I am Zach Gross, a recent graduate of University of Wisconsin-Stout’s B.S. Computer Science program with an emphasis on Game Design and Development. While there, I obtained experience both as a software engineer and as a game designer. Additionally, my studies exposed me to a number of technologies, giving me experience with them and teaching me to learn new systems without much trouble.

While I picked up my passion for programming in eighth grade, my passion for creating entertaining experiences for others goes back even further. It was in elementary school that I first became aware of how much I enjoyed creating games. I enjoyed creating games for the sake of using my imagination, but what ended up being the most impactful factor was the feeling of satisfaction upon seeing my friends enjoy what I had created. I love to create as an exercise of creativity, but the idea of my creation being experienced and appreciated by others is by far my greatest goal. I eventually decided the best way to channel my creative desire was through computers, which is what set me on my current path, starting with my first official programming class in middle school.

Since then, I have taken numerous classes pertaining to programming, computer science, and game design over the course of high school and college. One of the biggest reasons I was drawn to UW-Stout was the repeated mentioning of “learning to learn” during a tour. The concept being that technology develops so fast that what many students may learn would quickly become obsolete. To combat this, UW-Stout focuses on a variety of languages and tools, to teach its students to learn new things and to research what is not known about these new tools. I have always been a fan of learning--I’ve always enjoyed expanding what tools I can use and what things I know. In addition to other things, my college education has strengthened my ability to research and learn new tools and systems.

Over the years, I have worked quite extensively with C#, Java, and JavaScript, with some experience with C++ and Python as well. Though I have worked in Unreal Engine before, my preferred game engine is Unity. Furthermore, I have experience with databases--primarily SQL databases--and web development. That all being said, I am always more than happy to learn something new.

When I think about the career I’d like to someday have, I think of both design and implementation. I have experience with and love both of these aspects of game development. I love the process of creating a game’s mechanics, deciding how its systems will operate, and defining the design pillars of a game. But, just as much, I love the implementation, the puzzle of the code, and having a hand in turning a blank screen into an interactive experience.

When I’m not actively designing or programming, I enjoy a variety of games, including video games--such as Borderlands, Monster Hunter, and Slay the Spire--and tabletop games--such as Magic: The Gathering, Keyforge, Dice Throne, Gloomhaven, and Betrayal Legacy.