Ben Barton - Contract Game Developer Portfolio

BEN BARTON

Game Developer & Software Engineer

Get In Touch Download CV

About Me

Ben Barton - Senior Game Developer and Technical Lead

I’m Ben, a UK-based game developer and software engineer with over 13 years experience working within games, gamification, XR, attractions, sales tools and more.

I predominantly operate as an independent contractor through my company BLAKOUT LTD.

In 2020, I started a company called Mimesis Studios with some friends and colleagues, which still operates today as an outsource co-development partner for indies.

Why you should hire me

I have experience taking games and digital products from ideation through design, development, publishing and beyond, both as a developer and tech lead.

I know what needs to be done, and how to do it.

I’ve launched and published products for Steam, PC, Mac, iOS, Android, Web and various XR platforms.

  • Unity: 10+ years
  • C#: 10+ years
  • Leadership Roles: 7+ years
  • Multiplayer & Networking: 7+ years
  • XR / VR / AR: 3+ years

Technical Knowledge & Capabilities

Multiplayer & Netcode
Photon Quantum· FishNet· Netcode for GameObjects· Mirror· UNET· PUN· Dedicated Servers· Client-Side Prediction & Rollback· Custom TCP / UDP Solutions· SpatialOS· WebSockets
Audio & Voice
FMOD· Vivox
Engines & Architecture
Unity· DOTS / ECS· Addressables, Asset Bundles & Asset Pipelines· URP & HDRP / Shader Graph· Babylon.js· Unreal Engine (C++ / Blueprints)· Procedural Generation· Mecanim· Software Asset Recovery
Languages
C#· JavaScript / TypeScript· HTML / CSS· C++· Python· Objective-C· Java· SQL (MySQL)· PHP· Lua
XR & Interactive
XREAL AURA· Meta Quest / Oculus· HTC VIVE· Galaxy XR· HoloLens· Geomagic (Phantom Touch)· Windows Mixed Reality· OpenXR & OpenVR· Interactive Commercial Installations
Publishing & Platforms
Steam Publishing· iOS (App Store)· Android (Google Play)· Code Signing (Windows & macOS)· PC & macOS· In-App Purchases (IAP)· WebGL· Live-Ops Management
Backend & Services
Supabase· Node.js / Express· Next.js· Heroku· Render· Firebase (App Check, AI Logic)· PlayFab· AWS (Cognito, S3)· DigitalOcean· Azure· Web3 / Crypto Integrations· REST APIs & Auth0
Tooling & Workflow
Git· Antigravity· Plastic SCM· Rider & Visual Studio· Xcode & Android Studio· Linear, Jira & Asana· CI/CD Pipelines· SVN

I've worked on projects for...

Experience

June 2024 - July 2025

Internet Game

Developer & Lead Developer

United States · Remote · Contract

  • Led the migration from FishNet to Photon Quantum multiplayer networking.
  • Sole development of the Jungle Run and Battle Karts Photon Quantum multiplayer Games on the Internet Game platform.
  • Built and implemented a shared cosmetics systems, allowing all games on the platform to stream content from a single location. Reduced game build size and load time on the platform by up to 50%.
  • Implemented spectator support for all games across different networking frameworks.
  • Maintained library of over 28 live op projects.
  • Managed technical integration of the Internet Game platform into Roam Game room.
(Unity, C#, GIT, Addressables, Photon Quantum, FishNet)
April 2024 - May 2024

Branch

Senior Unity Engineer

United States · Remote · Short-Term Contract

  • Implemented Vivox voice chat with FMOD passthrough into the Castaways mobile game.
(Unity, C#, GIT, Vivox, FMOD)
Jan 2022 - Nov 2023

Nanoverse HQ

Game Dev Lead

Dubai & Malaysia · Remote · Contract

  • Developed the Kumiho AI app, Nanoverse VTuber Application, Kumiho Outfit Changer Application and Nano Rabbot AI VTuber.
  • Coordinated and managed art pipelines and requirements with external studios.
  • Technical art and design implementation.
(Unity, C#, GIT, AWS, Addressables)
Nov 2020 - Jan 2021

Orion Games

Developer / Consultant

United States · Remote · Contract

  • Gameplay systems development for the Arto PC game.
(Unity, C#, GIT)
Jul 2020 - Present

Mimesis Studios

Co-Founder, Technical Director

United Kingdom · Remote

  • Co-founded independent development studio and technical consultancy, architecting and delivering 20+ client projects spanning games, apps, and XR experiences.
  • Oversaw engineering infrastructure, technical quality standards, and multi-platform release pipelines.
  • Managed technical scoping, team leadership, client onboarding, and technical delivery.
  • Active technical leadership and senior embedded contracting for select partner studios.
(Unity, C#, Node.js, GIT, Objective-C, Xcode, Java, Android Studio)
Feb 2019 - Apr 2020

