Hello, my name is Anton Kiyko. It’s a pleasure to meet you.I am a Junior Technical Designer specializing in Unreal Engine. I enjoy finding technical solutions to gameplay challenges, ranging from implementing individual mechanics to building interconnected systems.In my projects, I combine game design thinking, programming, and technical implementation. In this portfolio, I will demonstrate how I apply these skills in practice and how I evolve with every new project.

PROBLEM
Under a tight 2.5-month deadline, I was tasked with implementing core gameplay mechanics, enemy behavior, and the UI while ensuring the vertical slice remained stable. A primary technical hurdle was mitigating Gimbal Lock during weapon throws and controlling the weapon’s rotation in flight.DEVELOPMENT
I studied technical documentation and tutorials, applied that knowledge, and built prototypes to test gameplay mechanics. I coordinated gameplay decisions with the team lead while concurrently debugging and optimizing the project.SOLUTION
To resolve the Gimbal Lock issue, I developed a system that captured the relevant coordinate values immediately prior to the player initiating actor rotation. Additionally, I implemented the core weapon mechanics, AI for one of the three enemy types, the main menu, and the pause menu.

PROBLEM
The project required a complete set of gameplay systems, ranging from character controls to interactions with platforms, traps, and enemies. I was responsible for implementing the game logic as part of a three-person team that included a game designer, a level designer, an artist, and myself.DEVELOPMENT
I developed the gameplay systems incrementally, configuring how they would interact. My focus was on weaving the character, platforms, traps, and enemies together into a cohesive gameplay experience.SOLUTION
I independently implemented the core gameplay logic for the vertical slice, connecting the key mechanics and making the level playable from beginning to end.

PROBLEM
Working in a five-person team, I took on the roles of Programmer, Technical Designer, and Technical Artist. I was tasked with implementing AI for five enemies, including a boss, and integrating combat encounters into the existing game systems. A major challenge was creating dynamic enemy behavior, which required me to quickly master the fundamentals of Behavior Trees—a tool with which I had limited prior experience.DEVELOPMENT
Under a tight deadline, I studied the fundamentals of Behavior Trees and applied them to the enemy AI. I also implemented arena events, boss fight logic, and tutorial sequences. Throughout development, I integrated new systems into the existing project, resolved bugs, and optimized performance.SOLUTION
I implemented the behavior for five enemies, including the boss, alongside the arena event logic, the boss fight sequence, and tutorial systems. I successfully integrated all these features into the project’s existing architecture.