Braeden Susi developed core gameplay systems and content for the PopSusi/Frest repository, delivering over 130 features and 60 bug fixes in seven months. He engineered mechanics such as lasers, pushable blocks, and hub navigation using Unreal Engine Blueprints and C++, integrating assets and optimizing performance across levels. His work included UI/UX redesigns, Steam achievements integration, and platform-specific settings, ensuring smooth onboarding and cross-platform readiness. Braeden’s technical approach emphasized asset management, configuration hygiene, and iterative debugging, resulting in stable, scalable systems. The depth of his contributions enabled reliable progression, robust save-game behavior, and a polished player experience at release.
May 2025 Monthly Summary for PopSusi/Frest. Focused on stabilizing gameplay for a smooth launch, expanding cross‑platform readiness, and enhancing onboarding and engagement. Deliverables include a polished gameplay loop with reliable save behavior, revamped level/tutorial experiences, a new Easter Egg, Steam achievements integration, and platform-specific settings/assets. These efforts reduce post‑launch risk, enable Steam visibility, and lay groundwork for ongoing telemetry and player progression features. Business value centers on release quality, reduced support load, improved retention through discovery elements, and faster cross‑platform adaptation.
May 2025 Monthly Summary for PopSusi/Frest. Focused on stabilizing gameplay for a smooth launch, expanding cross‑platform readiness, and enhancing onboarding and engagement. Deliverables include a polished gameplay loop with reliable save behavior, revamped level/tutorial experiences, a new Easter Egg, Steam achievements integration, and platform-specific settings/assets. These efforts reduce post‑launch risk, enable Steam visibility, and lay groundwork for ongoing telemetry and player progression features. Business value centers on release quality, reduced support load, improved retention through discovery elements, and faster cross‑platform adaptation.
April 2025 (2025-04) performance snapshot for PopSusi/Frest: Delivered a substantial feature and UX uplift alongside critical stability improvements, setting the project up for release readiness. Highlights include a new playable character, a comprehensive UI/UX refresh, and extensive hub/side-area progression work, complemented by targeted bug fixes and code hygiene improvements. The team maintained a strong alignment with business goals, delivering tangible player value and improved development hygiene. Key business-value driven outcomes: - Enhanced player experience with new content and smoother UI interactions, reducing friction in dialogue, pacing, and UI navigation. - Strengthened gameplay flow and level connectivity through side areas, hub sequencers, and core progression updates, enabling deeper exploration and more consistent progression. - Improved stability and release readiness via critical bug fixes, engine/config hygiene, and removal of debug traces before shipping.
April 2025 (2025-04) performance snapshot for PopSusi/Frest: Delivered a substantial feature and UX uplift alongside critical stability improvements, setting the project up for release readiness. Highlights include a new playable character, a comprehensive UI/UX refresh, and extensive hub/side-area progression work, complemented by targeted bug fixes and code hygiene improvements. The team maintained a strong alignment with business goals, delivering tangible player value and improved development hygiene. Key business-value driven outcomes: - Enhanced player experience with new content and smoother UI interactions, reducing friction in dialogue, pacing, and UI navigation. - Strengthened gameplay flow and level connectivity through side areas, hub sequencers, and core progression updates, enabling deeper exploration and more consistent progression. - Improved stability and release readiness via critical bug fixes, engine/config hygiene, and removal of debug traces before shipping.
