James Bissenas

Unreal Engine 5 developer and level designer with a production background and a director's eye for pacing and presentation. Experienced in planning work in sprints, documenting decisions, and delivering polished assets under deadlines. Blends creative direction with technical implementation to build engaging interactive experiences and ensure projects stay organized, on-scope, and on schedule.

Level Designer at Forbidden Kemono Studio (2026-02 – Present)

• Revamped Levels 1–2 from released Steam demo, expanding scale and improving realism to enhance player immersion.
• Built and implemented a 30 second introductory cutscene in Unreal Engine 5 to establish narrative tone, guide player onboarding, and support gameplay flow for a final-level experience.
• Refined post-processing, exposure, and lighting systems in Unreal Engine 5 to improve visual clarity, environmental mood, and player navigation across multiple gameplay areas.
• Reworked level pacing, encounter sequencing, and objective progression in Unreal Engine 5 to enhance player engagement, navigation clarity, and gameplay flow.

Game Design at Silent Crosshairs (2024-06 – 2025-03)

• Designed and documented core gameplay systems for a 3D first-person tactical stealth shooter in Unreal Engine 5, developing stealth, combat, progression, and player navigation mechanics across multiple playable levels.
• Developed and iterated on 3+ playable Unreal Engine 5 levels focused on tactical navigation, environmental storytelling, sightline control, and high-tension encounter pacing.
• Developed and iterated on AI-driven encounter scenarios using stealth gameplay mechanics, environmental storytelling, and difficulty scaling systems in Unreal Engine 5.
• Implemented stealth-focused level design principles and difficulty ramping systems to reinforce reconnaissance, tactical positioning, and precision-based gameplay in Unreal Engine 5.

Director at J.B.'s Entertainment LLC (2023-04 – 2024-04)

• Produced and directed Models on the Move: Journey to Teen Fashion Week, managing concept development, scheduling, on-set direction, and final video delivery for a multi-scene production featuring 5 actors and several extras.
• Managed visual storytelling and production quality control across multiple filmed scenes, directing 5 actors and several extras to deliver a cohesive narrative aligned with project's brand and audience.

Bachelor of Science in Game Design – Full Sail University (2026-03)

Audio Engineering – Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences (2017-11)

Film and TV – Alpha Pacific Institute (2016-08)