Gary Lu

Hi, I'm a programmer that worked at Amazon for over 2.5 years, and now I'm looking for a programming role in the video game industry. These are some games I've made.

Fat Dot

Fat Dot is a game where players try to chain explosions to reach a high score.

I made everything myself, from coding my own collision detection to designing game rules.

Project Highlights:

• Simple, single-button gameplay
• 6 different enemy types
• Enemies can interact with each other
• Avoiding one type of enemy might push players towards another
• Encourages different types of player movement

• Implemented custom debug abilities to help with design
• Hot-reload newly compiled code to reflect updates without restarting
• Record and replay gameplay in real-time
• Hot-reload during replays to see changes in action
• Resume control at any point during replay

Specs:

• Language: C++
• Libraries: SDL 2.0, OpenGL
• Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, Chrome/Firefox

DekoBoko

DekoBoko is a fan game paying tribute to the movie, My Neighbor Totoro. Gameplay is split into two parts. In the first part, players tend to their own garden. In the second part, players control the small Totoro to grow a giant tree, recreating an iconic scene from the film.

I developed the game solo.

Project Highlights:

• Hand-drawn art and animations
• 17 plants and 19 animals to discover
• 7 items and upgrades
• In-game journal with unique entries on each plant and animal
• Self-arranged piano cover of the movie's score

Specs:

• Language: C#
• Game Engine: Unity
• Platforms: Android, iOS

Shepherd and Dog

Shepherd and Dog is a game made in 3 days for the Ludum Dare Game Jam. Players control a shepherd-and-dog team to guide their sheep back home.

I did the programming and game design, and I teamed up with an artist to complete the art assets.

Project Highlights:

• Implemented basic level editor
• Reads ASCII text to lay out tiles in the level
• Completed 11 levels before the deadline
• Complex wolf behavior
• Governed by a set of rules inspired by Pac-Man
• Appears to surround the player
• Occasionally backs off to give player breathing space

Specs:

• Language: C++
• Libraries: SDL 2.0, Box2D
• Platforms: Windows, Chrome/Firefox

Asteroids But With Gravity

Asteroids But With Gravity is an Asteroids clone with a gravity gimmick. Players must shoot asteroids in the classic arcade style, while escaping the gravity of nearby planets.

I developed the game solo.

Project Highlights:

• Larger playing field than original Asteroid's screen-sized area
• Entire environment still loops around, including gravity

Specs:

• Language: C++, Blueprints
• Game Engine: Unreal Engine 4
• Platforms: Windows