Meet The Resonance GAMes Team
Kurin Laing - Founder + Designer
Kurin began his game design career in 2016, and has worked on a variety of platforms and games including mobile and AAA console titles alike. Ever since starting upon his game development path however, he has always had a strong desire to start his own studio and create cool games with cool people. This desire has now transformed into a dedication to not only make amazing games, but push for the change he knows his industry needs.
Resonance Games was Kurin’s brain-child in 2020 and he’s incredibly honoured that the team has taken their time and lent their talent towards this exciting (and terrifying) endeavour, and he’s thrilled to have the opportunity to create something from the ground up.
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“Working on Resonance Games and garnering the trust of these incredibly talented people has 100% been the highlight of my career, and I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish next!”
The Game or Series that Keeps Kurin Inspired:
”Easily Kingdom Hearts. Its issues aside, it’s an unabashedly emotion-driven game with fun characters, great action and one of the best soundtracks of all time.”
The Music Kurin Listens to as He Works:
”Always a fan of J-Pop and J-Rock, but also a lot of video game music recently, especially ‘lofi’ variations, which keep popping up in my YouTube algorithm… I hope to one day be listening to remixes and fan-made versions of Resonance themes!”
One Thing You Should Know About Kurin:
”I’m a true gamer at heart and care deeply about our industry and the people in it. It’s a difficult thing, what we’re trying to accomplish, but you can bet I won’t stop fighting for the things that will make other’s lives better.”
John Pine - Narrative Design + Project Management
John Pine (or simply ‘Pine’) began his game design career in 2016. After a hiatus back to his home country of Brazil - Pine returned to Canada with a desire to break into the Narrative Design space and have the opportunity to create stories and characters he loves. He’s since worked as a designer at studios such as The Coalition, Relic and Timbre Games!
Pine joined the Resonance team in 2021 to assist with the Project Management, having strong organizational and planning skills. While he has been an incredible asset in keeping the team running and organizing the task work that needs to get done, that hasn’t stopped him from tackling the narrative either - both in writing documentation and providing valuable insights and feedback. Pine cares deeply about the way stories are told and characters are portrayed, and applies this passion to Resonance Games week to week.
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“Resonance represents not only an awesome game idea and a kind environment for creative minds to flourish, but also a hopeful step towards necessary change in our industry. I'm consistently humbled and delighted to work with this amazing team!”
The Game or Series that Keeps Pine Inspired:
”Top 5 for me are Chrono Trigger, Donkey Kong Country 2, Metal Gear Solid 3, the Zelda series, and the Pokémon series!”
The Music Pine Listens to as He Works:
”Top 5 for me are Chrono Trigger, Donkey Ko-- I mean, I listen to those games' soundtracks every day while I work. Even better if they're Jazz covers!”
One Thing You Should Know About Pine:
”Top 5 for me are...
Kidding aside, 5 things I value are: kindness, communication, awareness, good humour, and stories. I don't hate a lot of stuff but if I were to name 3, they'd be oppression, capitalism, and mosquitoes.”
Taylor Doud - Principal Programmer
Taylor has worked as a software developer in Calgary, Alberta since 2019 - primarily focusing on Analytics and Data-Driven systems within the energy-technology sector. Being a lifelong gamer however, Taylor took little convincing to join the Resonance Games in 2021, taking on the role of the project’s Principal Programmer. Since then, he’s been instrumental in creating and maintaining all of the game’s major systems.
Though not having prior experience in coding games specifically, Taylor took like a fish to water as he learned the game engine and quickly brought up the team’s Vertical Slice to a playable state. He’s an incredibly disciplined programmer with a genuine love for the craft and a desire to build systems in an efficient, sustainable and organized manner. He’s also an incredibly enthusiastic and warm personality to have in any team meeting!
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“I'm proud of the team and the work we've put into the project so far, and I'm excited to see our final vision come to fruition!”
The Game or Series that Keeps Taylor Inspired:
”Resident Evil is my series of choice. It provides a mechanically-concise method of instilling emotion that few can achieve, with straightforward yet enthralling gameplay.”
