LORI HYRUP

Design Manager, Creative, WB GAMES (MONOLITH), San Francisco, CA                                            2022 - Present

Wonder Woman (PS5, Xbox Series)

• Managed the design and narrative department of over 50 designers and writers, from ICs to directors

• Responsible for department hiring, training, growth, team assignments, etc.​

• Grew people to leadership positions where they were recognized for their work and leadership

• Directed design for multiple teams, including game content, world, features, systems, and technical

• Served as the project’s IP expert and guided all design and narrative teams with use of the Wonder Woman IP

• Built out the fiction of our piece of the DC universe

• Coordinated co-development across two WBD studios. Collaborated with external stakeholders

• Drove project-related vision documents and presentations

• Responsible for the project’s large, 300+ page GDD

• Established and trained department in design documentation standards

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Game Director, DECK NINE GAMES, Westminster, CO                                                                                     2020 – 2021

Life is Strange: Double Exposure

• Led the vision, narrative, game design, and development for Life is Strange: Double Exposure​​

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Game Design Lead & Producer (Contract), ENDLESS STUDIOS San Francisco, CA                               2019 – 2020

Several Games (PC, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux)

• Managed multiple external teams while overseeing game design and development of multiple games and our associated gaming platform, Terminal Two

• All games on Terminal Two focus on fun while also providing and reinforcing kids (8-14) with the logic and principles of various aspects of programming. The games are on PC, Mac, Mobile, and Linux

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Co-Founder/Creative Director / Producer, MADORIUM INC., San Francisco, CA                                      2016 – 2019

The Puppet of Tersa & other games (PC, macOS)

• Co-founded Madorium Inc., an indie studio focused on visually unique games for console, PC, VR, and mobile

• Led for all creative, narrative, game design, and production across multiple titles, including The Puppet of Tersa, a narratively driven point-and-click adventure

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Creative Director, KABAM INC., San Francisco, CA                                                                                             2014 – 2016

Star Wars: Uprising (iOS, Android), Project Embersoul, Project Flagship

• Liaised with Lucas Arts and Disney to deliver new canonized story experience for Star Wars: Uprising, directed the award-winning narrative design across multiple disciplines, and authored 40,000 words worth of content

• Developed original IP and led creative vision for “Project Embersoul” and “Project Flagship”

• Collaborated with a strike-team of directors to plan the reorganization and structure of game teams in the San Francisco office

 

Freelance Game Designer/Creative Director/Producer (Contract)                                                             2011 – 2014

• Contracted with mobile start-up companies to provide guidance and development for multiple games

Clandestine: Anomaly (iOS, Android – Client: Zenfri)

• Led game design

Reflectoids (iOS, Android – Client: Tin Truck), Grem Legends 2 (iOS, Android – Client: Tin Truck)

• Composed backstory, narrative, content, and core game design for Reflectoids

• Led design and UI/UX flow for Grem Legends 2

Battle Tails (iOS, Android – Client: Chocobots)

• Analyzed design, directed, and tested support for Battle Tails

Family Village (iOS, Android – Client: Funium)

• Directed event content for Family Village

March on Oz (iOS - Client: City State Entertainment), Oz Defender (iOS - Client: City State Entertainment)

• Vetted design and provided testing support for March on Oz and Oz Defender

Hero Town (iOS, Android– Client: Second Star Interactive)

• Led vision, design, sprints, and deliverables for Hero Town

 

Studio Lead Designer/ Producer/ Project Manager, BIGPOINT INC., San Francisco, CA                        2011 – 2012

Battlestar Galactica Online (PC)

• Created and maintained game vision by collaborating with players and developers to define the game, identify target audience, and the intended type of gameplay

• Monitored, planned, and developed monetization initiatives around performance analytics

• Managed a team of senior designers. Screened, interviewed, and hired designer candidates

• Spearheaded the studio’s greenlight process, inviting developers to submit concepts, vetting, and providing feedback

• Employed approved concepts to develop future games

• Wrote several feature designs and/or implemented features and content

• Executed producer and project management functions for Battlestar Galactica

• Key Achievements:

• Developed design department to provide each designer with career guidance and design feedback

• Significantly reduced implementation time and grew efficiency for game designers and live operations by spearheading tool design and development for Unity-based design tools

 

EA / BIOWARE / MYTHIC ENTERTAINMENT, Fairfax, VA                                                                                    1996– 2010

Lead Designer / Producer [Dark Age of Camelot Franchise]     (2009– 2010)

Facilitated “green light” team. Drafted/planned all milestone goals and live game updates for Dark Age of Camelot. Headed and planned all design-related initiatives. Led team comprised of designers, artists, engineers, and producers.

Key Achievements:

• Specially selected for “green light” team, developing a proposal for the game that was extremely well received by senior management.

 

Dark Age of Camelot (PC), Warhammer Online (PC & Mac)  (2008-2009)

• Managed the UI team tasked with identifying and fixing UI bugs, re-designing game interface, and implementing new design

• Lead 3rd party production for the Mac version of Warhammer Online

• Directed development team for Dark Age of Camelot that delivered bi-monthly game updates, Live Op events, and expanded content

 

Key Achievements:

• Increased revenue for Dark Age of Camelot 20% through strategic game designs implementations, live events new content, and retention-focused game updates. Led to reversal in decision to sunset the game

• Raised subscriptions for first time in 5 years for Dark Age of Camelot, by initiating regular cycle of player-to-developer chat, developer diaries, and open communication. Ultimately prevented shutdown

 

Creative Producer/Design/Narrative Director (2007 – 2008) [Dark Age of Camelot Franchise & Ultima Online]

Dark Age of Camelot (PC), Ultima Online (PC)

• Managed 12-person development team for Dark Age of Camelot to deliver bi-monthly game updates, introduce Live Op events, and release expansion content

• Increased revenue for Dark Age of Camelot 20% by implementing strategic game designs, new content, and retention-focused game updates, causing a reversal in the decision to sunset the game

• Prevented shutdown and increased subscriptions for first time in 5 years (for Dark Age of Camelot) by initiating regular cycle of player-to-developer chat, developer diaries, and open communication

• Requested to lead and manage the UI team consisting of 10 members for Warhammer Online to identify and fix UI bugs, re-design game interface, and implement the new design

• Managed 3rd party production for the Mac version of Warhammer Online

 

Associate Producer II (2005 – 2007) [Dark Age of Camelot, Ultima Online]

Content Director (2003 – 2005) [Imperator Online]

Lead Content Designer (1997 – 2003) [Dark Age of Camelot, Darkness Falls]

Assistant Producer, Many Games/ Lead Game Designer (1997 – 2001) [Dragon’s Gate]

Assistant Producer/ Lead Game Designer (1996 – 1997)