I am Nicolas Tardif, a composer and senior sound designer with 12+ years of experience crafting immersive audio for video games. Based in Sapporo, Japan, I work remotely and collaborate with teams across time zones to deliver dynamic soundscapes that elevate gameplay. I've led teams, mentored fellow designers, and contributed to the audio design of more than 100 games, including branded content and marketing trailers. I'm passionate about blending creative direction with technical polish to enhance user experience and game mechanics.

Nicolas Tardif

PRO

I am Nicolas Tardif, a composer and senior sound designer with 12+ years of experience crafting immersive audio for video games. Based in Sapporo, Japan, I work remotely and collaborate with teams across time zones to deliver dynamic soundscapes that elevate gameplay. I've led teams, mentored fellow designers, and contributed to the audio design of more than 100 games, including branded content and marketing trailers. I'm passionate about blending creative direction with technical polish to enhance user experience and game mechanics.

Available to hire

I am Nicolas Tardif, a composer and senior sound designer with 12+ years of experience crafting immersive audio for video games. Based in Sapporo, Japan, I work remotely and collaborate with teams across time zones to deliver dynamic soundscapes that elevate gameplay.

I’ve led teams, mentored fellow designers, and contributed to the audio design of more than 100 games, including branded content and marketing trailers. I’m passionate about blending creative direction with technical polish to enhance user experience and game mechanics.

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Experience Level

Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Beginner
Beginner
Beginner
Beginner
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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Sound Designer at High 5 Games
July 1, 2012 - May 1, 2025
-Composed, sound-designed, and produced audio content for over 100 games, delivering 80+ complete sound packages. -Led a team of four Composer/Sound Designers, providing mentorship and creative direction (2018-2021). -Developed original UI soundscapes and SFX for Shake the Sky Casino, an Asian-themed mobile app. -Contributed to the audio design of High 5 Casino, optimizing user interaction through SFX. -Collaborated with game designers to integrate audio systems that enhance gameplay mechanics. -Partnered with the Game Innovation team to conceptualize and implement new themes. -Produced trailer sound design for marketing and B2B content.
Sound Designer at High 5 Games
January 1, 2020 - September 25, 2025
Composed, sound-designed, and produced audio content for over 100 games, delivering 80+ complete sound packages. Led a four-person team of composer/sound designers, providing mentorship and creative direction that elevated audio quality and consistency across titles. Collaborated with game designers, producers, and QA to integrate audio systems that enhanced gameplay, narrative, and user experience. Created original UI soundscapes and SFX for Shake the Sky Casino (Asia-themed mobile app) and contributed to casino game audio, optimizing player interaction through responsive, polished sound design.
Senior Sound Designer at High 5 Games
January 1, 2025 - September 25, 2025
Guided audio direction for a growing portfolio of titles at High 5 Games, producing and refining sound packages for 100+ games across mobile and PC platforms. Mentored a four-person team of designers, enabling creative development and cross-functional collaboration across design, art, and production. Drove audio system integration in collaboration with game designers to optimize gameplay feel and audio performance, including on UI and FX for casino games, trailers, and marketing assets. Led initiatives to improve mixing pipelines and asset re-use, reducing production time while maintaining high sonic quality.
Sound Designer at High 5 Games
January 1, 2020 - September 25, 2025
Composed, sound-designed, and produced audio content for over 100 games, delivering 80+ complete sound packages. Led a team of four Composer/Sound Designers, providing mentorship and creative direction (2018-2021). Developed original UI soundscapes and SFX for Shake the Sky Casino, an Asian-themed mobile app. Contributed to the audio design of High 5 Casino, optimizing user interaction through SFX. Collaborated with game designers to integrate audio systems that enhance gameplay mechanics. Partnered with the Game Innovation team to conceptualize and implement new themes. Produced trailer sound design for marketing and B2B content.
Senior Sound Designer at High 5 Games
January 1, 2025 - September 25, 2025
Led a team of four Composer/Sound Designers, providing mentorship and creative direction; delivered audio for over 100 titles; developed original UI soundscapes and SFX; improved gameplay through sound design; collaborated with game designers; created trailer sound design for marketing and B2B content; contributed to audio systems and new themes across titles.
Sound Designer at High 5 Games
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2020
Composed, sound designed, and produced audio content for over 100 games, delivering 80+ complete sound packages. Led a team of four Composer/Sound Designers, providing mentorship and creative direction (2018-2021). Developed original UI soundscapes and SFX for Shake the Sky Casino, an Asian-themed mobile app. Contributed to the audio design of High 5 Casino, optimizing user interaction through SFX. Collaborated with game designers to integrate audio systems that enhance gameplay mechanics. Partnered with the Game Innovation team to conceptualize and implement new themes. Produced trailer sound design for marketing and B2B content.
Senior Sound Designer at High 5 Games
January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025
Advanced from Sound Designer to Senior Sound Designer, continuing to craft immersive audio for over 100 games and leading cross-functional collaboration across design and production teams.

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Music, Emphasis in Jazz Studies at Central Connecticut State University
September 1, 1998 - April 30, 2004
Bachelor of Arts in Music at Central Connecticut State University
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2004
Bachelor of Arts in Music, Emphasis in Jazz Studies at Central Connecticut State University
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2004
Bachelor of Arts in Music at Central Connecticut State University
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2004

Qualifications

Shadow of the Panther Infinity - EGKS Slot Award 2023: Most Innovative Slot
January 1, 2023 - September 12, 2025
Private instruction in Harmony, Counterpoint, and Composition with Juilliard professor Kendall Durelle Briggs
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2019
Private instruction in Harmony, Counterpoint, and Composition with Juilliard professor Kendal Durelle Briggs
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2019

Industry Experience

Gaming, Professional Services, Other, Media & Entertainment, Software & Internet
    uniE603 Wedding Recessional Music
    This a piece I wrote and performed at a friend's wedding recently. We then recorded it for them to have as a nice memory. music instrumental soundtrack
    uniE603 Hidden in These Woods
    Dark ambient and electronic elements combine in this atmosphereic adventure.... music instrumental filmscore soundtrack
    uniE603 Block Party
    Dance, Funk, and Pop elements combine for this upbeat project! music instrumental jingle soundtrack dance pop funk
    uniE603 Run Amuck Ambient Score
    This project for High 5 Games required a zany and cartoon-y touch. A lab experiment gone wrong creates some goofy creatures that multiply like gremlins. music gamemusic underscore soundtrack humorous synth
    uniE603 They Found Him
    Orchestral, dramatic, and moody scoring. I composed, arranged, and mixed this theme. music instrumental soundtrack orchestral
    uniE603 Bankrush Bonanza
    This is an excerpt from an underscore for High 5 Games' popular game Bankrush Bonanza, a spaghetti western-themed slot game. The Task here was to emulate classic Morricone scores while keeping a modern feel and fidelity. I composed and mixed the score, and played live acoustic and electric guitars on the scores as well. music game music composition soundtrack
    uniE603 Cannon Cove
    This is an excerpt from one of several underscores for High 5 Games' "Cannon Cove". The task was to create an eerie and dark atmosphere for a seafaring adventure slot game. This underscore includes synths, drums, and live recorded upright bass. I did all of the composition and sound design for Cannon Cove. music instrumental soundtrack