A 3d render of a light house with rough seas made by Ryan Lemley

I've always been fascinated with the idea that complexity can come out of such simplicity.

-Will Wright

A image of Ryan's headshot

Learning Journey

My programming journey began in late 2019 with Python, where I quickly gained proficiency. This foundational knowledge paved the way for my transition into game development using Unity, a platform I dedicated four years to mastering. In 2023, I adapted to industry changes by shifting to the Godot engine, focusing on self-directed learning to achieve mastery. This transition also allowed me to expand my technical skills to include GLSL (OpenGL Shading Language), enhancing my capabilities in advanced graphics programming. Currently, I am developing a personal portfolio website (the one your looking at) from scratch using HTML and CSS, showcasing my web development skills.

2019

Late 2019 - 2021: Learning Phase

Began programming in Python in late 2019, quickly shifting to C# to work with Unity. Created several projects including mobile clicker games, although some early projects were not saved.

2021

August 11, 2021: Doomba

Developed "Doomba," a top-down shooter game. Learned to use Unity's particle system and successfully implemented features like enemy spawning and shooting mechanics.

2022

March 5, 2022: Build a City

Created "Build a City," a basic city-building game for a school project, focusing on choices like energy sources and housing types.

May 19, 2022: From Darkness to a Bright Future

Developed a game inspired by Holocaust research, focusing on the life of survivor and Nobel Prize winner Roland Hoffman.

May 22, 2022: Down the Rooms

Released a web game "Down the Rooms," featuring innovative visuals and a complex upgrade system. This allowed players to enjoy the game in their browser.

July 17, 2022: Game Jam - Mists of Growth

Participated in the My First Game Jam and attempted "Mists of Growth," which remained incomplete due to team challenges but served as an important team-building experience.

2023

April 29, 2023: Pastel Game Jam

Entered the Pastel Game Jam, handling most aspects solo while receiving art support. The project went into a playable but unfinished state due to time constraints.

June 29, 2023: Rolling Atop It

Collaborated on "Rolling Atop It," an obstacle course game for Steam, which became more popular than most of my other games due to its engaging cover art.

October 5, 2023: RPG Tavern Game

Began a long-term RPG Tavern game project, focusing on resource collection and humor. Transitioned from Unity to Godot due to industry changes.

2024

August 23, 2024: Tentet.Top a Tetris Roguelike

Started a web-based Tetris-inspired roguelike game using Godot and GDScript, emphasizing multiplayer interactions and roguelike elements.

October 21, 2024: Personal Portfolio Website

Initiated the creation of a personal portfolio website to showcase projects, using HTML and CSS, with plans to integrate playable games.

October 30, 2024: Designing a 3D Printer

Started to design a 3D printer capable of printing super polymers at temperatures up to 440°C (824°F).

Development Philosophy

My development philosophy is rooted in strategic planning, inspired by Will Wright's methodology, which emphasizes extensive pre-development design to ensure a solid foundation for game creation. I focus on an iterative design process, utilizing concept art and continuous refinement of game mechanics and user experience to achieve the best results.