Instructors
David Culyba
Dave received a B.S. in Computer Science and a Master’s in Entertainment Technology from Carnegie Mellon University. He has since worked at Electronic Arts as part of the team that created the computer game Spore, was a co-founder of the startup Interbots which worked on combining robotics and apps to create both entertainment and therapeutic experiences for kids, and is also one of the core members of the Alice research team working to create software to help teach students how to program. He is an active participant in game jams and was the co-organizer of the “Now I Get It!” jam.
Heather Kelley
Bio: Named in 2013 as one of the five most powerful women in gaming by Inc. magazine and in 2011 by Fast Company as one of the most influential women in technology, Ms. Kelley co-curated the groundbreaking 2012 exhibition Joue le jeu / Play Along at La Gaîté Lyrique in Paris, France. She is co-founder of Kokoromi, an experimental game collective with whom she has produced and curated the renowned GAMMA event promoting experimental games as creative expression in a social context. Heather’s extensive career in the games industry has included design and production of AAA next-gen console games, interactive smart toys, handheld games, research games, and web communities for girls. In 2008, she was Kraus Visiting Assistant Professor of Art and Adjunct Faculty at the Entertainment Technology Center, Carnegie Mellon University, where she organized The Art of Play symposium and art game arcade.
Team Members
Yue Wang
Yue Wang is a game designer and programmer interested in projects with good storytelling or innovative gameplay. With a background in digital media technology, Yue has the ability to 3D modeling and the knowledge of graphic rendering. Now Yue is improving her game design ability through learning at ETC.
Zezhong Wu
Zezhong Wu is an experienced 3D artist. Driven by his passion for gaming, he aims to continue his studies at CMU ETC about VFX and Tech artists. He loves making games and providing players with an outstanding visual experience.
Yile Xu
Yile is an East Asian (in specific, food and culture) who does straight entertainment (rather than gamification) with a focus on video games. His interests involve level design and combat design. He appreciates games with innovative gameplay and/or unique art styles.
Tingyu Yan
Tingyu (Polly) Yan is a game designer, UX designer, and creative producer. Her past project includes Three Kingdom: The Board Game, Phad Up The Emotion Shredder, and GDC Alt.Ctrl Yettibabes: Puppet in A Cult. With her background in industrial design, she takes her knowledge of 3D art, user-focused interaction design, and passion for the game and entertainment industry into her studies at CMU.
Ziqi Ye
Ziqi Ye is a technical artist and 3D generalist. His dedication to the work and motivation to grow has led him to many interesting projects and experiences.
Xuan Zhai
Xuan(James) Zhai is a gameplay programmer, a game designer, and a software engineer. He has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree, and he is pursuing his M.E.T at CMU Entertainment Technology Center. As a person who likes programming, he is also a fellow in the Upsilon Pi Epsilon honor society.