Nathan Cheever Email & Phone Number

Irvine, California, Us

➤ LAST SENTINELDesigned multiple open world city layouts and ecosystems for a futuristic & post-apocalypic Tokyo to balance the needs of its sci-fi city looming over the urban Tokyo experience. Tokyo's gameworld prioritized known landmarks, points-of-interest, and primary roads for condensing 12km of research into 3km of iconic cityscape.The city of the future prototypes were designed with current city planning trends to create a believable backdrop for the player experience and genre expectations. These also factored in reuse of local spaces, POIs sightlines, tiered pathing, city ecosystems, and mystery boxes for expansion.▪ Designed and prototyped multiple city layouts both futuristic and modern▪ Contributed to creating diverse and thematically rewarding districts▪ Contributed to foundational ambient world systems and features▪ Designed encounter system supporting dynamic factions, story, and return-to memory▪ 3D prototyped multiple neighborhoods and landmarks▪ Designing multiple neighborhood hubs and shops to support world Quests and Activities▪ Helped guide team to a new content & production structure▪ Spearheaded initial Content Management Toolsets for smart content management with UE5▪ All with a conscious effort to support and respect Japan's culture and history

Los Angeles, Ca, Us

➤ PALIAWorldbuilding the cozy & rewarding Fantasy Adventure MMO "Palia" for 3rd-Person. Designer behind the foundational layout for the Village Hub "Kilima Valley" and the adventure zone "Bahari Bay." 3D prototyped village hub to meet gameplay scope and narrative needs incorporating multiple mystery boxes for future hooks that complimented the story lore. Designed both levels to be physically seamless for future streaming.▪ Created a new home region▪ Created the first of many adventure regions▪ Helped establish foundational metrics

Novato, California, Us

See Cloud Chamber studio entry for more details.

Novato, California, Us

See Hangar 13 studio entry for more details.

Montreal, Quebec, Ca

➤ Bioshock 4Designed multiple open world city layouts for the next Bioshock game for 1st-Person exploration and combat. 3D prototyped city to meet gameplay scope and narrative needs. 3D prototyped four different District layouts factoring in compelling reuse, game metrics, POIs sightlines, tiered pathing, mystery boxes for expansion, and an underlying city ecosystem for commerce, history, and believable infrustrature.▪ Managed a strike team to prototype new sandbox environments▪ Contributed to foundational sandbox components▪ Helped establish initial content and production methods▪ Spearheaded Content Management Tools for UE4

Brighton, Gb

➤ BERLIN PROJECTDesigned mulitple open world layouts for Berlin Germany prioritizing landmarks, points-of-interest, and primary roads for condensing into an impressionistic gameworld space. Updated layout to compliment the project's changing direction: 1980s Cold War, grounded post apocalyptic gameplay, then fantastical sci-fi gameplay.

Brighton, Gb

➤ MAFIA 4Designed and researched open world layout for a 1970s-80s sequel set in the southwestern United States. Incorporated production analytics and tech strengths to maximize ideal playspace scope. (Shelved for Berlin project.)

Brighton, Gb

➤ MAFIA 3Developed a dynamic open world experience in a new version of New Orleans with familiar Landmarks and unique points-of-interest. Roads and pathways lured players to criminal operations churning in 1968's urban underbelly of social unrest. Go visit the different places and people of the southern City and Bayou!▪ Designed and directed the city layout▪ Created 20+ neighborhood ecologies with routes & landmarks▪ Co-created initial district narratives with Lead Writer▪ Collaborated with Lead Architect for city authenticity▪ Directed and contributed to the Bayou wilderness▪ Directed and contributed to 500+ quest-ready interiors & exteriors▪ Directed and contributed to dozens of Shop interior ecosystems▪ Contributed to combat zones for 3rd-Person shooter mechanics▪ Initiated multiple Player Activity designs (racing, theft, convoys, raids, etc.)▪ Initiated dynamic encounter spawning system▪ Mentored and managed up to 12 team members▪ Directed feedback for two outsourcing content groups▪ Contributed and supervised time-period name-branding ▪ Mediated issues with narrative and ecosystem designs▪ Maintained regional diversity across strike teams▪ Audited then initiated toolset makeover

Madison, Wisconsin, Us

➤ (Square Enix Project)Open-world detective game set in a Paris during the 1889 World's Fair. (Publisher shelved all early-stage projects)

Madison, Wisconsin, Us

➤ DEFIANCECollaborated with Trion Worlds to shape large outdoor environments, landmarks, and routes to events for the MMO.

Madison, Wisconsin, Us

➤ BIOSHOCK INFINITECollaborated with Irrational Games to support, design, and build multiplayer environments. Managed three-man strike team remotely. (Multiplayer feature cancelled.)

Madison, Wisconsin, Us

➤ PREY 2Designed and created compelling game locales with incentives to revisit them. 1st-Person exploration, traversal, and combat shooter design. Ensured world continuity and believably within project needs. Maintained asset integrity and performance across all levels. Provided agile team management and adaptive schedules to help 55+ team realize their vision!Directed and designed new toolsets for managing massive content. Improved pipelines for confident team sharing. Resolved conflicts before they impacted the project. Always seeking ways to remove technical hurdles and increase team creativity!Always considering the User Experience and Player Investment with constant competitive product evaluation for future trends and expectations. Took the initiative to design the In-Game and Front End Menus. Co-Managed the UI Dept.Project Canceled due to publisher issues.

