Game Overview
‍Project MOLD (PM) is a mobile roguelite game developed by Lagrange Studios, set in a dark, sci-fi world plagued by a mysterious contamination. The game is available as both a free-to-play (F2P) title and a premium offering in select stores. Inspired by iconic media such as the Alien franchise, Returnal, and Control, PM delivers a heavy atmosphere with a mix of metagame mechanics, in-game currencies, and multiple game modes. Aimed at midcore players, the game combines horror elements with strategic gameplay.

My Role
‍On Project MOLD, I took on dual responsibilities as both Head of Studio and Lead Game Designer. My role involved managing a team of up to 15 employees across various core game development disciplines, overseeing studio operations, and steering the game’s design direction. I was also responsible for handling the soft launch process and engaging in discussions with publishers.

Key Responsibilities

• Studio Leadership & Management
  • Managed overall studio operations, including business strategy, budgeting, and hiring
  • Created product roadmaps, ensuring alignment with the company's strategic goals
  • Led communications with C-level executives, focusing on both business and product strategies
  • Oversaw the soft launch process and managed negotiations with publishers
• Team Leadership & Development
  • Mentored and managed team members across all disciplines, from hiring to career development
  • Facilitated agile development processes by leading sprint planning and managing the product backlog
  • Conducted regular one-on-one meetings to ensure team alignment and growth
• Game Design & Feature Management
  • Directed the design and iteration of gameplay features, ensuring they aligned with player feedback and market trends
  • Managed the design team, overseeing the creation and balancing of mechanics, game modes, and progression systems
  • Conducted playtests and iterated on game content based on insights gathered
  • Focused on metagame design, balancing in-game currencies, and optimizing game modes for both F2P and premium audiences

Key Insights
‍Project MOLD was a unique and ambitious project, both in its genre and thematic execution. Despite not reaching its full market potential, the game was a valuable test of our approach to midcore mobile titles. The experience provided significant insights into the challenges of balancing complex mechanics within a mobile platform, as well as managing a team through the full development cycle. This project further honed my leadership skills and deepened my understanding of the mobile gaming market.