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I'm Michael Joyce, a performance-focused software engineer with over a decade of experience building real-time gameplay systems and runtime architectures in Unity and C#. I co-founded Pan Simula and serve as Lead Gameplay Systems Developer, architecting high-performance gameplay systems and guiding optimization across shipped titles. I measure before optimizing and embrace pragmatic, practice-driven approaches to engineering challenges. Recently I expanded into JavaScript backend and live-ops tooling, delivering AI-assisted workflows, UI tooling, and scalable systems for live multiplayer platforms. I enjoy mentoring junior developers, collaborating across disciplines, and shipping robust, enjoyable gameplay experiences under demanding constraints.…I'm Michael Joyce, a performance-focused software engineer with over a decade of experience building real-time gameplay systems and runtime architectures in Unity and C#. I co-founded Pan Simula and serve as Lead Gameplay Systems Developer, architecting high-performance gameplay systems and guiding optimization across shipped titles. I measure before optimizing and embrace pragmatic, practice-driven approaches to engineering challenges. Recently I expanded into JavaScript backend and live-ops tooling, delivering AI-assisted workflows, UI tooling, and scalable systems for live multiplayer platforms. I enjoy mentoring junior developers, collaborating across disciplines, and shipping robust, enjoyable gameplay experiences under demanding constraints.

Michael Joyce

Game Developer, Programmer, AI Engineer, +4

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I'm Michael Joyce, a performance-focused software engineer with over a decade of experience building real-time gameplay systems and runtime architectures in Unity and C#. I co-founded Pan Simula and serve as Lead Gameplay Systems Developer, architecting high-performance gameplay systems and guiding optimization across shipped titles. I measure before optimizing and embrace pragmatic, practice-driven approaches to engineering challenges. Recently I expanded into JavaScript backend and live-ops tooling, delivering AI-assisted workflows, UI tooling, and scalable systems for live multiplayer platforms. I enjoy mentoring junior developers, collaborating across disciplines, and shipping robust, enjoyable gameplay experiences under demanding constraints.…I'm Michael Joyce, a performance-focused software engineer with over a decade of experience building real-time gameplay systems and runtime architectures in Unity and C#. I co-founded Pan Simula and serve as Lead Gameplay Systems Developer, architecting high-performance gameplay systems and guiding optimization across shipped titles. I measure before optimizing and embrace pragmatic, practice-driven approaches to engineering challenges. Recently I expanded into JavaScript backend and live-ops tooling, delivering AI-assisted workflows, UI tooling, and scalable systems for live multiplayer platforms. I enjoy mentoring junior developers, collaborating across disciplines, and shipping robust, enjoyable gameplay experiences under demanding constraints.

Available to hire

I’m Michael Joyce, a performance-focused software engineer with over a decade of experience building real-time gameplay systems and runtime architectures in Unity and C#. I co-founded Pan Simula and serve as Lead Gameplay Systems Developer, architecting high-performance gameplay systems and guiding optimization across shipped titles. I measure before optimizing and embrace pragmatic, practice-driven approaches to engineering challenges.

Recently I expanded into JavaScript backend and live-ops tooling, delivering AI-assisted workflows, UI tooling, and scalable systems for live multiplayer platforms. I enjoy mentoring junior developers, collaborating across disciplines, and shipping robust, enjoyable gameplay experiences under demanding constraints.

Skills

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

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Language

English

Fluent

French

Advanced

Work Experience

Co-Founder | Lead Gameplay Systems Developer at PanSimula Indie Game Studio

March 1, 2017 - Present

Co-founded PanSimula and led design and development of high-performance gameplay and runtime systems across multiple shipped titles. Architected core gameplay, gravity and physics systems, AI, environmental hazards, and procedural interaction. Directed performance profiling, memory optimization, and frame-time stability. Built tooling and pipelines to sustain 60+ FPS in real-time, mentored junior developers, and managed debugging workflows. Led the Galactic Thunderdome physics-based brawler released on Steam in Oct 2024 and contracted/delivered four educational titles for Legends of Learning under royalty-based agreements, negotiating IP rights later.

Freelance UI Developer at ROAM

March 1, 2025 - April 1, 2025

Built runtime UI components using Unity UI Toolkit for an AI-driven game creation platform. Developed a procedural UI generation system using reflection to scrape object data and types at runtime, dynamically constructing interface panels from modular elements. Implemented a lightweight in-app UI animation system.

Course Instructor at Institut Supérieur d'Informatique (Institute Supérieur d'Informatique)

May 1, 2020 - February 1, 2022

Designed and taught courses in C# and algorithms in both classroom and remote learning environments, with emphasis on boolean algebra, data structures, time/space complexity, and algorithm design. Created course materials, lectures, assignments, and examinations. Delivered remote instruction via Microsoft Teams during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Freelance Technical Document Translator at Freelance

February 1, 2018 - October 1, 2019

Translated technical course materials from French to English across a broad range of subjects, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and consistent terminology.

Lead Gameplay Systems Developer at Galactic Thunderdome (Steam project)

October 23, 2024 - October 23, 2024

Directed development of high-fidelity physics-based brawler on Unity/C#; optimized for 60 FPS in extreme scenarios; designed AI, physics, gravity, and environmental systems.

Instructor at Institut Supérieur d'Informatique

May 1, 2020 - February 1, 2022

Designed and taught courses in C# and algorithms in classroom and remote learning environments; focus on boolean algebra, data structures, time/space complexity, and algorithm design.

Technical Translator at Freelance

February 1, 2018 - October 1, 2019

Translated technical course materials from French to English across a wide range of subjects, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and terminological consistency.