As Technical Director at NeoN Origins, I lead a dynamic team of over 31 members, managing more than 20 developers in our hybrid learning environment/game studio. Our current project, the Unannounced Game as a Service, is an exciting 2.5D Metroidvania Unity game designed for couch co-op play, drawing inspiration from iconic 1980s cartoons.
This game is launched as a Game as a Service, featuring an open world that expands in content and storyline throughout its lifecycle. Up to four players can simultaneously immerse themselves in this game world, starting with creating a custom character. Players can choose from various templates and tailor their characters to reflect recognizable 1980s-style archetypes such as G.I. Joe, Thundercats, and He-Man.
NeoN Origins was founded by Alex Kentie and me with the vision of crafting meaningful educational experiences. In collaboration with the Hybrid Learning Environments (HLE) project group from Mediacollege Amsterdam (MA), we have developed a game studio as an HLE. This hybrid learning environment merges the best of educational and professional practices. Our goal is to better align education with professional practice through innovative collaborations and integrated learning and working processes. The HLE fosters adaptable craftsmanship and a learning culture, ensuring high-quality collaborative learning and work.
In our game studio, students contribute to a real product developed over several years, gaining on-the-job skills through direct collaboration with hybrid teachers like Alex and me, who split their time between the industry and teaching. These educators are responsible for both the educational content and the commercial and substantive management of the HLE and the product.
