Hello! I’m a professional game designer and instructor with three decades of experience in Game Design, Graphic Design, Digital Development, 3D Modeling and Animation, Narrative Design, and Instruction. I have a proven track record of leading educational programs and developing innovative curricula, helping students and teams bring bold ideas to life. Currently I design narrative content for Mars Games and lead game design and pedagogy initiatives at Pima Community College. I enjoy crafting engaging stories, systems, and prototypes that bridge creative vision with practical production, and I thrive in collaborative environments that push creative boundaries. I also have eleven years of tabletop game design and development.…

Roger Alan Cotton Jr.

Hello! I’m a professional game designer and instructor with three decades of experience in Game Design, Graphic Design, Digital Development, 3D Modeling and Animation, Narrative Design, and Instruction. I have a proven track record of leading educational programs and developing innovative curricula, helping students and teams bring bold ideas to life. Currently I design narrative content for Mars Games and lead game design and pedagogy initiatives at Pima Community College. I enjoy crafting engaging stories, systems, and prototypes that bridge creative vision with practical production, and I thrive in collaborative environments that push creative boundaries. I also have eleven years of tabletop game design and development.…

Available to hire

Hello! I’m a professional game designer and instructor with three decades of experience in Game Design, Graphic Design, Digital Development, 3D Modeling and Animation, Narrative Design, and Instruction. I have a proven track record of leading educational programs and developing innovative curricula, helping students and teams bring bold ideas to life.

Currently I design narrative content for Mars Games and lead game design and pedagogy initiatives at Pima Community College. I enjoy crafting engaging stories, systems, and prototypes that bridge creative vision with practical production, and I thrive in collaborative environments that push creative boundaries.

I also have eleven years of tabletop game design and development.

