James Weishaus

Programmer & Game Developer

About Me

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Hello! I'm James Weishaus, and I'm a programmer and game developer with a passion for meaningful gameplay systems and mechanics. Raised in Southern California, I graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with a BFA in Interactive Design & Game Development in March 2021.

In April 2021, I was hired as a full-time Programmer for the indie, strategy game studio Little Red Dog Games (LRDG), before the studio was closed in January 2024, along with 2 of its in-development titles I had worked on. From August 2024 to March 2025, I was contracted by Modern Games to work on a mobile game about building miniatures and decorating rooms.

At SCAD, my professors taught me Unreal Engine, while on the side I taught myself Unity. Working at LRDG, I was able to deploy my skills with these various game engines, in addition to picking up Godot as my new favorite. I have a passion for programming and working out the architecture for new systems, to the point of daydreaming about how best to construct the next system I work on.

I discovered my passion for game design when I first started picking up tabletop role-playing games in college. As a GM, I learned to deconstruct games to see how all the pieces fit together into a unified, thematic experience, and wanted to expand upon that for my own campaigns. It taught me the importance of interactive design, of considering how guiding the emotions and behaviors of the players is crucial in creating rules, systems, and mechanics. Anyone can make a functioning game, but to make it a memorable, enjoyable experience requires care and consideration outside of pure mechanization.

Outside of game development, I have many hobbies I like to occupy my time with. I'm a pianist with an affinity for ragtime. I enjoy illustration, painting, and printmaking. Many of my evenings are spent playing small-press and indie tabletop RPGs with friends. I also partake in TTRPG design on my own, writing games and supplements when I'm struck with inspiration.

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