I’ve been developing games for over 8 years now, working on all sorts of AAA releases, client based and personal projects.
The following is a recollection of the my work during this time
Last updated: September 2022
Mafia: Definitive Edition is a faithful, expanded remake inspired by the iconic 2002 original. The remake is set within the fictional city of Lost Heaven, Illinois, during the 1930s, and follows the rise and fall of Tommy Angelo, a Sicilian American cab driver-turned-gangster, within the Salieri crime family.
DLC sized expansion mod for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Featuring 3 new major questlines, over 50 new dungeons and 60+ hours of gameplay.
-Created 11 complete dungeons for main and sidequests
-Over 2200 hours in the Creation Kit Editor for Skyrim
-Polished over 25 interiors to shippable quality
-Implemented multiple combat and puzzle encounters
Client project by Michel Sainisch, ex-Ubisoft producer, for a Tactical RPG prototype with elements from Front Mission (1995) and XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2012).
–Designed, built and led development for 5 procedural level generator prototypes.
-Lead design & production for a team over 20 people
-Procedural level design for 12 interchangable level pieces
-Animation & VFX implementation
A multiplayer endless scroller made during the 2018 Brains Eden 48 hour game jam with 5 developers. Being selected to represent the NHTV as one of the 35 international teams, we managed to win the 2018 Jury’s choice award.
Single player puzzle adventure game during an 7-week project with 3 developers. Being responsible for all disciplines I was in charge of core gameplay programming, puzzle design, look and feel, tutorialisation and basic art & lighting.
A 7 week long project with 7 developers, focused around making a sequel to Donkey Kong (1981) for PC. In which I was responsible for lead design, level design, core system design as well as upholding creative vision throughout the project.
Hey There!
I’m Theodore Hilhorst
And I’m a Level Designer
I’ve been developing games for over 8 years now, working on all sorts of AAA releases, client based and personal projects.
The following is a recollection of the my work during this time
Last updated: September 2022
Browse through my portfolio
About me and my design process
DLC sized expansion mod for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Featuring 3 new major questlines, over 50 new dungeons and 60+ hours of gameplay.
Team size: 20+
Time frame: Jun. 2017 – present
Responsibilities
-Created 11 complete dungeons for main and sidequests
-Over 2200 hours in the Creation Kit Editor for Skyrim
-Polished over 25 interiors to shippable quality
-Implemented multiple combat and puzzle encounters
Client project by Michel Sainisch, ex-Ubisoft producer, for a Tactical RPG prototype with elements from Front Mission (1995) and XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2012).
Responsibilities
–Designed, built and led development for 5 procedural level generator prototypes.
-Lead design & production for a team over 20 people
-Procedural level design for 12 interchangable level pieces
-Animation & VFX implementation
Team size: 20+
Time frame: May 2017 – Jun. 2018 ( 11 months )
A 6-player deathmatch arena for the Unreal tournament pre-alpha in 2016. Inspired by Antoni Gaudi’s casa Mila and casa Batllo.
Team size: Individual design project
Time frame: Sep. 2016 – Nov. 2016 ( 7 weeks )
Responsibilities
-Concept to completion iterative design for a 6-player deathmatch map
-Mechanics breakdown and gym set up
-Basic lighting design and first art pass
-Playtesting and quality assurance
Awards/ recognition:
-Selected for world beautification, NHTV University of applied sciences (2017)
DLC sized expansion mod for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Featuring 3 new major questlines, over 50 new dungeons and 60+ hours of gameplay.
Responsibilities
-Created 11 complete dungeons for main and sidequests
-Over 2200 hours in the Creation Kit Editor for Skyrim
-Polished over 25 interiors to shippable quality
-Implemented multiple combat and puzzle encounters
Team size: 20+
Time frame: Jun. 2017 – present
Client project by Michel Sainisch, ex-Ubisoft producer, for a Tactical RPG prototype with elements from Front Mission (1995) and XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2012).
Responsibilities
–Designed, built and led development for 5 procedural level generator prototypes.
-Lead design & production for a team over 20 people
-Procedural level design for 12 interchangable level pieces
-Animation & VFX implementation
Client project by Michel Sainisch, ex-Ubisoft producer, for a Tactical RPG prototype with elements from Front Mission (1995) and XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2012).
Responsibilities
–Designed, built and led development for 5 procedural level generator prototypes.
-Lead design & production for a team over 20 people
-Procedural level design for 12 interchangable level pieces
-Animation & VFX implementation
Client project by Michel Sainisch, ex-Ubisoft producer, for a Tactical RPG prototype with elements from Front Mission (1995) and XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2012).
Responsibilities
–Designed, built and led development for 5 procedural level generator prototypes.
