The Talented and Charming Folks at Iridium
Games are made by people. Specifically, people who are kind, wildly creative, and passionate about every detail presented to the world. These are just some of the fine folks working on our next big thing.
The Talented and Charming Folks at Iridium
Games are made by people. Specifically, people who are kind, wildly creative, and passionate about every detail presented to the world. These are just some of the fine folks working on our next big thing.
David Barrios – Animator
A character animator currently based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, David is that nerdy kid you knew in school that always said they wanted to ‘make video games’ and followed through.
He animates all sorts of styles from motion capture to cartoon monsters, and draws inspiration from film, anime, and Broadway musicals.
He loves to overanalyze memes, his ~a e s t h e t i c~ is vaporwave, and his main is Wii Fit Trainer.
Favorite Games: TES IV: Oblivion, Super Smash Bros., and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Jason Wishnov – Creative Director
Jason is, in fact, right chuffed to be making the game Iridium is currently making, which is good, because he’s kind of heading up the whole thing. He is slightly less serious than you might expect, but he will still win no-laugh staring contests if the need arises, which it often does.
Jason enjoys learning and playing chess, LARPing, basketball, and taking all the red Starburst when no one is looking because they are clearly the best and he will not hear anything to the contrary.
Favorite Games: Chrono Trigger, Virtue’s Last Reward, Final Fantasy Tactics
Tim Doolen – Art Director
Tim has worked for over fifteen years in the gaming industry, art directing a wide variety of games across a wide variety of disciplines. He is a pillar of strength and stability, but not the kind of pillar you’re thinking of, the cooler one, yeah, that’s it.
Favorite Games: Shadow of the Colossus, Windowsill, Kentucky Route Zero
Jimmy Hinson (Big Giant Circles) – Audio Director
Big Giant Circles has been writing music for games for over a decade. Originally producing fan arrangements of classic game music for OverClocked Remix, he was later hired by Jack Wall to assist with scores for series like Mass Effect and Call of Duty: Black Ops. BGC also composed much of the score to Iridium’s previous game There Came An Echo, and has contributed to a number of other indie game titles as well. He has a profound love of dinosaurs and pizza.
Favorite Games: Horizon Zero Dawn, ARK, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Katie Kurtzman – Producer
Katie Kurtzman is the closest thing to a Swiss Army Knife at Iridium Studios, if in fact she wanted to be associated with a Swiss military operation, which she does not. She produces, she manages, she gets right up in that engine and organizes key data. Spreadsheets? You got it. Gantt charts? Be still her heart.
In her free time, she enjoys various possum-related internet content, as well as role playing in eras Victorian and post-apocalyptic both. She is also one of our dedicated meme strategists, interjecting key meme content into our work channels at precisely opportune moments.
Favorite Games: Fallout: New Vegas, Dragon Age: Origins, Left 4 Dead 2
Patrick Petrushonis – Lead Engineer
Patrick is a man of few words, but makes up for it through his knowledge of systems and their inner workings. He wrangles unruly node graphs, dives into engine source code, offers cross-discipline support, and serves as an impromptu tech rescuer via our Patman symbol that lights up Gotham’s sky.
During any downtime, he finds comfort in gritty sci-fi action flicks, space operas, anime, and reverse engineering.. ehm, playing games. His choice minimalism serves as a backdrop to an otherwise stalwart and supportive guru that routinely tests his limits.
Favorite Games: Factorio, Dead Space, Magic: The Gathering
Kyu Saiewitz – Narrative Director
Kyu Saiewitz grew up in Austin, lives in Los Angeles and has been a writer/director of most things that can be written and/or directed. Yes, that too. At Iridium, Kyu rewrites the script, directs cinematics, voice acting, and mocap, and suggests features we don’t have the budget for. Their goal in life is to tell stories about worlds that don’t exist, populated by characters who feel like they do, in ways that increase minority and especially LGBTQ+ representation.
They love horror, New York style pizza, complicated board games, spreadsheets, and liminal spaces. Is queer, does crime. Send them puns on Twitter @astaereth.
Favorite Games: Bioshock, Super Metroid, Spyro the Dragon
Natalie Spitzel – Environment Artist
Natalie is an Opera-singer-turned-3D-Environment Artist with an MFA Degree from DigiPen Institute of Technology that she uses mostly to make rocks and Discord emojis. Her love of video games began when she finally beat the mine-cart level from Donkey Kong Country on the SNES. From the smallest prop to the largest environment, she always strives to design with purpose and a strong vision. She makes it her goal to see past the surface level of an asset and give it a narrative that helps it truly feel like it belongs in that world. Natalie is also a versatile team member with skills in other areas such as concept art and character design. She is always willing to learn new skills and help out her team in any area she can.
Favorite Games: Dragon Age: Origins, Tales of the Abyss, The Legend of Zelda (series)
Tara McIntyre – Character Designer / Illustrator
Tara is a 2D illustrator and character concept artist from Sydney, Australia, also known as @cutiicosmo. She has been drawing since she was in the womb, and as a result never learnt how to read or write. She studied 3D Animation at JMC Academy, and enjoys anime, videogames, horror, and creating art with colours that burn your eyes.
