Journey
2019
Inspiration
I became interested in game development during high-school. Inspired by how much creativity could be expressed through simple pixel art games like Undertale and Baba Is You, I started teaching myself to make simple arcade games in Gamemaker Studio 2.
2020
Solo Passion Project
I began working on a passion project that could incorporate some of my arcade-style gameplay projects as minigames within a larger experience. I took inspiration from Nintendo Games such as Super Mario 64, Super Mario Party, and the more niche "Carnival Games" for the DS. I aimed to create a colourful kids game set in a carnival, that could function both as an exciting non-linear world to explore for single player, and a diverse and chaotic party game for two players.
2021
Game Jams and Networking
My carnival game turned into "Baldwin's Bear", and I started planning how I would release it. I realised the game didn't stand out enough, so I transitioned from pixel-art to clay-mation. This allowed me to create a unique and charming artstyle even with my limited resources.
I also became more involved in local and online game dev communities, attending events such as Beer and Pixels and participating in game jams.
2022
Game Released
I released Baldwin's Bear on Steam in April, and took a short break from game development to focus on my HSC.
2023
Study
With a Steam game and a few Itch.io projects under my belt, I was offered an opportunity to study Game Design at the Academy of Interactive Entertainment Sydney. This was a big shift in my approach to game development - I knew how to make my own passion projects, but studying helped me take a more professional approach.
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I applied myself to learning all that I could about target markets, gameplay loops, iterative design, and anything that would help me transition from a solo hobbyist to a professional Game Designer.
2024
Prototyping
I continued in my Advanced Diploma of Games Design, but outside of Uni I started making a lot of small prototypes in my spare time, to expand my portfolio and skillset.
Industry Experience
In the second half of the year I was offered a paid internship doing Quality Assurance for SMG Studios' biggest project yet. Initially it was only planned to be for about 3 months, but once I learned the ropes and established myself as a valuable member of the team, my contract was extended for 8 months (through to the end of the year).
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I also did some Level Design for the studio's multiplayer puzzle game Death Squared. Having made a few of my own puzzle games, the opportunity to make some levels for a professional project and recieve feedback from a Senior Designer was very validating and informative.
Hi there! I'm Oscar Newsome, a Game Designer and Level Designer with a deep passion for creating memorable experiences for others. Lately I've been specialising in level design with a focus on engaging puzzles.
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If you would like to contact me please reach out via email at oscarnewsome@outlook.com, or connect with me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/oscar-newsome/.
You can click here to download my Resume.
If you would like to play any of the games shown on this site, you can find them on at https://itch.io/profile/scaroficous.