Stephen J. Skelton
Game Designer/Writer

Lead Designer

Sphere Entertainment Co.
Nov 2023 – Mar 2025 (Burbank, CA)

Lead Designer for the Interactive department at Sphere Studios – development studio for the Sphere venue in Las Vegas. 25+ person team built multiple prototypes for interactive experiences with large audiences.

• Designed solutions to the big question of how does an audience play a game together on the gigantic Sphere dome. Built prototypes in Unreal (level construction, blueprints, etc.) while mentoring design team.
• Wrote production-ready documentation on game structure, systems, and narrative used by the team to build prototypes. Wrote concept documents and organized a new idea review process with upper management.
• Revised team documentation & design practices for clarity. Built design process that centered documentation around projects, emphasising team-ownership over individuals or departments.

Head of Game Design/Design Director

Arrivant
May 2022 – Jul 2023 (Los Angeles, CA)

Developed team-based autobattler with emphasis on shared spaces, including a Web3 component, with the goal of positive social interaction through a balanced game economy.

• Design Director on StarGarden project (Unreal Engine 5.2). High-level design planning + hands-on engine work building puzzles, narrative interaction, and audio implementation.
• Project management and long-term production planning with studio leadership. Worked with team members to create transmedia events to enhance ongoing “early access” development.
• Team built AAA-quality investor demo on an indie-team budget. Adapted demo into playable week-long community “early access” event.

Senior Designer, Special Projects

Embodied, Inc.
Oct 2020 – May 2022 (Pasadena, CA)

Designer for the development, launch, and post-launch support of Moxie – an AI-powered robot companion designed to support children with their emotional development and conversational learning.

• Design, documentation, and implementation of Moxie interactive modules using ChatScript and in-house tools. Development of supplemental material for subscription mailings (robot-supported paper activities).
• Supported production in lead up to public launch by tracking task progress across departments and facilitating communication with stakeholders.
• Led internal development of PlayZone games web portal for Moxie – using a screen with the robot to play enhanced activities like checkers, chess, and guess-the-drawing.

Contractor/Consultant/Writer

Independent
Jan 2009 – Present (Los Angeles, CA)

Design consultation & documentation (concept creation, pitch docs, GDDs) – pre-production on licensed and original IP from pitch to story/character development, game mechanic specifications, level design, dialog, etc. Work examples:

• Melsoft’s MyCafe (INLINGO) – Mobile game dialog rewrite for American audiences, female-centric soap opera style. Over 24,000 words/2,000 lines.
• Unannounced First Person Narrative (Game Zale) – Created original IP: Old West-themed horror 1st Person Narrative for PC/consoles.
• SKILL RANGE (skillrange.com) – Game design consultation for interactive business simulation software. Provided feedback/solutions for interaction loops, progression, user experience (UX/UI).

Creative Director/Producer

CI Games
Nov 2012 – Jun 2014 (Bydgoszcz, Poland)

On site with 25+ person team in Poland as Creative Director bringing Unreal Engine Sci-Fi FPS game ALIEN RAGE to Alpha & Beta, followed by remote direction from Los Angeles through launch on Steam.

• Feedback/direction for all departments, cutscene direction. Wrote game system specifications (scoring, weapons, audio log functionality, etc.). Recruited external designers to build multiplayer maps.
• Redesigned game objectives/plot & achievements to fit console requirements. Designed player perk system which increased EEDAR Lasting Appeal score by 30%.
• Provided marketing support (title options, “back of box” copy, etc.). Represented game and CI Games upcoming slate at company-wide reviews/presentations, E3, gamescom, PAX Prime.

Lead Designer/Writer

Spark Unlimited, Inc.
Aug 2002 – Nov 2008 (Sherman Oaks, CA)

Independent studio founded to create the first Call of Duty console game. Worked with multiple publishers to develop original and licensed IP. Developed/managed the 13-person design department and methods.

• Legendary (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) Lead Designer/Writer. Managed design/design department. Created story with Design Director, wrote game script. Managed balancing: controls, difficulty, AI, player weapons, etc.
• Lead Designer/Writer, Studio Development. Franchise “World Bible” development of original IP with publishers. Pitch development and presentation of original and licensed IP concepts.
• Call of Duty: Finest Hour (PS2, Xbox, GameCube) Designed: Breakdown, Into Red Square, Come Out Fighting, First City To Fall, Underground Passage, Surrender At Aachen (layout, scripting, story, characters).

Game Designer

Electronic Arts/DreamWorks Interactive
Jul 2000 – Aug 2002 (Los Angeles, CA)

AAA console and PC development using in-house engine and tools as well as Unreal Engine. Supported the design team and took ownership of large sections of gameplay development.

• Medal of Honor Frontline (PS2, Xbox, GameCube) Levels: Several Bridges Too Far, Yard By Yard, Arnhem Knights. Implemented all gameplay using map layouts and basic scenarios provided by the Lead Designer.
• Developed studio management-requested pitches for potential existing IP and original projects. Worked independently and with external partners (IP owners, screenwriters, etc.).
• Clive Barker’s Undying (PC) Supported design team across all levels/maps in Unreal Engine. Implemented game objective/waypoint system.