Michael Kiessling

Creative Director / World & Design Lead

Game Director Creative Director Art Director

Skills: Game Design Level Design Unreal Engine Blueprints (Unreal Engine) Environment Art Maya 3D Art Narrative Design Dialogue Writing

Veteran game developer and creative leader with 20 years of international experience across AAA, online, PC/console and mobile projects. Background spans art leadership, world and narrative design, quest/content direction, production and studio consulting

World Director
Arctic Hazard Game Studios | Remote | 09.2021 - Present

• Develop worldbuilding direction, design structure and modular workflows for Norse, a turn-based strategy title, in close collaboration with art direction.

• Shape creative foundations that connect setting, player progression, content readability and production feasibility.
  
  

Game Development Consultant
Freelance | Bayreuth, Germany | 11.2021 - Present

• Provide game-development consulting for small and start-up studios, focusing on game design, world design, art pipelines and production structure.

• Mentor regional game start-ups through Gameswerk / Games Bavaria, supporting creative development, team leadership and practical production guidance.
  
  

Creative Director
Leyou Technologies Holdings Ltd | Beijing, China | 05.2019 - 07.2020

• Directed creative development across internal projects, aligning design intent, worldbuilding, narrative direction, franchise expectations and production feasibility.

• Collaborated with mission, gameplay and world-design teams on Transformers: Rise; consulted on design and narrative for additional internal projects.
  
  

Product Director - Civilization Online
Leyou Technologies Holdings Ltd | Beijing, China | 09.2018 - 05.2019

• Developed world, quest and narrative frameworks for Civilization Online, connecting creative foundations with playable mission and content structures.
  
  

Content Director (World & Quests) - Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Ubisoft Chengdu | Chengdu, China | 03.2017 - 06.2018

• Directed the Chengdu world and quest team through multiple game regions, numerous small and medium-sized cities and 30+ quests.

• Aligned environmental storytelling, world structure, quest content and production quality with franchise and project expectations.

Associate Producer - Assassin’s Creed Origins
Ubisoft Chengdu | Chengdu, China | 03.2015 - 02.2017

• Helped build and lead a new world-design team responsible for several sub-regions, side quests and a side-activity feature, including substantial work on the Stone Circles puzzle and quest line.

• Coordinated production priorities, team communication and content quality across art, world and quest development.

Associate Producer - Assassin’s Creed Syndicate
Ubisoft Chengdu | Chengdu, China | 08.2014 - 03.2015

• Managed a team of artists during production of hundreds of props and vehicles, maintaining quality, throughput and franchise fit.

3D Art Lead
Kabam | Beijing, China | 12.2012 - 07.2014

• Managed the 3D art team for Blast Zone, including asset and level creation, optimization, art direction and recruitment.

• Led art team work during pre-production and prototyping for an unannounced iOS/Android title.

3D Art Director
Balanced Worlds | Beijing, China | 05.2011 - 12.2012

• Managed internal and outsourced artists during creation of levels, characters and props for a free-to-play arena shooter prototype.

Lead Technical Character Artist - The Secret World
Funcom | Beijing, China | 04.2010 - 05.2011

• Created character assets, documented and maintained production guidelines, and reviewed content to ensure pipeline and quality standards were met.

Lead Character Artist - Age of Conan
Funcom | Beijing, China | 02.2009 - 04.2010

• Led the Beijing Age of Conan art team, providing on-site training, asset review, technical-standard ownership and liaison support between Oslo and Beijing.

3D Artist
Funcom | Oslo, Norway | 01.2006 - 02.2009

• Created props, characters, monsters and player gear for Age of Conan.