What I Do
I focus on game systems design, narrative design, and rapid prototyping, with a practice grounded in playable builds, structured iteration, and shipping under production constraints.
Game Designer | Narrative & Systems Design
Bowen Shi
Game designer focused on narrative and systems design, rapid prototyping, and full-cycle Unity development.
I design and develop playable projects with an emphasis on gameplay systems, narrative integration, hardware experimentation, and production-ready prototypes, supported by professional experience, education, and a production-focused toolset.
Short Summary
Design Focus
I am a game designer and developer based in Pasadena, California, with experience spanning independent production, internship work, interactive narrative design, and community outreach.
How I Work
My work includes designing and implementing gameplay mechanics, integrating narrative directly into game systems, building Unity prototypes, and developing complete portfolio projects from concept through public showcase.
Education
Current Program
Honors
- Provost's List - ArtCenter College of Design (2022)
- Best Overall - ArtCenter Game Jam 2024
- Best in Theme - ArtCenter Game Jam 2024
Experience
Professional Work
Independent Game Designer / Developer
Warped Worlds | Pasadena, CA
2025-Present
- Lead full-cycle design and development of independent game projects under the Warped Worlds banner.
- Designed and implemented core gameplay mechanics, systems architecture, and narrative integration.
- Fabricated custom alternative controllers and integrated hardware into gameplay systems.
- Built and iterated Unity prototypes, conducted structured playtests, and shipped playable builds for public showcases.
- Delivered complete playable portfolio projects under self-directed production timelines.
Game Design Intern
IndieCade | Los Angeles, CA
2024
- Designed and implemented core gameplay mechanics and narrative structure in Unity during a 7-week climate-focused game jam.
- Collaborated with remote multidisciplinary teams and iterated weekly based on structured feedback.
- Successfully shipped a complete playable project under strict production constraints.
Community Outreach Coordinator
ART DiCO LTD. | Los Angeles, CA
2022-2023
- Coordinated international outreach initiatives across North America.
- Facilitated communication between regional partners, improving organizational visibility and engagement.
Narrative Designer
Valo Reality Technology | Los Angeles, CA
2021
- Developed narrative content for interactive media project Stella Cafe.
- Collaborated with developers to integrate story elements directly into gameplay systems.
Skills
Tools And Capabilities
Game Design & Systems
- Game Systems Design
- Narrative Design
- Rapid Prototyping
Engines & Programming
- Unity Engine
- C# (Unity)
- Unreal Engine 4
- Unreal Engine 5
- UEFN
Creative Software
- Adobe Photoshop
- Illustrator
- InDesign
- Premiere Pro
- After Effects
Collaboration Tools
- GitHub
- Perforce
- Miro
- Canva
Let's Talk
About And Contact
If you are interested in working with me or have any questions, feel free to reach out through the links below.