The Music Taylor Listens to as He Works:
”I'm a huge metal fan! From classics like Ronnie James Dio to newer groups like DethKlok, it's what I'm usually listening to whenever I'm slammin' the keyboard.”
One Thing You Should Know About Taylor:
”I really enjoy examining and exploring the systems in media that make people feel something. I like to take a critical view of the movies I watch or the games I play in order to improve the emotional experience of the participant in the media I create.”
Jeff Gammon - Music Composer
Jeff has been composing and playing music since a young age, having had a deep love of the art and appreciation for the variety of styles and forms. He is currently a sought-after gig and session musician, bringing with him his trusty electric bass and upright bass to an assortment of venues across Canada and abroad.
Though Jeff plays in a handful of original indie projects such as Last Ark Out and Only A Visitor (see them on Spotify!), he was quick to jump at the opportunity to work on an independent video game project - and joined Resonance Games in 2021. One of the few things to rival Jeff’s love of music is his love of gaming - whether board games, card games or video games, Jeff is an avid collector and player. He brings a wealth of musical and gaming knowledge to Resonance Games, and has already made his mark on the project with his incredibly catchy tunes!
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“I've always loved games and video game music and it's been a dream come true to get to meld my love of music with my love of games here at Resonance.”
The Game or Series that Keeps Jeff Inspired:
”Since the beginning it was Zelda. I loved the narrative adventures and puzzles that were accompanied by some of the best soundtracks. More recently the Souls series and Dragon Quest have been big inspirations.”
The Music Jeff Listens to as He Works:
”Because my work involves writing music, I mostly listen to podcasts or Twitch streams while working!”
One Thing You Should Know About Jeff:
”I love to read philosophy, dark fantasy/sci-fi and series by Urasawa or Togashi. The thoughts, themes and visuals can be very inspiring to me when trying to imagine sonic spaces or what I want the world to look and sound like.”
Barret Frymire - Concept Artist
(He/They)
Barret joined Resonance early on - all the way back in 2020. He was commissioned to bring the Hero character to life in his concept art, and would quickly follow that up by collaboratively designing other ‘Rhythm in You’ characters and illustrative pieces which we use to this day!
Barret began pursuing concept art and illustration as a career in 2012. Since then he has been featured in ImagineFX magazine, was on a list of “artists you must know” on creativebloq.com, and has had artwork featured in a number of Trading Card Games, Board Games, Video Games, and Book Covers. The original Hero' concept piece would also go on to make the front page of Deviant Art!
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“The characters, creatures and world of ‘Rhythm in You’ coming together has been awesome to witness.”
The Game or Series that Keeps Barret Inspired:
”The Dragon Age series is what ultimately inspired me to pursue a career in art. I’ve always loved the setting and lore. I do annual play-throughs to this day.”
The Music Barret Listens to as He Works:
”Oof! Sleep Token lately. But I listen to the whole gamut. It’ll go from something really pop-like to traditional Mongolian throat singing to Mexican emo… It’s just whatever I find interesting at the time. It all goes in the shuffle!”
One Thing You Should Know About Barret:
”My goal in this community is not just to be a good artist, but to also create a space for artists of all backgrounds. Especially the ones that have traditionally been kept out of, or silenced within, these spaces.”
Derek Brouwer - Senior Artist + Technical Artist
Derek started his video game journey back in 2014 - graduating from a Game Design program before working on a variety of projects in VFX, technical implementation and tools. He has worked in mobile gaming as well as larger titles such as Call of Duty, Back 4 Blood and now finally the NHL franchise!
He has always loved independent game development, game jams/hackathons and learning new skills which he can apply to his work. When offered the chance to work on a game like ‘Rhythm in You’, it was an easy yes. Derek now helps the project by providing feedback on the various art disciplines and suggesting technical implementation of art-related features.
