Steve Castro - Full Stack Game Developer

Developed over 35 released games for mobile, PC and web, including mobile success WWE: Champions, Indie Prize winning Ballads of Reemus, and the viral hit Flash game Rooftop Skater.

Experienced in client and server development including game play features, website development, data management tools, plugin integration and creation, in-app purchasing, analytics, rewarded video, performance optimization and security. Technologies include Unity, Marmalade, OpenFL, Flash, Django, SQL and NoSQL, Amazon Web Services and much more.

Bachelor in Computer Information Systems from DeVry University in Columbus, Ohio in 2004. Currently working at Kung Fu Factory.

Legends Reborn: Age of Chance (2023)

Collectible creature and card game for PC
Server validated realtime PVP via Photon
Designed tech for NFT support via Gala
Merged feature code from multiple projects
Integration testing with NUnit

NBA Ball Stars (2021)

Basketball gem matching game
Rapid prototyping to create new sports+puzzle genre
Implemented dynamic season and playoff match ups

Atari Combat: Tank Fury (2020)

Tank puzzle combat mobile game with home base building
System architecture and implementation of city builder feature
Programmed job logic for construction, production, crafting, etc.
Implemented 5 versus 5 simultaneous battle feature

The Walking Dead: Outbreak (2019)

Zombie apocolypse gem matching game for AMC's hit show
Narrative system utilizing Ink scripting
Data-driven weapon upgrade system

Pacific Rim: Breach Wars (2018)

Puzzle RPG mobile game by Kung Fu Factory
For the film release of Legendary's Pacific Rim Uprising
Implemented new battle systems and dynamic UI
Integrated IronSource reward systems

WWE: Champions (2017)

Match 3 mobile game by Scopely & Kung Fu Factory
Over 10 million installs and very financially successful
Worked with large team of producers, designers and programmers
Programmed server for battle props and in-game subscription consumables
Implemented in-app purchasing, analytics, A/B testing and liveops tools

Ballads of Reemus (2012)

Winner of Indie Prize for Best Story 2013 at Casual Connect
Nominated for Best Writing Comedy 2012 by AdventureGamers.com
Greenlit by Steam Community
All programming and co-produced
Features custom dynamic dialogue and in-game cutscene engine

Escape the Titanic (2013)

Over 10 million installs and financially successful
All programming with some puzzle design
Implemented 40+ puzzles, in-app purchasing and rewarded videos

Paradox Embrace (2009)

Puzzle Platformer for NewGrounds' Power of 3 collaboration event
Winner of ByteJacker's Free Indie of the Week 1/21/2010
NewGrounds.com Daily Feature 01/07/2010
Designed, programmed, produced and created all 9 sprawling levels
Created custom 2D collision engine and dynamic level editor

Shape Switcher (2008)

Change shapes and colors to escape the maze
All design, programming and artwork
Features player level editor

Rooftop Skater (2001)

Featured on TechTV's Site of the Night in 2002
Over 10 million plays
Sponsored by Sports Illustrated Kids
Designed and programmed
Features customizable characters and player-facing level editor

...and many more:

For FreshGames

Cursed Words (2017) (iOS, Android)
Escape Alcatraz - Devious Escape Puzzler (iOS, Android) (2015)
Famous Faces: Hollywood Edition (iOS) (2014)
Cubis Creatures (Flash)
Cubis for Cash AKA Cubis Tournaments (iOS, Skillz platform)
I Love Pop Culture AKA U Pic 2 (iOS, Android) (2014)

As ClickShake

Sushi Warrior (2014) (iOS, Android, Flash) for Acesse Corporation. Built with OpenFL and Haxe
Uncle Vince: Mission In-VINCE-able (2013) for comedian Scary Pete
Wentworth (2012) Nominated for Point & Click Adventure Game of the Year 2012 by JayIsGames.com
Several Journeys of Reemus Chapter 4 (2012) Nominated for Point & Click Adventure Game of the Year 2012 by JayIsGames.com. Played over 1 million times in the first 3 weeks
The Visitor Returns (2011)
Stake Your Claim (2011) - Designed and programmed
Zee and the Alien Machine (2011)
Ugly Americans: Citizen Ugly (2010) For Comedy Central's premiere of the animated series Ugly Americans. Nominated for Point & Click Adventure Game of the Year 2010 by JayIsGames.com.
The Visitor: Massacre at Camp Happy (2010) Level design and programming
15 Ways to Sink Your Small Business (2010) For Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness' B-Ready Now program
Buy Buy Buy! (2009) For Comedy Central

As EntropicOrder

Kanye vs Taylor (2009) Made within 48 hours of the 2009 Video Music Awards
Buried Alive! (2008) Licensed sponsorships by 5 websites
Sik Trix BMX (2003) For Sports Illustrated Kids
Speed: The Card Game (2002)
Demonic Goat (2002)
Cupcapades (2002)
Snake (2001)
Garbage (2000)

...and so many prototypes...

Landed my first professional game development contract for Sports Illustrated Kids in 2001 while I was in college. Later, Jay "Zeebarf" Ziebarth and I contracted games for Comedy Central which led to co-founding ClickShake Games LLC. We funded through contract game development, crowdfunded pre-orders, sponsorships and licensing via FlashGamesLicense.

ClickShake Games LLC

Operated full-time from 2010 to 2013 and developed 13 games
Contracted with Comedy Central, FreshGames, Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness, Acesse Corporation
Co-founder, Owner

EntropicOrder Original Games

Home to my early Flash games, 11 in total
Sold several licensed sponsorships for multiple games
Original site had custom-built forum and user-submitted images

Involved in growing the Ohio game development scene starting in 2009. At the time many game dev professionals and enthusiasts in Ohio thought they were the only one, myself included! I established connections from Columbus to Cleveland, Athens, Dayton, Cincinatti and beyond, which helped spark a now vibrant and still growing community and industry throughout the Buckeye State.

Taught 2D game programming at Columbus State Community College as Adjust Professor in 2018. Have given game dev talks at Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD), GameMinder Expo 2013, Ohio Game Dev Expo 2013, Max Gaming Open House in 2017 and the 2012 "Wouldn't It Be Cool If..." event, part of Time Warner Cable's Connect a Million Minds initiative.

Presented games and represented my team at PAX East in Boston, Casual Connect in Seattle, GDEX in Columbus and local events.

GDEX Gaming Expo (formerly Ohio Game Dev Expo)

The Midwest's Premier Gaming Expo
Co-founder, 1st year Organizer
Designed the expo format and coordinated most initial speakers

Ohio Gamedev Group (Meetup)

Now over 1000 members
Founder, 1st year Organizer

Steve Castro - Game Developer

Senior Full Stack Programmer | Game Designer | Entrepreneur

Portfolio

...and many more:

For FreshGames

As ClickShake

As EntropicOrder

...and so many prototypes...

Clients

Entrepreneurship

Leadership