Ben Giese

Hello there!

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I’m Ben, a philomathic game designer and creator who’s dipped their toes in a few different industries at this point in their life. I began my creative career as a multi-instrumentalist; starting with guitar, then learning saxophone, keys, and percussion. Performing in musical groups taught me the core concepts of creative teamwork.

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I also started honing my culinary skills at a young age, which led me to entering the culinary industry and eventually owning a restaurant of my own. I spent over a decade training under multiple chefs of varying culinary disciplines, from sushi to from-scratch wood-fired pizza. Once again, the culinary world presented me with invaluable teamwork experience, but it also taught me to remain calm under pressure and the value of hard work and communication.

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Even though I’ve experienced the fascinating world of music and food, one thing has stuck with me for longer than my previous escapades: Game Design. Designing games is where the skills of my past reached a pinnacle. Creating something people can enjoy the way I intended is where I thrive. Anticipating my audience’s needs, thoughts, emotions, and intentions is a skill I’ve refined throughout my various experiences in life. I apply this by creating levels that are an experience, not just a game. Through teaching, testing, and iteration, I create game levels that engage my players, removing them from the harshness of reality and placing them in an environment where they are in control.

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So, what am I up to these days?

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I currently run a 5-person Dungeons & Dragons group every Sunday. I’ve managed this group for 6 years now and the world building we’ve done is impressive to say the least. This group of table-top adventurers has become my testing ground for homebrew content and custom game mechanics, and there’s no end in sight. For each campaign I run, I create a massive pack of homebrew content that changes up the core experience. Currently, we are playing with a JRPG-inspired party job system that includes crafting and cooking, an injury system, and much more.

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I’m working with another designer and a game artist to create small games that focus on fun, addicting gameplay. Our current project is a culinary-themed endless “slider,” where the player controls a tiny chef sliding through a hot and dangerous kitchen on a slab of butter. Previously, we released a comical fps game with the theme of killing germs in a kitchen as a tiny homeowner. So, I guess it’s safe to say we like food and tiny things! In my spare time, I’m working on a top-down ARPG where the player takes on the roll of a delivery driver who has to shoot their way through a futuristic city to deliver food to their wealthy paying customers. (Can you tell I like food?)

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Connect with me on LINKEDIN