Principal Designer at Rare Ltd. / Microsoft Game Studios
Coventry, United Kingdom
- Current
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- Principal Designer at Rare Ltd. / Microsoft Game Studios
- Business Director at Delicious Dishes Ltd
- Past
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- Senior/lead Designer at Rare Ltd. / Microsoft Game Studios
- Senior Designer at Rare Ltd. / Microsoft Game Studios
- Designer at Rare Ltd. / Microsoft Game Studios
- Tester at Rare Ltd. / Microsoft Game Studios
- Sales Assistant at Game
- Education
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- Burton Upon Trent Technical College
- Recommended
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1 person has recommended Gavin - Connections
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57
connections
- Industry
- Computer Games
- Websites
Gavin Price’s Summary
Started out life as a tester through one of Rare's busiest periods in history. Worked on Jet Force Gemini, DK64, Perfect Dark, Banjo Tooie, Disney's Mickey Speedway USA, Conker's Bad Fur Day (N64), Mickey's Adventure Racing, Donkey Kong County, Perfect Dark (GBC) as a tester.
Then became a designer on Grabbed by the Ghoulies and scripted, set-up and edited 90% of the game, did 70% of the level design and learned many other skills at this time.
Followed up Ghoulies by working on Banjo prototype before moving on to Viva Pinata which required a lot of documentation and set-up. A Sandbox game like VP was incredibly challenging to work on but very rewarding at the same time.
Recently on Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts (XBOX 360) I started off as a general designer having crafted an enitre level and it's events within (the much loved "Banjoland"). During the project I was then made lead multiplayer designer during which I learned a lot about the principles of online and network gameing, especially with the restricitons this places on your designs which I actually enjoyed as it encourages you to be more creative to bypass and overcome the challenges and obstacles it throws at you.
I have much experience of using in-house game editing and scripting tools, have a good logic understanding and have learnt to adapt these skills over a variety of games and genres now.
Summary
1999-2001 Tester
Jet Force Gemini, DK64, Perfect Dark, Banjo Tooie, Disney's Mickey Speedway USA, Conker's Bad Fur Day (N64), Mickey's Adventure Racing, Donkey Kong County, Perfect Dark (GBC)
2001-2004 Jr Designer & Designer
Grabbed By The Ghoulies (Xbox)
2004-mid 2005 Designer
Prototype
mid 2005-2006 Designer
Viva Pinata (XBOX 360)
2006-2008 Designer & Lead Multiplayer Designer
Banjo Kazooie:Nuts and Bolts
2009 - Principle designer on as yet unannounced project - watch this space!
Gavin Price’s Specialties:
At Rare, most of the time no-one designer specialises in one area of design, we all do a little bit of everything and specialise at doing just that.
Idea creation is one of my strengths as is nurturing them, documenting them and following up on their implementation. Seeing the seed grow into a mighty oak is one of the reasons I love my job.
Have good knowledge of 3-D modelling and am trusted to take ownership of the high priority areas of a project and those with greatest risk.
Gavin Price’s Experience
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Principal Designer
Rare Ltd. / Microsoft Game Studios
(Privately Held; Computer Games industry)
January 2009 — Present (11 months)
Following a reshuffle at Rare, I've taken on further responsibility in a new principal designer role on a very exciting new project.
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Business Director
Delicious Dishes Ltd
(Food Production industry)
2005 — Present (4 years )
In addition to my videogame career, I also help my wife with the business side of things for our cake-making business.
Strangely this has helped me in my videgame career understanding certain principals of business and even developing my artistic side. It's also made me a whizz at excel, programming my own accounts keeping and pay-roll spread sheets. -
Senior/lead Designer
Rare Ltd. / Microsoft Game Studios
(Non-Profit; Environmental Services industry)
April 2007 — January 2009 (1 year 10 months)
Was a senior designer on Banjo Kazooie Nuts and Bolt (later focusing on the multiplayer as a lead designer). Also lead designer on a title that didn't go past prototype due to company reshuffle and portfolio change to a new direction.
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Senior Designer
Rare Ltd. / Microsoft Game Studios
(Privately Held; Computer Games industry)
January 2004 — April 2007 (3 years 4 months)
In this period I started work on a Banjo Kazooie prototype and then went on to the critically acclaimed Viva Pinata. This game was a very good expereince requiring a flexible approach to design for such a unique title.
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Designer
Rare Ltd. / Microsoft Game Studios
(Privately Held; Computer Games industry)
September 2000 — December 2003 (3 years 4 months)
First design job on Rare's Grabbed By The Ghoulies. Even though the title didn't enjoy the sales we hoped it was an invaluable learning experience and allowed me to soak up as much knowledge from the lead designer (the great Gregg Mayles) as possible and star forging my design skills across all aspects of the role.
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Tester
Rare Ltd. / Microsoft Game Studios
(Privately Held; Computer Games industry)
June 1999 — September 2000 (1 year 4 months)
Testing a lot of games during a golden period in Rare's timeline. See above for which games exactly but learnt a lot about the industry, how games were created and what works and how what doesn't work gets fixed. I honestly think that designers with a strong testing background have a slight edge/advantage at that part of their career. Taking on a designer straight out is risky, taking one who has showed potential during being a tester is less so. Couldn't have asked for a better start to my career personally - loved this experience.
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Sales Assistant
Game
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Retail industry)
November 1997 — June 1999 (1 year 8 months)
My part-time job funding a games addicition whilst I studied at college. In a way led me to the games design position I now hold at Rare/Microsoft Games Studios.
Gavin Price’s Education
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Burton Upon Trent Technical College
1996 — 1999
Additional Information
Gavin Price’s Websites:
Gavin Price’s Groups:
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Video Games Design Professionals
Gavin Price’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- getting back in touch