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“Thanks to this game, I’ll never NOT be able to hear the music… :)”
The Game or Series that Keeps Derek Inspired:
”In regards to a single game or series, I simply can’t choose one. With the number of games coming out today, and the innovation that game developers continue to push- it doesn’t take long to find inspiration.”
The Music Derek Listens to as He Works:
”My go-to’s are video game tracks! With some instrumental and/or lofi mixed in.”
One Thing You Should Know About Derek:
”My current goal is to make 100 games, which includes small indie titles and game jam games projects - I’m not THAT crazy! At the moment I’m sitting at about 20~”
Brian Gatewood - 2D Pixel-Artist
Brian began his art journey in his late-teens. Inspired and motivated by the artwork in the games and media he loved, he took to illustration and other forms of digital media. However, after getting into pixel art as a hobby - and subsequently finding success and praise for his work online, he pivoted to going full-time 2D and hasn’t looked back since!
Brian joined us at Resonance Games in 2021 and was not only was able to replicate our pixel-vision, but took it to an entirely new level. Our game is driven by both music and visuals, and Brian’s art never fails to inspire and amaze the team week to week. Already having a large following and fan-base when he joined the team, we here at Resonance Games feel incredibly privileged to have such all-star power driving the animations in ‘Rhythm in You’ !
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“I’ve really appreciated the teamwork and thought that has gone into Resonance’s work. Listening to our music and seeing our concept art drives me to want to bring it all to life.”
The Game or Series that Keeps Brian Inspired:
”A lot of my work has been centered around Undertale- it’s characters and story. People seem to love it and so I seem to make it. I’ve come to appreciate it though and have even gotten into Deltarune.”
The Music Brian Listens to as He Works:
”Anything catchy and game-related. I tend to like bit-tune music too.”
One Thing You Should Know About Brian:
”Becoming a pixel-artist isn’t easy, but you can start simply by getting some free software and seeing if you enjoy it. It has a low bar of entry so I recommend more people get into it.”
Vitor Amado - Audio Designer
Games and audio have been two of Vitor’s biggest passions ever since he can remember. From humming the memorable melodies of Super Mario World to shouting HADOUKEN! with Ryu in Street Fighter, he always knew how good audio could elevate a game’s experience. Moving from Brazil to Canada, he realized he could mix these passions together and make a career of it. Since then, he’s worked on the indie gaming scene on games such as Crafty Survivorrs, Gedda Cake and LUCID.
In 2021, Vitor joined Resonance Games after seeing the potential and innovation of the rhythm-rpg they showcased during a game jam event. With the audio taking centre stage, he feels grateful to work among such talented developers and is proud to make his mark ‘Rhythm in You’.
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“Being a part of the Resonance team has been a wonderful experience. My colleagues keep me excited and inspired about the project and I’m always happy to see each of their newest accomplishments.”
The Game or Series that Keeps Vitor Inspired:
”Nintendo-kid here. Super Mario 64 and Majora’s Mask are main pillars of my childhood, and often the titles I look back to when looking for the perfect example of audio to support the gameplay’s feel.”
The Music Vitor Listens to as He Works:
”THE BIGGEST DOWNSIDE OF BEING AN AUDIO DESIGNER! I can’t work and listen to anything else but the ‘beeps' and ‘blops’ I make for our game.”
One Thing You Should Know About Vitor:
”I can make killer Brazilian BBQ. Speaking of which, we should do a team BBQ lunch sometime...”
Omeed Rasti - Environment Artist + MAterial Artist
Omeed is a passionate environment artist who brings virtual worlds to life. With a keen eye for detail and a love for immersive storytelling, Omeed's journey began at the intersection of art and technology. After 3 years of schooling at VCAD and Think Tank Training Centre, he embarked on his career to blend artistic prowess with technical expertise.
Omeed's work includes breathtaking landscapes, meticulously crafted textures, and an understanding of atmospheric design. Whether sculpting otherworldly landscapes or capturing the essence of real-world locations, Omeed's commitment to creating visually stunning and emotionally resonant environments has found him at studios such as Next Level Games and Anemony Hug. Now Omeed is bringing his artistic expertise to Resonance Games, and we couldn’t be happier to have him bringing our worlds to life!