In her free time, Tara does not exist, on account of Australia being an elaborate lie made up by the government. If you ever think you’ve seen Tara in person, it was a paid actor.
Favorite Games: Jet Set Radio, Resident Evil 2, Persona 5
David Barrios – Animator
A character animator currently based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, David is that nerdy kid you knew in school that always said they wanted to ‘make video games’ and followed through.
He animates all sorts of styles from motion capture to cartoon monsters, and draws inspiration from film, anime, and Broadway musicals.
He loves to overanalyze memes, his ~a e s t h e t i c~ is vaporwave, and his main is Wii Fit Trainer.
Favorite Games: TES IV: Oblivion, Super Smash Bros., and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Jimmy Hinson (Big Giant Circles) – Audio Director
Big Giant Circles has been writing music for games for over a decade. Originally producing fan arrangements of classic game music for OverClocked Remix, he was later hired by Jack Wall to assist with scores for series like Mass Effect and Call of Duty: Black Ops. BGC also composed much of the score to Iridium’s previous game There Came An Echo, and has contributed to a number of other indie game titles as well. He has a profound love of dinosaurs and pizza.
Favorite Games: Horizon Zero Dawn, ARK, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Katie Kurtzman – Producer
Katie Kurtzman is the closest thing to a Swiss Army Knife at Iridium Studios, if in fact she wanted to be associated with a Swiss military operation, which she does not. She produces, she manages, she gets right up in that engine and organizes key data. Spreadsheets? You got it. Gantt charts? Be still her heart.
In her free time, she enjoys various possum-related internet content, as well as role playing in eras Victorian and post-apocalyptic both. She is also one of our dedicated meme strategists, interjecting key meme content into our work channels at precisely opportune moments.
Favorite Games: Fallout: New Vegas, Dragon Age: Origins, Left 4 Dead 2
Patrick Petrushonis – Lead Engineer
Patrick is a man of few words, but makes up for it through his knowledge of systems and their inner workings. He wrangles unruly node graphs, dives into engine source code, offers cross discipline support, and serves as an impromptu tech rescuer via our Patman symbol that lights up Gotham’s sky.
During any downtime, he finds comfort in gritty sci-fi action flicks, space operas, anime, and reverse engineering.. ehm, playing games. His choice minimalism serves as a backdrop to an otherwise stalwart and supportive guru that routinely tests his limits.
Favorite Games: Factorio, Dead Space, Magic: The Gathering
Kyu Saiewitz – Narrative Director
Kyu Saiewitz grew up in Austin, lives in Los Angeles and has been a writer/director of most things that can be written and/or directed. Yes, that too. At Iridium, Kyu rewrites the script, directs cinematics, voice acting, and mocap, and suggests features we don’t have the budget for. Their goal in life is to tell stories about worlds that don’t exist, populated by characters who feel like they do, in ways that increase minority and especially LGBTQ+ representation.
They love horror, New York style pizza, complicated board games, spreadsheets, and liminal spaces. Is queer, does crime. Send them puns on Twitter @astaereth.
Favorite Games: Bioshock, Super Metroid, Spyro the Dragon
Natalie Spitzel – Environment Artist
Natalie is an Opera-singer-turned-3D-Environment Artist with an MFA Degree from DigiPen Institute of Technology that she uses mostly to make rocks and Discord emojis. Her love of video games began when she finally beat the mine-cart level from Donkey Kong Country on the SNES. From the smallest prop to the largest environment, she always strives to design with purpose and a strong vision. She makes it her goal to see past the surface level of an asset and give it a narrative that helps it truly feel like it belongs in that world. Natalie is also a versatile team member with skills in other areas such as concept art and character design. She is always willing to learn new skills and help out her team in any area she can.
Favorite Games: Dragon Age: Origins, Tales of the Abyss, The Legend of Zelda (series)
Tim Doolen – Art Director
Tim has worked for over fifteen years in the gaming industry, art directing a wide variety of games across a wide variety of disciplines. He is a pillar of strength and stability, but not the kind of pillar you’re thinking of, the cooler one, yeah, that’s it.
Favorite Games: Shadow of the Colossus, Windowsill, Kentucky Route Zero
Jason Wishnov – Creative Director
Jason is, in fact, right chuffed to be making the game Iridium is currently making, which is good, because he’s kind of heading up the whole thing. He is slightly less serious than you might expect, but he will still win no-laugh staring contests if the need arises, which it often does.
Jason enjoys learning and playing chess, LARPing, basketball, and taking all the red Starburst when no one is looking because they are clearly the best and he will not hear anything to the contrary.
Favorite Games: Chrono Trigger, Virtue’s Last Reward, Final Fantasy Tactics
Tara McIntyre – Character Designer / Illustrator
Tara is a 2D illustrator and character concept artist from Sydney, Australia, also known as @cutiicosmo. She has been drawing since she was in the womb, and as a result never learnt how to read or write. She studied 3D Animation at JMC Academy, and enjoys anime, videogames, horror, and creating art with colours that burn your eyes.
In her free time, Tara does not exist, on account of Australia being an elaborate lie made up by the government. If you ever think you’ve seen Tara in person, it was a paid actor.
Favorite Games: Jet Set Radio, Resident Evil 2, Persona 5