Welcome!
My name is Ellen Heitmann, and I'm a game designer and media studies researcher with a background in psychology. I have always been fascinated by the unique ways that video games can communicate stories using interactivity, which led me to specialize in narrative and level design at DigiPen Institute of Technology. My goal is to create cohesive and psychologically-informed games that leave a positive impact on their players, which has led me to contribute to several creative projects and speak at the 2023 Game Developers Conference. Look below to learn more!
Showcase
Platinum Award Winner of GDC's Narrative Contest
After winning the highest tier of the Game Developers Conference's international game narrative review competition, I was flown out to GDC 2023 where I gave a talk about narrative design.
Creative Director of Shadow's Grove
I worked as both the creative director and narrative designer for Shadow's Grove: an action-adventure game developed over the course of a year and a half.
Mystery Designer for Tick Our Time Away
I outlined the thematic direction, constructed the mystery, and wrote dialogue for Tick Our Time Away: a murder mystery visual novel with time travel mechanics and a characterization focus.
World Bible: The Land of Eniri
I wrote a longform world bible with the intent of creating a story about perspective and personal development. I spent half a year on the document and maps.
Level and Audio Designer for Frozen Echoes
I created a solo level design project focused on atmosphere and scene composition—modelling the environments, composing the music, and programming basic puzzles.