Gerda: A Flame in Winter

My Role: Lead Programmer
Time on project: 2.25 years (summer 2020 – fall 2022)
Average team size: 12-16 people
Available At: Steam, Switch
Publisher: Don’t Nod
Platform: Windows/Switch
Input: Keyboard + Mouse / Controller
Engine: Unity 3D
MetaCritic Score: 84

Main Contributions:

  • Game framework:
    • Responsible for the save and load functionality.
    • Setup Steam integration with cloud saves and achievements.
    • Switch porting:
      • Interfacing our save/load code with the Switch API.
      • Setup asset management and tracked changes for smaller patch sizes.
  • UI:
    • Setup the UI logic for menus and dialogue.
    • Created a framework for dealing with dynamic switching between keyboard+mouse and controller on the fly.
    • Setup UI to deal with an alternative layout for smaller screens, such as the Switch.
  • Organizational:
    • Managed up to 5 programmers throughout the development of the project.
    • Responsible for technical communication with our publisher regarding app submission and platform setup for Steam and Switch.
    • Participated in the localization process with contact directly to the localization team and our publisher.
  • Pipelines:
    • Developed and maintained a custom localization system.
    • Developed and maintained a custom visual scripting tool “Graphenheimer” which was used by our design department for all level scripting and the narrative team for all the dialogue.
  • Community:
    • Monitored our Steam socials and support-inbox to provide support for our players.
    • Streamed the game during several social events.

Awards:

Theme and Gameplay:

February 1945. The second world war is almost over but as Gerda Larsen returns home from her work as a nurse at the local town clinic, she finds her husband taken into custody by the Gestapo on accusations of being a member of the Danish resistance. Being half-German and half-Danish Gerda must now navigate the complicated local social community of the border region between Denmark and Germany in her desperate quest to save her husband, Anders.

Gerda is a modern adventure game. The game takes place over several days where each day the player must choose where to go out of a selection of opportunities. Once a location is chosen the others will no longer be available. Each scene involves the player navigating the environment, searching for clues and interacting with the local populace. The game tracks the players social standings with the different factions and individual characters, as well as the items picked up and choices made through dialogue or interactions in the world. The aforementioned elements all play into the core mechanic of the game – the dialogue system. Certain dialogue options might be locked and other choices will involve a chance roll where the odds can be affected by everything tracked by the game. The game features several different endings and is designed for replayability.