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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

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Language

English

Fluent

French

Advanced

Work Experience

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.