Rocco Markese

Work History

• 

  Senior Designer, Tech

  NetherRealm Studios

  January 2024 - Present

  Chicago, IL, United States
• 

  Senior Designer

  NetherRealm Studios

  December 2020 - January 2024

  Chicago, IL, United States
• 

  Designer

  NetherRealm Studios

  January 2012 - December 2020

  Chicago, IL, United States

  Designer, Mortal Kombat X
  • Implemented and maintained numerous fighting-game characters.
  • Lead diverse systems, including: Cloth, IK, and Projectile Callbacks via scripting.
  • Supported Cinematic Artists on various Intro, Fatality, X-Ray, and Victory cinemas.
  • Worked to increase communication by collaborating cross-discipline on many issues.
  
  Designer, Injustice: Gods Among Us
  • Designed and implemented various fighting-game characters.
  • Directed motion capture shoots for numerous attack and movement ideas.
  • Maintained game systems, including: Cloth, IK, Callbacks, and miscellaneous bug fixes.
  • Supported Artists with various background interactions, both functional design and location.

  

  
• 

  Systems Designer

  Day 1 Studios

  July 2009 - December 2011

  Chicago, IL, United States

  Systems Designer, Undisclosed 3rd Person Action/Stealth Game
  • Created and maintained systems design documents for project development.
  • Designed stealth-based detection, AI response, and game-play systems.
  • Lead development of AI and enemy design for the entire project.
  • Streamlined processes and pipelines for designing combat encounters.
  • Tuned AI sensors, behaviors, and weapon mechanics for combat.
  
  Systems Designer, F.3.A.R.
  • Designed and implemented numerous mini-boss fights.
  • Helped develop a better overall design toolset for current project and long-term needs.
  • Supported game-play systems, including: AI, Generative Scare, and Vehicles.
  • Supported Level Design with various combat encounters, both placement and tweaking.
  • Worked cross-discipline to increase communication by organizing discussions and meetings.

  
• 

  Designer

  Midway Games

  February 2003 - May 2005

  Chicago, IL, United States

  Designer, Stranglehold
  • Brainstormed fresh, compelling, and fun ideas for a next-gen game.
  • Created and maintained design documents for proto-type development.
  • Research and development on new tool sets and game engines.
  • Researched similar games in the same genre.
  • Streamlined processes and pipelines for designing levels.
  
  Level Designer, PSI-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy
  • Created and maintained design documents for game systems.
  • Designed and placed layout of generic/scripted AI and objects.
  • Designed and implemented scripted events, using scripting tools.
  • Supported development for a better overall design toolset.
  • Tested and debugged game-play problems and issues.