Programming Service

I have always loved and been fascinated by programming, applications, engines, and technology. I get excited about it, and quickly learn everything I can. I started with HTML in 2007, and proceeded to learn Java and Python not too long after. I have since continued to sporadically learn or refresh programming languages just for fun and just in case. In 2009, I started learning MMF2, a 2D game engine that was my introduction to game design and programming.

I toyed with some 3D engines, including Unity, but in 2012, I found UDK3 to be my favorite and started learning. I primarily started as an artist, especially since I had to start learning UnrealScript. I hadn't done much in UDK3 before it's successor UE4 came out. I became hesitant on continuing in 3, taking care of bills before deciding if I can afford the $20/month to use UE4. But in 2015, it became free. I immediately trashed my project in UDK3 and started learning UE4, again learning the engine and making new art first before diving into programming.

I was still very eager to learn how to program in UE4 since they were finally utilizing industry-standard C++ that I had been eager to learn. I was also very excited about Unreal Blueprints programming because it looked cool, and sounded way faster than typing everything out. I built out some tests and prototypes of various mechanics and ideas while learning before restarting my previous project with UE4 in 2016. I continued learning, practicing, sometimes nearly every moment that I wasn't at work or with friends, I was doing game development.

In 2019, I joined the Seattle Indies and learned about Global Game Jam through them and got to participate in that for the first time. By the end of it, I had made a somewhat decent game by myself within the 48 hour constraint. Because of this and my affiliation with Seattle Indies, I got to network with more industry professionals and indies, and I got to present my games at events like Pocket/PC Gamer Connects. I started feeling more confident and excited about game development because of the community and pushed myself more. I focused more on my game development, participated in more game jams, and even went back to give Unity and C# another try, which I enjoyed learning and using this time around.

2020. Yeah, we were all there and have our own negative stories. Despite loving getting to work remotely from my job, I gradually lost steam for a bit without the community of the Seattle Indies and events to prepare for. But things eventually improved more in 2021 and I continued developing my games more. January of 2022, I also got my first contract in the industry as a senior game developer with Digital Double. In spring of the same year, I got an invite back to Pocket/PC Gamer Connects to exhibit one of my games, which made me decide to switch focus to developing a different title. My focus has remained on said title since the one I was focused on was overly-optimistic, and had primarily just been a tool to test my limits as a developer.

Now, in 2023, I have established NinjArtNinJosh LLC, which I am hoping this very page of my business will entice someone (you, perhaps?) to contract me as a developer, preferably under a contract where I can continue working with Digital Double. Regardless, I will continue to work, learn, practice, and use programming and game development. It's fun, it's important to me, and I am damn good at it. Don't believe me? My lead on my second developer contract is quoted saying, "Right now, my new dev is doing in 2 days what my previous dev was taking 2 months to do."