The World of Gaming

What do gamification and architecture have in common? This questions was top of mind when we chatted with Shane Thompson ’15, who has combined his Bachelor of Architecture from Laurentian University and his Diploma of Education in Game Development and Animation from Toronto Film school and channeled them into his professional career as a Level Designer/3D Modeler.

Shane is currently an intern at Resistr Interactive. He likens his current role to that of a film set designer who creates scenery. His work consists of two stages, modelling and animation, and he uses the 3D GC technology of Blender to produce a game’s visual and structural effects. When asked how his work in architectural studies is similar, Shane responds, “Both fields share the ability to understand how a human would navigate an environment.” He indicates that whether building a game or a condominium, the architect and the level designer must consider physical requirements, user experience and context/setting. In addition, he states, “Games, like real world structures, are procedurally generated and changes are based on what is happening in the particular universe.” Essentially, Shane is engineering an environment, and thus his architectural background serves him well.

Shane has met with early success in the gaming industry. While a student at the Toronto Film School, Shane won the TFS 2021-2022 award for Best Game, entitled “Rust Bucket.” Shane’s role in the project was art director, leading how the game looks and feels. Although the scope of this game design is small, its platform is like the Mario games. What Shane found most rewarding about the experience was the collaboration with coders, artists, voice actors and sound designers. He realized the many working parts that are required to build the games he so enjoyed playing as a teenager.

The community that Shane values in the creative process reinforces the fond memories he has for Villanova College. Shane says, “From the first week, I felt right at home.” Having come to VC in his grade 10 year, he speaks of the Class of 2015 as a group in which it was “easy to find friendships.” He credits the experiences of Kairos, the musical production of Once on This Island, French class with Mme. Petrescu, and ski club as indelible and formative, allowing him to “try new things” and “make life fun.”

In his spare time, Shane enjoys walking, reading sci-fi series such as James. S.A. Covey’s The Expanse and, of course, gaming, those that tell a story and have a compelling environment that “transfers me to another world.” When his dad pesters him about his preoccupations, Shane says these activities are “inspiration” to fuel his game designs and future.

We cannot wait to see what Shane will create next as he continues to blend his passions and embrace possibilities.