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Skills

Experience Level

Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Narrative Designer at Mars Games
October 1, 2024 - November 12, 2025
Created narrative design content for an in-development multiplayer skirmish computer game. Character designs, equipment, skills, and quest design. Designed the rules for a role-playing game version of the computer game, and created extensive content for it.
Instructional Faculty - Discipline Lead at Pima Community College - West Campus
August 1, 2023 - November 12, 2025
Lecture on topics including: Game Design and Mechanics, Game Theory, Narrative Design, Game Writing, Analog and Digital Prototyping, Project Management, Playtesting Methodology, and User Research. Develop Curriculum: lectures, assessments, tutorials, worksheets, and supplemental information documents. Organize and moderate online discussion panels with industry professionals. Perform outreach to area high schools to present the degree program to prospective students.
Adjunct - Unity 3D Programming at Pima Community College
May 1, 2023 - May 1, 2023
Taught five courses in Game Design and Programming for the AAS degree program. Lectured and developed new curriculum.
Lead 3D Game Art Instructor at Coding Dojo
August 1, 2022 - August 1, 2022
Developed 3D Game Art and Animation curriculum for the Saudi Digital Academy's School of Gaming initiative in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Game Designer at Armchair Adventuring, LLC.
March 1, 2022 - March 1, 2022
Designed 2D and 3D game art assets for clients who successfully funded through Kickstarter to publish tabletop games. Designed board games and card games. Wrote rules booklets and marketing collateral. Promoted products at conventions and trade shows.
3D Animation Producer at Eboncourt Entertainment, LLC.
July 1, 2012 - July 1, 2012
Produced web advertising animations for marketing and telecommunications companies. Created 3D models for real-time game development. Modeled and textured assets for an educational game produced by the University of California at Davis.
Lead Game Design Instructor at ITT Technical Institute
December 1, 2010 - December 1, 2010
Taught five courses in Game Design and two courses in multimedia design.
Game Level Designer at Pacific Beach Digital
July 1, 2005 - July 1, 2005
Created 3D game art assets for console game projects developed by Sony Computer Entertainment, Square, and Pacific Beach Digital.
3D Previsualization Animator at Sony Computer Entertainment USA
January 1, 2005 - January 1, 2005
Contracted to create previsualization animations for the game series SOCOM 3: US Navy Seals.
Adjunct Instructor at San Diego Mesa College
August 1, 2004 - August 1, 2004
Taught two sections of Beginning 3D Animation.
Adjunct Faculty Instructor at San Diego State University
December 1, 2003 - December 1, 2003
Taught two Maya 3D Animation courses to students in the Film and Television Department.
Game Level Designer at Pacific Beach Digital
August 1, 2003 - August 1, 2003
Designed and implemented game levels for Lords of EverQuest by Sony Online Entertainment and Call of Duty by Sony Computer Entertainment.
Guest 3D Animation Instructor at Digital Animation and Visual Effects School
April 1, 2002 - April 1, 2002
Taught 3D modeling and animation techniques to special effects students.
Director of Multimedia at Platt College-San Diego
December 1, 2001 - December 1, 2001
Managed the Multimedia Department, taught Multimedia and 3D Animation courses, evaluated portfolios, organized public events that promoted the program at Platt. Supervised student assistants and staff. Developed the program curriculum.
Lead 3D Character Animator at eMusement, Inc.
September 1, 2001 - September 1, 2001
Created 3D Character animation clips for Heroes vs Villains , an in-development MMO funded by Square, Inc.
Director of Education at VisionScape Interactive LLC
February 1, 1999 - February 1, 1999
Coordinated, marketed, and taught training programs for industry professionals and students. Also created 3D models and animations for clients. Worked on projects such as EverQuest by Sony Online Entertainment, and Krazy Kartz by Hasbro.
Game Content Designer at The Lightspan Partnership
September 1, 1996 - September 1, 1996
Designed language arts content for children's educational games. Also, design game levels, and conducted playtesting at area elementary school
Unity 3D Programming at Pima Community College
May 1, 2023 - May 1, 2023
Taught five courses in Game Design and Programming for the AAS degree program; lectured and developed new curriculum.
Game Level Designer | Contractor at Pacific Beach Digital
July 1, 2005 - July 1, 2005
Created 3D game art assets for console game projects developed by Sony Computer Entertainment, Square, and Pacific Beach Digital.
Game Designer / Graphic Designer at Armchair Adventuring, LLC.
January 1, 2012 - March 1, 2022
Designed 2D and 3D game art assets for nine tabletop games funded through Kickstarter. Designed board games and card games. Wrote rules booklets and graphically designed marketing collateral. Promoted products at conventions and trade shows.
3D Animation Producer at Eboncourt Entertainment, LLC.
April 1, 2005 - July 1, 2012
Produced web advertising animations for marketing and telecommunications companies. Graphically designed game logo and graphical elements. Created 3D models for real-time game development. Modeled and textured assets for an educational game produced by the University of California at Davis.
Lead Game Design Instructor at ITT Technical Institute
July 1, 2007 - December 1, 2010
Taught five courses in Game Design and two courses in multimedia design.
Game Level Designer | Contractor at Pacific Beach Digital
March 1, 2003 - July 1, 2005
Created 3D game art assets for console game projects developed by Sony Computer Entertainment, Square, and Pacific Beach Digital.
3D Previsualization Animator at Sony Computer Entertainment USA
July 1, 2004 - January 1, 2005
Contracted to create previsualization animations for the SOCOM 3: US Navy Seals game series.

Education

MS Game Design at Full Sail University
January 1, 2025 - November 12, 2025
MFA Musical Theatre at San Diego State University
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 1994
BA Theatre at University of California, Los Angeles
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 1990
MS Game Design at Full Sail University, FL
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2025
MFA Musical Theatre at San Diego State University, CA
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 1994
BA Theatre at University of California, Los Angeles, CA
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 1990
Master of Science in Game Design at Full Sail University, FL
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2025
Master of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre at San Diego State University, CA
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 1994
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre at University of California, Los Angeles, CA
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 1990
MS in Game Design at Full Sail University
January 1, 2025 - March 7, 2026
MFA in Musical Theatre at San Diego State University
January 1, 1994 - January 1, 1994
BA Theatre at University of California, Los Angeles
January 1, 1990 - January 1, 1990

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Gaming, Media & Entertainment, Education, Software & Internet, Professional Services

Skills

Experience Level