Holy Fire Games Studio

CTO

United States & United Kingdom · Hybrid · Contract

  • Establishing and maintaining technical infrastructure over 13 projects.
  • Coordinating technical projects.
  • Running and overseeing of HR and office operations.
  • Isolated RAD prototyping of new prospective projects (R&D).
  • Supporting active development of key projects, including Gazpo and the Gazpo SDK.
(Unity, C#, FMOD, Plastic, PUN, ECS)
Apr 2018 - Feb 2019

Holy Fire Games

Lead Developer

United States · Remote · Contract

  • Created core systems and development tools for Day of the Infected.
  • Curated development objectives and sprints for development team.
  • Supported development and art teams.
(Unity, C#, FMOD, SpatialOS, GIT, UNET, PUN)
Jan 2017 - Mar 2018

Figment Productions

Developer

United Kingdom · Hybrid · Contract

  • Developed a number of VR projects, covering corporate VR experiences, medical simulations, and home renovation sale tools.
  • Showcased developed projects at client investor events, including trips to Scotland, Gleneagles and Amsterdam.
(Unity, Unreal, C#, C++, Blueprint, HoloLens, VIVE, Oculus, WMR, GIT)
Dec 2016 - Dec 2016

Stained Glass Llama

Developer - Unannounced

United States · Remote · Short-Term Contract

  • Created rubix cube-like loading system, with console / controller support.
(Unity, C#, GIT)
Oct 2016 - Nov 2016

Enigma Games

Developer - K9 Empire

United States · Remote · Short-Term Contract

  • Created modular mini-games.
(Unity, C#, GIT)
Aug 2016 - Aug 2016

Holy Fire Games

Lead Developer - Forsaken Legends

United States · Remote · Contract

  • Brought in after lead developer left the project.
  • Immediate tasks included stabilising live project / bug fixing, UI updates and community liaising.
(Unity, C#, FMOD, GIT, UNET)
Aug 2016 - Aug 2016

FlipSwitch Games

Developer - EmergeNYC

United States · Remote · Short-Term Contract

  • Created emergency light effects, and fire truck pipe physics systems.
(Unity, C#, GIT)
Jun 2016 - Jun 2016

Stained Glass Llama

Consultant - Divergence Online

United States · Remote · Short-Term Contract

  • Advise and support during fix of animation controllers for live game.
(Unity, C#, GIT)
Aug 2015 - Aug 2015

CCL - a Hertz Company

Outsource Contractor (Development)

United Kingdom · Remote · Contract

  • Developed a prototype for a web-based accident simulator.
(Unity, C#, GIT)
Mar 2015 - Mar 2015

Dwarven Designs

Developer - Unannounced

Malaysia · Remote · Short-Term Contract

  • Created serialisation systems for an unannounced game.
(Unity, C#, GIT)
Sep 2014 - Sep 2014

Newcastle Creative Media

Developer

Australia · Remote · Short-Term Contract

  • Created a third-person framework for an unannounced game.
(Unity, C#, GIT)
Dec 2012 - Present

BLAKOUT

Contract Game Developer & Consultant

Various · Remote · Contract

  • Professional contract and consultancy services, supporting game development companies, and software companies incorporating gamification.
  • Remote and on-site, worldwide.
(Unity, Unreal, C#, C++, GIT, Plastic, XR, Photon and more)
Pre-Dec 2012

Contract / Indie Developer

Developer

Various · Remote · Contract

  • Created and published 2 mobile games for iOS and Android, called Dodgy Dodger and Orb Chaser.
  • Misc freelance work via the Unity forums to fund the process.
(Unity, C#, GIT)
2015 - 2016

Bournemouth University

Bachelor of Science (BSc), Software Engineering

Units: Software Quality and Testing, Software Systems Modelling, Web Information Systems

2012 - 2014

Bournemouth University

Associate's degree, Computer Science

Units: Computers & Networks, Web Development + Online Business Applications, Database Systems, Computer Programming, Systems Analysis and Design, Business Planning

2011 - 2012

Bournemouth and Poole College

EDI Level 3 Diploma, ICT Professional Competence (PROCOM), Computer Science

I've worked on...

Game / Web 2025

Internet Game

Internet Game / Developer & Lead Developer
View Project
Utility 2023

Kumiho AI

Nanoverse HQ / Game Dev Lead
View Project
Game 2023

Crimson Crisis

Mimesis Studios / Director
View Project
Game 2018

Day of the Infected

Holy Fire Games Studio / CTO
View Project
Game / VR 2018

Project HELIX

Figment Productions / Developer
View Project
Utility 2023

Kumiho Outfit Changer

Nanoverse HQ / Game Dev Lead
View Project
Game / Mobile 2022

Gem Genie

Mimesis Studios / Director
View Project
Game / Early Access / Crowdfunded 2017

Forsaken Legends

Holy Fire Games / Lead Game Developer
View Project
Game 2021

Panama Canal

Mimesis Studios / Director
View Project
Utility 2023

Nano Vtuber

Nanoverse HQ / Game Dev Lead
View Project

Let's Chat

Interested in hiring me?

ben [at] blakout.co.uk
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