DigiPen Institute of Technology
BS in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation
- GPA: 3.7 / 4.0
Tommy Tang
Game Programmer
Gameplay · AI · Graphics · Engine Programming
About Me
I'm Tommy Tang — a game programmer with a focus on gameplay, AI, graphics, and engine programming. My comfort zone is C/C++, Unity, Unreal, and working close to the metal with OpenGL and custom engines.
I enjoy the parts of game development where systems, math, and performance meet: behavior trees, pathfinding, physics resolution, shader work, and the tools that make the rest of the team faster.
I'm a self-motivated engineer who takes pride in producing careful, maintainable work, and I collaborate well with artists and designers to turn ideas into shipped features.
Experience
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DigiPen Institute of Technology
Teaching Assistant
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Rayark Inc.
Quality Assurance Analyst
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So-Cayenne Entertainment
Unity Software Engineer
Education
National Taiwan University
BS in Chemical Engineering
Projects
Unity Game Jam
Project Hat: Wearing Too Many Hats
AI Programmer · Gameplay Programmer
A 20-hour entry for GMTK Jam 2024: Built to Scale. You collect small hats to upgrade into a larger hat that scales up your abilities — but collect too many of a single type and the scroll vanishes.
- Boss AI implemented with Unity animation events and a finite state machine
- Hat-collection scaling loop: collect small hats for an upgraded hat that scales your abilities
- Penalty mechanic: collecting too many of the same type makes the scroll disappear
Unity School Project
Raid Party
AI Programmer · Gameplay Programmer
A co-op raid game where up to four players dodge and attack in coordination to defeat the boss. I was responsible for boss skill mechanics and the pathfinding system.
- Boss skill mechanics designed and implemented end-to-end
- Pathfinding system for AI navigation
- Online co-op for up to four players
Unity School Project
Trinity Force
AI Programmer · Gameplay Programmer
A Gauntlet-like action game supporting three local players with motion control on Nintendo Switch. I implemented boss behavior with an animation-events system and integrated all art, animation, VFX and audio into gameplay.
- Boss behavior driven by an animation-events system
- Integrated models, animations, VFX, and audio into gameplay
- Local three-player with motion control on Nintendo Switch
Unity School Project
Sumo Spinning Top
Game Programmer
A four-player PvP brawler with motion control via four Joy-Cons. Push opponents out of the stage with a jump attack, or dash to dodge incoming attacks.
- Four-player PvP with motion control via four Joy-Cons
- Jump-attack push mechanic and dash-dodge
Unity Tech Demo
Hidden World
Programmer
A 3D tech demo for procedural content generation. Mazes are generated with a backtracking algorithm, producing a fresh world on every run.
- Procedurally generated 3D mazes using a backtracking algorithm
- Audio-reactive environment
Custom Engine School Project
Split Spirit
Physics Programmer · Gameplay Programmer
A 2D paper-lightbox-themed puzzle platformer built on a custom engine. I handled physics simulation (Euler integration, AABB / circle collision detection and resolution) and the player controller — input, movement, and object throwing for the core gameplay loop.
- Real-time physics simulation using a simple Euler integrator
- 2D AABB and circle collision detection / resolution
- Player controller, keyboard/mouse input, and object throwing
Custom Engine School Project
DEAL: Dark Pillar
Systems Programmer · Tools Programmer
A 2D deck-building strategy game inspired by Slay the Spire and classic SLGs. I built the button-tool framework, achievement, win/lose and main-menu systems, splash screen, and integrated art and audio assets.
- Button-tool framework used across UI
- Achievement, win/lose, main menu, and splash screen systems
- Art and audio asset pipeline integration
Other Tech Demo
Marine Ecosystem Simulator
Programmer
A tech demo of an advanced behavior tree that makes decisions via a utility system, applied to a marine ecosystem.
- Advanced behavior tree augmented with a utility-based decision system
Other Tech Demo
Game AI Projects
Programmer
Two related AI tech demos:
- Project 1 — A* pathfinding with a smoothed route and rubber-banding.
- Project 2 — Terrain analysis: occupancy map, influence map, visibility, search, and propagation functions. View Project 2
- A* pathfinding with path smoothing and rubber-banding
- Terrain analysis: occupancy map, influence map, visibility, search, and propagation
OpenGL School Project
OpenGL Graphic Engine
Programmer
A 3D graphics engine built on OpenGL. Supports both deferred and forward rendering, advanced lighting (spot, directional, point with Phong shading), and uses an octree for spatial partitioning.
- Both deferred and forward rendering paths
- Spot, directional, and point lighting with Phong shading
- Octree spatial partitioning
Skills
Languages
- C
- C++
- C#
- GLSL
- TypeScript
Engines & Graphics
- Unity
- Unreal
- OpenGL
- Custom Engine
- ImGUI
Computer Science
- Data Structures
- Algorithms
- Design Patterns
- 3D Math
- Game AI
Tools
- Git
- Perforce
- SVN
- WSL
- Notion
- Slack