Joel Southall — Game Developer & Narrative Designer
Crafting engaging stories and innovative gameplay through professional writing, indie game development, and technical innovation.
Featured Projects
These projects showcase my expertise in narrative design, game mechanics, and collaborative development in both professional and indie settings.
Hunter Hunted
A fast-paced arcade game where you embody a fearsome cryptid by day and flee in terror by night.
Role: Narrative Designer, Gameplay Mechanic Designer
Skills Demonstrated:
JavaScript/TypeScript, Pixi.JS, gameplay mechanics, team collaboration
Technologies Used: Pixi.JS, TypeScript, Planck for physics.
Details:
Developed during the 2022 Global Game Jam at the Bitforest site, with Mindfire Games LLC.
Combines simple yet engaging controls with increasing difficulty as days shorten and nights grow longer.
Features dynamic physics and top-down arcade action.
Links:
Play Now: Hunter Hunted
Source Repository: Git Repository
Starfinder Bounty #9: Burning Ambitions
A Starfinder RPG bounty designed for 4th-level characters, published by Paizo.
Role: Author
Skills Used: Narrative design, encounter design, collaborative writing.
Purchase on Paizo
Indie & Personal Projects
OrcKnuckle (In Development)
A text-based dice game written in Python, blending humor and strategy.
Role: Sole Developer
Skills Used: Python, game logic, terminal UI.
GitHub Repository
Goblin Jeer Generator
A PHP-based web game featuring randomized goblin humor.
Links: Live Demo
Role: Sole Developer
Skills Demonstrated: PHP scripting, modular design, creative writing.
Status: Live.
VAD
A text-based adventure game made in under 48 hours for #TextJam2014, inspired by classic parser-based games like Adventure.
Role: Writer, Room/Encounter Designer
Skills Demonstrated:
Narrative design for interactive fiction.
Encounter and room design with branching gameplay.
Collaborative development under tight deadlines.
Technologies Used:
Language: C
Libraries: ncurses/PDCurses
Details:
Contributed narrative content and encounter design for a minimalist text-based game engine.
Designed engaging, player-driven scenarios to maximize immersion in a limited text interface.
Developed during #TextJam2014 as a collaborative effort to explore interactive storytelling.
Links:
Professional Contributions
When Rivers Were Trails
IndieCade 2019 award-winning educational point-and-click adventure exploring Indigenous resilience.
Role: Contributing Writer
Skills Used: Narrative design, collaborative storytelling.
Learn More
Pathfinder NPC Core
A comprehensive collection of over 250 NPCs for Pathfinder 2nd Edition.
Role: Contributing Writer
Skills Demonstrated: Lore creation, RPG stat block development, collaborative writing.
Details: Wrote NPC lore and mechanics to support easy integration into campaigns.
Links: Paizo Product Page
Starfinder Bounty #9: Burning Ambitions
A Starfinder RPG bounty designed for 4th-level characters, published by Paizo.
Role: Author
Skills Used: Narrative design, encounter design, collaborative writing.
Purchase on Paizo
Cultural Consultant for Paizo
Advised on the implementation of a monster inspired by Ojibwe legend for Pathfinder.
Impact: Helped align creative goals with accurate representation, contributing to an inclusive and engaging gaming experience.
Role: Cultural Consultant
Skills Demonstrated: Cultural sensitivity, Indigenous knowledge, academic research.
Details: Provided insights into Ojibwe culture and philosophy to ensure respectful and authentic adaptation of Indigenous mythology for an RPG setting.
Educational Games
Blackfoot Word of the Day App
A mobile app delivering daily Indigenous words and translations to promote language learning.
Links: Blackfoot Word of the Day App
Role: React Native Developer (Intern)
Skills Demonstrated: Mobile app development, React Native, API integration.
Details: Built the app for Android and iOS during an internship with Native Teaching Aids.
Status: Near-production.
Mindfire Games LLC
As co-founder of Mindfire Games LLC, I’ve spearheaded narrative design and creative direction for unique indie projects, focusing on innovative gameplay and immersive storytelling.
Role: Co-founder, Narrative Designer, Creative Director
Responsibilities:
Collaborated with team members on game design and mechanics.
Developed original storylines, settings, and lore for multiple in-development games.
Directed art and creative vision for project assets.
At Mindfire Games LLC, I’ve led narrative design and creative direction for innovative indie game projects, bringing immersive worlds and engaging mechanics to life.
Projects
1. Metroidvania-Inspired Multiplayer Platformer
A multiplayer platformer blending Metroidvania exploration with Risk of Rain-style progression.
- Role: Lead Narrative Designer and Worldbuilder
- Contributions:
- Created an original universe and backstory for the game’s world and characters.
- Designed gameplay elements that integrate story progression with exploration.
- Directed art and thematic design.
- Status: In development.
- Skills Demonstrated: Narrative design, worldbuilding, art direction, collaborative game mechanics.
2. Command & Conquer-Inspired RTS Game
A real-time strategy game inspired by the tactical depth and style of Command & Conquer, set in a unique original universe.
- Role: Lead Narrative Designer and Creative Director
- Contributions:
- Built the game’s lore and world from the ground up, focusing on faction design and interwoven narratives.
- Worked closely with developers to align story elements with gameplay mechanics.
- Designed dynamic gameplay elements influenced by story-driven objectives.
- Status: In development.
- Skills Demonstrated: Narrative design, worldbuilding, collaborative game mechanics, team leadership.
Hunter Hunted
A fast-paced arcade game where you embody a fearsome cryptid by day and flee in terror by night.
Role: Narrative Designer, Gameplay Mechanic Designer
Skills Demonstrated:
JavaScript/TypeScript, Pixi.JS, gameplay mechanics, team collaboration
Technologies Used: Pixi.JS, TypeScript, Planck for physics.
Details:
Developed during the 2022 Global Game Jam at the Bitforest site.
Combines simple yet engaging controls with increasing difficulty as days shorten and nights grow longer.
Features dynamic physics and top-down arcade action.
Links:
Play Now: Hunter Hunted
Source Repository: Git Repository
About ME
I’m Joel Southall, a game developer, narrative designer, and co-founder of Mindfire Games LLC, an indie studio dedicated to crafting original universes and engaging gameplay experiences. My work spans professional RPG writing, indie game development, and educational tools, with contributions to Paizo’s Starfinder and Pathfinder franchises, as well as the award-winning When Rivers Were Trails.
With a Master’s degree in Philosophy, I bring a deep understanding of storytelling, ethics, and critical thinking to my creative work. My technical expertise is backed by a Software Development AAS degree and certifications in web design, front-end development, database management, and mobile app development. These qualifications enable me to tackle projects from concept to completion, blending creative vision with technical execution.
At Mindfire Games, I lead creative direction and narrative design for in-development projects, including a Metroidvania-inspired multiplayer platformer and a Command & Conquer-style RTS game. My passion lies in blending immersive storytelling with innovative gameplay mechanics to create memorable experiences for players.
In addition to game development, I specialize in web and graphic design. Explore more of my work here:
Explore My Web Design Portfolio — Explore websites I’ve designed, showcasing responsive layouts, clean aesthetics, and functionality.
View My Graphic Design Gallery — View posters, branding, and other visual projects I’ve worked on.
I’m always open to new opportunities, collaborations, and creative challenges. Let’s connect and build something amazing together!
Contact
Let’s Connect!
I’m always open to new opportunities and collaborations. Feel free to reach out via email or connect with me on LinkedIn or GitHub.
Email: greatlynxdesigns@gmail.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joelmaxsouthall
GitHub: github.com/Vexmage