-Lead design & production for a team over 20 people
-Procedural level design for 12 interchangable level pieces
-Animation & VFX implementation
Client project by Michel Sainisch, ex-Ubisoft producer, for a Tactical RPG prototype with elements from Front Mission (1995) and XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2012).
Responsibilities
–Designed, built and led development for 5 procedural level generator prototypes.
-Lead design & production for a team over 20 people
-Procedural level design for 12 interchangable level pieces
-Animation & VFX implementation
Client project by Michel Sainisch, ex-Ubisoft producer, for a Tactical RPG prototype with elements from Front Mission (1995) and XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2012).
Responsibilities
–Designed, built and led development for 5 procedural level generator prototypes.
-Lead design & production for a team over 20 people
-Procedural level design for 12 interchangable level pieces
-Animation & VFX implementation
1. Research the game, dynamics & finding the fun
Before starting the design process I’ll do research into the game I’m designing for. Breaking down the pacing, different dynamics and where the fun is to be had. This will dictate the direction of concept and action bubbles for the levels.
(picture) In this breakdown I looked at the different encounters a typical Skyrim dungeon contained and how that affected the difficulty curve and pacing. Furthermore noting how it’s ‘valuable’ loot was distributed per room.
2. Brief, concept and design goals
When I receive the brief I’ll make a rough plan of the type of gameplay 
and aestetics according to constraints and gameplay pillars. With this in mind I’ll create a draft of what the goal is for each area gameplay and theme wise and present it to my lead.
(Picture) This image shows the kind of gameplay spaces I wanted to create for the Wet Wind Hollows. Here, I paid attention to size of gameplay spaces, tempo, type of encounters and theme.
Mafia: Definitive Edition is a faithful, expanded remake inspired by the iconic 2002 original. the remake is set within the fictional city of Lost Heaven, Illinois, during the 1930s, and follows the rise and fall of Tommy Angelo, a Sicilian American cab driver-turned-gangster, within the Salieri crime family.
Responsibilities
-Led 4 main story missions to release quality using company proprietary tech.
-World interaction placement and implementation
-Level design, scripting,
Outstanding story rich game nomination | Steam awards 2020
Mafia: Definitive Edition is a faithful, expanded remake inspired by the iconic 2002 original. the remake is set within the fictional city of Lost Heaven, Illinois, during the 1930s, and follows the rise and fall of Tommy Angelo, a Sicilian American cab driver-turned-gangster, within the Salieri crime family.
Responsibilities
-Led 4 main story missions to release quality using company proprietary tech.
-World interaction placement and implementation
-Level design, scripting,
Outstanding story rich game nomination | Steam awards 2020
DLC sized expansion mod for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Featuring 3 new major questlines, over 50 new dungeons and 60+ hours of gameplay.
Team size: 20+
Time frame: Jun. 2017 – present
Responsibilities
-Created 11 complete dungeons for main and sidequests
-Over 2200 hours in the Creation Kit Editor for Skyrim
-Polished over 25 interiors to shippable quality
-Implemented multiple combat and puzzle encounters
Client project by Michel Sainisch, ex-Ubisoft producer, for a Tactical RPG prototype with elements from Front Mission (1995) and XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2012).
Team size: 20+
Time frame: May 2017 – Jun. 2018 ( 11 months )
Responsibilities
–Designed, built and led development for 5 procedural level generator prototypes.
-Lead design & production for a team over 20 people
-Procedural level design for 12 interchangable level pieces
-Animation & VFX implementation
A 6-player deathmatch arena for the Unreal tournament pre-alpha in 2016. Inspired by Antoni Gaudi’s casa Mila and casa Batllo.
Team size: Individual design project
Time frame: Sep. 2016 – Nov. 2016 ( 7 weeks )
Responsibilities
-Concept to completion iterative design for a 6-player deathmatch map
-Mechanics breakdown and gym set up
-Basic lighting design and first art pass
-Playtesting and quality assurance
Awards/ recognition:
-Selected for world beautification, NHTV University of applied sciences (2017)
A multiplayer endless scroller made during the 2018 Brains Eden 48 hour game jam with 5 developers. Being selected to represent the NHTV as one of the 35 international teams, we managed to win the 2018 Jury’s choice award.
Single player puzzle adventure game during an 7-week project with 3 developers. Being responsible for all disciplines I was in charge of core gameplay programming, puzzle design, look and feel, tutorialisation and basic art & lighting.
A 7 week long project with 7 developers, focused around making a sequel to Donkey Kong (1981) for PC. In which I was responsible for lead design, level design, core system design as well as upholding creative vision throughout the project.
Add me on LinkedIn
Send me an Email at: TheodoreH@hotmail.nl
Look at my C.V.
