About me

Who am I?

Hi, I'm Max (or Saderako, depending on where you know me from). I'm 22 and currently pursuing a Master's degree in Interactive Media Systems at the University of Applied Sciences Augsburg, with a focus on game development.

Games have been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up playing classics like Bomberman and Super Mario World on my dad's old NES, and over time that love for games turned into a passion for making them. I got my start with Fortnite Creative and modding tools, and later moved on to UEFN and Unreal Engine which I'm currently specializing in.

Through my studies and personal projects, I've built a good foundation in UX, game design, art, and programming. I especially enjoy collaborative projects where I can help turn ideas into playable experiences together with other developers. Whether it's a quick prototype, a game jam or something more polished, I'm always looking for ways to make fun and engaging games.

I'm currently working toward a role as a game designer who not only creates clear and well thought-out design documentation, but also builds prototypes and contributes hands-on. I already had the chance to put this into practice at Edurino, where I worked for over a year as a game design working student on educational games for kids.

If you're interested in collaborating or just want to chat about game development, feel free to get in touch!

My Process

My design process is heavily inspired by Justin Gary's Design Loop. It starts with the Inspiring phase, where I gather ideas, references, and initial sparks of creativity. From there, I move into Framing the problem, defining the challenge and setting clear goals for the project. This leads into Brainstorming, a stage where I generate a wide range of ideas without limiting myself. Once a few strong concepts emerge, I enter the Prototyping phase, turning those ideas into tangible, testable forms. In the Testing phase, I collect feedback and evaluate what's working and what isn't. Finally, I move into Iterating, refining the design based on what I've learned. This then leads to new insights, feeding back into the process and continuing the creative cycle.

Hobbies

In my free time, I enjoy getting creative, whether it's building custom LEGO MOCs, drawing, or trying my hand at the piano. I'm also a big fan of gaming, coding, and prototyping small game ideas, and I love diving into a good book. These hobbies keep me inspired and constantly exploring new ideas, bringing fresh perspectives to my work. If you want to see what I'm currently up to, you can have a look at my Blog!

Favorite Singleplayer Games

My favorite single-player games have left a big impact on me and what I like, especially Sekiro, which tops my list with its unique combat and genius level design. I also love the God of War series for its epic scale and rich narrative, and Elden Ring for similar reasons but also its vast, open world and sense of discovery. Dishonored drew me in with its unique powers and stealth mechanics, while Terraria is my go-to for creative exploration and endless possibilities. There aren't many games I'd rate a 9/10 or 10/10, but these definitely deserve it.

Favorite Multiplayer Games

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare was by far my favorite game as a kid, and I'm a bit sad to see the franchise take the direction it did. Working on a Garden Warfare game would be a dream come true. As I got older, Call of Duty and later Apex Legends became major parts of my teenage years. CoD was where I first dove into modding and making maps until Fortnite Creative arrived. Later, I spent many hours in Destiny 2, and I have to say that doing Day 1 Raids and Dungeons with friends is still some of the most fun I've ever had in gaming. I've also put in a bit of time with MOBAs like League of Legends, but lately, I just don't have the time to keep up, so now I jump from game to game to broaden my horizon.