Plymouth, Mn, Us

➤ SIX DAYS IN FALLUJAHDesigned game progression (story, mission, enemy, weapons, and gameplay types) with meaningful, intuitive, and escalating content encompassing real world events. Crafted 3rd-Person combat zones to fit the heavily researched encounters.Directed, mentored, and assisted other designers with level production. Simultaneously managed multiple goals and teams across multiple studios. Assisted and created design department schedules. Helped guide 75+ team to implement short and long-term scenarios. Endeavored to provide a positive work place with open communication.Re-directed core tools suite, game scripting features, and mission management, improving production quality and creativity.(Studio re-branded to Atomic Games on March 8, 2009.) Project Canceled (controversial topic for publisher)

Plymouth, Mn, Us

➤ AUTHENTIC ESPIONAGE THRILLER ✦ Lead Designer (unannounced)➤ JUDGMENTAL SHOOTING SIMULATION ✦ Senior Designer (CIA/FBI Training Sim)Interfaced with CIA to adhere to realistic techniques. Researched and maintained unique vision against competitive products. Prototyped new tactical gameplay mechanics using level creation and scripting. Helped create new destructible prefab content and pipeline. Collaborated with management to improve team unity.

➤ TUROK Crafted high moment-to-moment 1st-Person combat, encounters, and puzzles. Designed, modeled, and maintain inspiring and memorable levels. Scripted AI, missions, and interaction events. Acted as liaison between leads and design team for quality and efficiency.✔ 83% ‒ Gametrailers.com"Turok is undoubtedly the first pleasant surprise of 2008."

Seattle, Wa, Us

➤ THE SUFFERING: Ties That Bind➤ THE SUFFERINGCreated bloodcurdling gameplay, horrific encounters, and formidable puzzles. 1st-Person AND 3rd-Person combat shooter, melee, and exploration. Designed, modeled, and maintain inspiring and memorable levels. Scripted AI, missions, and interactive events. Responsible for environment lighting and gameplay mood.Mentored new employees in company-specific technology. Designed new toolsets for improving quality and productivity. Streamlined asset databases for performance. Created layout guidelines for environmental artists. ✔ 81% ‒ "Impressive!" ‒ IGN.com (for The Suffering: Ties That Bind)"...Ties That Bind is quite a solid romp, and a cut above most of the games in the genre..."✔ 85% ‒ *Editor's Choice* ‒ IGN.com (for The Suffering)"These guys know how to scare people, and they're committed to doing so."

Kirkland, Wa, Us

➤ NO ONE LIVES FOREVER 2Designed a 4-player CO-OP multiplayer mode after prototyping a separate competitive teamplay mode. Amplified single-player encounters with layout and mission scripting. 1st-Person combat and hub-based exploration. Responsible for environment lighting and gameplay mood.✔ 93% ‒ *Editor's Choice* ‒ Gamespot.com"No One Lives Forever 2 is a rousing success on every level."GDC 2002:» Aliens vs. Predator 2 postmortem presentation.» Lithtech technologies presentation.E3 2002:» Lithtech technologies presentation (with Tron 2.0).

Kirkland, Wa, Us

➤ ALIENS VS. PREDATOR 2Created tense gameplay, chilling encounters, and rewarding puzzles for 1st-Person. Designed, modeled, and maintain inspiring and memorable levels. Scripted AI, missions, and interactive events. Responsible for environment lighting and gameplay mood.Contributed to prop models and environment textures. Spearheaded post-release programming support for public modding.✔ 87% ‒ "Great!" ‒ Gamespot.com"It's better than the original... and it's one of the best action games released."

Us

➤ MIDDLE EARTH ONLINE ✦ (LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE version 1)Prototyped ways to populate vast landscapes and towns. Integrated world art and building construction sets with existing pieces. Worked with programming to develop flexible, user-friendly tools.Project Canceled (marketing trends overshadowed innovation)

➤ UNREAL 2➤ UNREAL 1: Return to Na PaliCollaborated with Legend Entertainment providing character models, textures, and animation.✔ 80% ‒ "Impressive!" ‒ IGN.com"Return to Na Pali is a worthy pack purchase that all Unreal fans should get."

➤ WIZARDS & WARRIORS ✦ RPG Designer(aka SWORDS & SORCERY)Designed, modeled, and maintained inspiring and memorable levels. Assisted in designing gameplay, encounters, and puzzle events. Responsible for environment lighting and gameplay mood. Animated, modeled, and textured characters and props. Co-designed UI and related art.✔ 84% ‒ *Editor's Choice* ‒ IGN.com"...there's plenty to explore, and you'll want to keep playing this one until you finish it."

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Fine And Studio Arts

Associate Of Arts (Aa), Computer Graphics

Film & Video Production

Graphic Design & Theater

School Of Fine Arts