Writer. World Builder.

 

sands of aura

narrative design and voice direction

 

Sands of Aura is an open-world action adventure with a fantasy setting of a realm in its twilight--a world buried beneath a sea of sand. Sail across the sandseas to return life to a dying world in an unforgettable experience that is equal parts engaging story and unrelenting, souls-like combat.”

color-3.png
ZACHARY FLYNN IS A NARRATIVE DESIGNER WITH A BACKGROUND IN TRADITIONAL FICTION WRITING AND A PASSION FOR CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, COMPELLING DIALOGUE, AND QUEST DESIGN. HIS EXPERIENCE FOCUSES ON BOLSTERING GAMEPLAY WITH CHARACTER DRIVEN STORY ARCS, WHILE BALANCING PLAYER CHOICE AND FEASIBLE IMPLEMENTATION STANDARDS. ZACHARY COMBINES HIS UNDERSTANDING OF SHAPE LANGUAGE, PLAYER ACTIONS AND POSSIBILITY SPACE, WITH CONTEMPORARY NARRATIVE PRINCIPLES TO DESIGN LEVELS THAT ARE BOTH NARRATIVELY AND ARTISTICALLY CAPTIVATING. HIS EXPERIENCE INCLUDES LEVEL DESIGN, 3D MODELING, QUEST DESIGN, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, BRANCHING DIALOGUE, WORLD BUILDING AND VOICE DIRECTION.

EDUCATION

B.A. Creative Writing, Fiction
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

experience

Chashu Entertainment - January 2022 - Present      

Narrative Designer   

  • Created compelling dialogue scripts, character concepts and dynamic world building

  • Implemented dialogue and in-game text (items and lore descriptions) in engine (Unreal)

  • Revised concepts, wireframes, scripts and worldbuilding based on feedback from team members and creative director

  • Assisted with copywriting and game trailer concepting

Level Designer

  • Created high quality level content from block out phase to polish (Unreal)

  • Combined the use of modular kits and various toolsets to design levels with a focus on environmental storytelling

  • Play-tested levels consistently during design process to provide feedback and ensure design goals

  • Created high quality assets using 3D modeling software (Blender)

  • Made required bug fixes

 

id Software - July 2019 - December 2021

Doom Eternal - QA Tester

  • Run test requests and identify game issues (bugs)

  • Provide detailed feedback on gameplay related issues in written and verbal form

  • Collaborate with peers and assist senior team members to assess game issues and concerns

  • Write and update test plans

 

University of Illinois - 2016 - July 2019

Preservation Services

  • IA digital support and preservation services

  • Woodward Archiving Project

awards

  • Senior Quinn, Creative Writing

  • Junior Quinn, Creative Writing

WRITING AND DESIGN SAMPLES

skills

 

writing

Creative

  • Narrative Design

  • Lore and World Building

  • Quest Concepting

  • Interactive/Branching

  • Scriptwriting

Copy

  • Trailer Concepting

  • Marketing and Promotional

  • Technical

  • Grant

Game Design

  • Quest Design

  • Voice Direction

  • Casting

  • Character Concepting

Software

  • Unreal

  • Miro

  • Twine

  • Final Draft

  • JIRA

Untitled_Artwork.jpg

Zachary Flynn is a published writer and narrative designer with a background in fiction, non-fiction and academic writing. Zachary has a degree in creative writing from the University of Illinois where he focused on literary fiction, world building, magical realism and fantasy writing.