay progression, and player immersion. These elements ensure seamless transitions between regions, fostering a cohesive and engaging world structure. As a Game Designer, I specialize in crafting progression systems and gameplay mechanics that reward and motivate players, reinforcing engagement and a profound sense of accomplishment.

Grounded in principles of Emotional Design and Player-Centered Design (PCD), I strive to make every interaction meaningful, engaging, and intuitive. My designs seamlessly blend creativity and functionality, delivering experiences that immerse players in the game world. Through collaborative workflows and systemic thinking, I align my contributions with the overarching game vision while addressing the nuances of player behavior. This focus on immersive world-building, dynamic progression systems, and player-centric methodologies allows me to create memorable experiences that resonate deeply with players.

Designed and implemented world gates, points of interest, and integrated animals into the game world to enhance navigation, storytelling, and player immersion

Developed progression systems and gameplay mechanics—including leveling, rewards, and achievements—to motivate players and maintain engagement throughout their journey

Delivered designs that harmonized with the overall game experience, utilizing player journey mapping and engagement loops to create intuitive and rewarding gameplay

Created detailed design documentation, layouts, and infographics to effectively communicate design concepts, facilitating collaboration across teams

Incorporated player feedback and data analysis to refine progression mechanics and optimize level layouts for a well-paced gameplay experience

2014 - 2024

Zmass Productions

Under my personal brand Zmass Productions, I dedicated a decade to pursuing experimental projects and pushing creative boundaries. This journey allowed me to refine my skills as a Game Developer while exploring innovative approaches to crafting experiences that connect deeply with players. By blending emotional storytelling, engaging mechanics, and immersive worlds, I developed a design philosophy centered on meaningful player interaction.

Rooted in Emotional Design–develop initially in my background as a graphic designerto craft interactions that evoke unique and memorable scenarios. By combining mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics, I create systems and environments that are both intuitive and rewarding. Each decision is made with the player at the heart of the process, ensuring captivating worlds and inspiring systems.

Throughout my Zmass Productions journey, I delved into the synergy of technology, art, and personal experience. Each project challenged me to balance artistic vision with gameplay systems, driving innovation through rapid prototyping and collaboration. These experiences solidified my passion for building immersive worlds and meaningful player experiences while fostering constant growth as a designer.

 

My endless goal is to continue learning and refining my craft as a game developer.

Designed and implemented character-driven levels, focusing on immersive storytelling, emotional resonance, and balanced gameplay mechanics

Conceptualized and developed experimental games, integrating narrative design, audio direction, and visual storytelling for cohesive, multi-sensory experiences

Created detailed game systems, balancing player agency, artistic vision, and technical performance for smooth and memorable gameplay

Authored comprehensive design documentation, including infographics, visual layouts, and prototypes, to effectively communicate and align collaborators

Explored innovative tools and workflows, rapidly iterating on concepts to refine gameplay based on player feedback and testing

Education

Education

The Game Design courses emphasize applied, real-world skill development through case studies, simulations, and lab projects. Students engage in team-based, project-oriented assignments to design and develop games.
 

International student graduated with honors

Actively participates in game jam groups

Capstone project awarded the Capstone Gold Star

Capstone project featured at Level Up Showcase 2023 and XP Game Developer Summit 2023

The Graphic Designer with qualifications in Digital Design blends creativity, a refined aesthetic sense, and a strong cultural foundation with expertise in computer graphics tools. This skill set enables the creation of solutions for digital and interactive media, computer graphics, animation, games, information design, and interaction design.

Organizer of the Academic Week of Digital Design

Member of the Audiovisual Club

Final project approved with honor and maximum rating

Participant in the Muma Museum digital art exhibition

 
 
Tools

Tools

Design

Engine

Sound

Narrative

Management 

Code

C++

C#

Lua

JavaScript

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