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“Navigating the demanding landscape of game development can be an exhausting journey, but for me, working with Resonance Games has been a different kind of experience. The joy of bringing ideas to life in a supportive and collaborative environment has rekindled my enthusiasm for my art. Working with the team has not only provided a welcome respite from burnout but has become a source of inspiration, reminding me of the value of working with a team towards a shared goal.”
The Game or Series that Keeps Omeed Inspired:
”The Legend of Zelda hands down. The franchise is a source of inspiration for me; its storytelling, inventive gameplay and enchanting worlds helping to fuel my love of game development.”
The Music Omeed Listens to as He Works:
”I typically like to listen to jazz or lofi beats while I work.”
One Thing You Should Know About Omeed:
”My love for our industry is driven by the remarkable individuals who dedicate themselves to creating incredible games. The fusion of artistic and technical prowess, coupled with a passion for storytelling, makes this community an endless source of inspiration and admiration for me.”
Alain Markus Santos-Tankia - Programmer
Graduating from Missouri University of Science and Technology in 2020, Alain Markus Santos-Tankia (he goes by ‘Marky’) finished with a computer science degree and a desire to work in the video game industry as a programmer. Having wanted to be a game developer since he was 10, and to give the same joy to others as he receives from the games he plays, Marky is constantly learning and looking to discover new ways to code for games.
Though he hasn’t found his dream job yet, he hopes to see part of his goal realized with Resonance Games, joining the team in early 2023 and helping to support the programming efforts with his well-rounded abilities. Marky has been an incredible developer on ‘Rhythm in You’ , fixing bugs and crushing support tickets - assisting with work on a variety of systems across the entire game. Truly a passion-driven programmer, we’re honoured to have Marky join us as Resonance Games continues to grow and develop!
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“I’ve sometimes believed I wouldn’t be able to work at a game company. Gaming or non-gaming, seeing rejections from major companies is challenging, but Resonance has been a constant light in those dark days.”
The Game or Series that Keeps Marky Inspired:
”Persona hands down. The stories can be a bit simple, but the way it integrates mundanity with all the crazy things that happens with the other worlds is something few games can manage.”
The Music Marky Listens to as He Works:
”I tend to mainly just listen to video game soundtracks. Especially ones I've played recently like Baldur's Gate 3 or Disco Elysium. Though I mainly love this music production studio called Vanguard Sound.”
One Thing You Should Know About Marky:
”I'm a self doubter. But once I see something I really want, that self doubt goes out of the window and I just go all in.”
Antonio Manzi - VFX Artist
Antonio ‘Tony’ Manzi began his games career as a 3D generalist in 2020. It was in that time he came to find a love for VFX and its implementation. Though he worked as a 3D generalist and graphic designer for the first year or two of his career, when the opportunity presented itself to switch over to VFX work, he took the chance with open arms!
Having worked at a mobile game studio for a year, Tony has found himself more comfortable in his new role, creating top-end mobile VFX for the title ‘Avatar: Generations’. Now Tony is looking for new opportunities in his field and has joined the Resonance Games team to assist in making their visuals pop!
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“I’ve just started, but I already want to create cool VFX that will make this already shiny game shine brighter!”
The Game or Series that Keeps Tony Inspired:
”My favourite game franchises are Kingdom Hearts, Crash Bandicoot, Ratchet and Clank.”
The Music Tony Listens to as He Works:
”From the morning to the night, I am always accompanied by Progressive Techno in the background. My favourite artists are Ben Bhomer, Mind Against, Tale of Us, Adriatique and Sephan Bodzin!”
One Thing You Should Know About Tony:
”If I could say only one thing about me, it’s that I love to motivate people and myself. I like reading and listening to talks about self-improvement and how to create good habits to be the best version of myself. Starting a career as a VFX artist from scratch by myself- after being a bartender for 7 years has helped me to keep me motivated. I like to remember the quote “If you want to succeed on something, fail fast!””