Hey, hey! I’m River and here is a little bit about me!

I was first exposed to video games as a young kid in the 90’s. I was instantly captivated with them, playing The Best of Microsoft Entertainment Pack and the Reader Rabbit educational games, and even watching my dad and older sister play the Myst series before I was able to play them on my own. Video games have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and they have had a significant impact on my life.

At Lindenwood University, where I obtained my BA in Game Design, I took a course called Writing for Game Design as an optional elective, but I had an interest in it beyond knocking out credit hours since creative writing has been a hobby of mine since childhood. This course enlightened me on how narrative should work in conjunction with the gameplay to enhance the user experience and interaction within the game. I have been applying that knowledge since then in game development projects. Since I consider myself a life-long learner, I didn't stop with just the class but have been actively reading books on the topic of narrative design in video games.

When I am not immersed in game development, be it a professional project or personal project, I like to spend time with my Belgian Sheepdogs, Willow and Tempo. They are my extra-hairy children, as I like to call them, and I value and love them just as much as I do my human child. Willow has been the light of my world since 2015 and through her I have met many other Belgian Sheepdogs and have come to love and adore the breed. Tempo has been my "bestest buddy" since 2023. You can expect me to share pictures of both of them, as well as any Belgian Sheepdog puppies I get in the future!