Daniel Mercer
Design
projects

AAA designer at Cloud Imperium Games & indie dev in my spare time

Quick links

Featured · Now Testing

Pompous - Party Game

Now in
closed alpha testing

A multiplayer party game where you must use outrageous words and not get caught. Join the closed alpha and play now on Android (First join the tester group, then join either via google play or through the web).

1. Join the tester group 2a. Join via Google Play 2b. OR Join via the web

All work

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About
me

I'm Dan - a Game Designer currently working as an AI Designer at Cloud Imperium Games on Squadron 42. I focus on systems design, technical design, and gameplay design, i also have an interest in developing my own indie projects.

Available for freelance & contract

Background

I'm a games designer with a focus on systems design, technical design, and gameplay/combat design. I've been working professionally in the industry since graduating, with a career that spans AAA production and independent development running simultaneously.

I love video games - and I love creating them even more. Some of my favourites: the Soulsborne collection, Borderlands 2, Divinity: Original Sin, Warframe, and Assassin's Creed.

At Cloud Imperium Games I work on AI behaviour within the Star Citizen and Squadron 42 universe - designing AI that brings life and immersiveness to the vast emptiness of space. It's some of the most ambitious AI design work in the industry, and I work closely with engineering, art, and narrative to get it right.

Outside of CIG, I work on multiple personal indie projects, with Pompous being released on the Google Play Store on Android, and active development on Dregs, a co-op FPS targeting release on Steam.

Dan Mercer

Knowledge & tools

Engines

Unreal Engine Unity CryEngine / StarEngine

Code & scripting

Blueprints Behaviour Trees C# Currently learning C++ Python

Art & production

Adobe Suite Blender 3DS Max Substance Designer Substance Painter

Pipeline & misc

Perforce Git Microsoft Office Audacity

Experience

2023 - Present

AI Designer

Cloud Imperium Games · Manchester

AI behaviour design on Squadron 42. Working on AI systems within the Star Citizen universe - designing combat, pre-combat, and ambient AI to bring life to space. Cross-discipline collaboration with engineering, art, and narrative.

2022 - Present

Director & Indie Developer

Firestone Games Ltd · Remote

Founded and run a UK limited company producing original games. Shipped Pompous (Android) and am actively developing Dregs - a co-op FPS in UE5 targeting Steam.