March 2025 performance summary for PopSusi/Frest: Key features delivered - Level design, data, and world mechanics: Ground Slam enum integration, LevelTransition asset updates, World 3 mechanics, Level 2 sequencing, level area resets functionality, Frozen Beach setups, RespawnCube asset updates, and Overworld Cave map adjustments. Representative work includes commits for Ground Slam enum, LevelTransition updates, World 3 changes, Level 2 sequencing, area resets, and broad asset revisions. - Pushable blocks and visual/interaction tweaks: Added pushable block mechanic with improved visuals, goo emissive behavior, and slower interaction flow for feedback. - Ben Boss and related gameplay: Ben boss battle stability fixes, sequence and reset handling enhancements, and Ben-related map/progression updates. - UI/UX and polish: Main menu and UI pop-ups polish, HUD stability improvements, camera shake work, loading indicators, and visual/UI polish across assets. - Build, asset, and milestone work: Build stabilization, project maintenance, and milestone achievement marking completion of initial implementation. Major bugs fixed - Ben boss battle stability: resolved a critical stability issue and refined boss sequencing. - Save edits and level transition fixes: save edits bug fix and level transition reliability improvements. - Death and interact fixes: removal/adjustments of death triggers and fix for interact default actor. - Hub/spawn and resets: hub respawns corrected, reset handling enhancements, and time slow/interface fixes. - Tutorial minor bug fix and HUD/UI stability corrections. - General small fixes and polish across systems. Overall impact and accomplishments - Significantly improved stability and reliability of core gameplay loops (level transitions, boss encounters, hub respawns) and reduced risk of runtime issues. - Delivered a breadth of features and polish that enhance player experience and engagement, while maintaining a robust asset pipeline and build process. - Reached a major milestone: completion of the initial implementation, setting a solid foundation for future iteration and content. Technologies/skills demonstrated - Unreal Engine asset/workflow proficiency (uasset, umap, asset updates), level sequencing, and world-building. - Gameplay systems design: pushable blocks, goo mechanics, grapple/slam concepts, and complex boss sequencing. - UI/UX design and polish (menus, pop-ups, HUD, loading visuals) and camera/audio integration. - Build stability, project maintenance, and asset pipeline discipline, plus prototyping of new features (tutorial/codex flow, end cutscenes, hub structure).
March 2025 performance summary for PopSusi/Frest: Key features delivered - Level design, data, and world mechanics: Ground Slam enum integration, LevelTransition asset updates, World 3 mechanics, Level 2 sequencing, level area resets functionality, Frozen Beach setups, RespawnCube asset updates, and Overworld Cave map adjustments. Representative work includes commits for Ground Slam enum, LevelTransition updates, World 3 changes, Level 2 sequencing, area resets, and broad asset revisions. - Pushable blocks and visual/interaction tweaks: Added pushable block mechanic with improved visuals, goo emissive behavior, and slower interaction flow for feedback. - Ben Boss and related gameplay: Ben boss battle stability fixes, sequence and reset handling enhancements, and Ben-related map/progression updates. - UI/UX and polish: Main menu and UI pop-ups polish, HUD stability improvements, camera shake work, loading indicators, and visual/UI polish across assets. - Build, asset, and milestone work: Build stabilization, project maintenance, and milestone achievement marking completion of initial implementation. Major bugs fixed - Ben boss battle stability: resolved a critical stability issue and refined boss sequencing. - Save edits and level transition fixes: save edits bug fix and level transition reliability improvements. - Death and interact fixes: removal/adjustments of death triggers and fix for interact default actor. - Hub/spawn and resets: hub respawns corrected, reset handling enhancements, and time slow/interface fixes. - Tutorial minor bug fix and HUD/UI stability corrections. - General small fixes and polish across systems. Overall impact and accomplishments - Significantly improved stability and reliability of core gameplay loops (level transitions, boss encounters, hub respawns) and reduced risk of runtime issues. - Delivered a breadth of features and polish that enhance player experience and engagement, while maintaining a robust asset pipeline and build process. - Reached a major milestone: completion of the initial implementation, setting a solid foundation for future iteration and content. Technologies/skills demonstrated - Unreal Engine asset/workflow proficiency (uasset, umap, asset updates), level sequencing, and world-building. - Gameplay systems design: pushable blocks, goo mechanics, grapple/slam concepts, and complex boss sequencing. - UI/UX design and polish (menus, pop-ups, HUD, loading visuals) and camera/audio integration. - Build stability, project maintenance, and asset pipeline discipline, plus prototyping of new features (tutorial/codex flow, end cutscenes, hub structure).
February 2025 monthly summary for repo PopSusi/Frest. Focused on delivering core gameplay flow improvements, expanding hub architecture, enriching visuals/UI, and stabilizing interactions to enhance player experience and retention. The work spanned level loading, hub navigation, progression mechanics, asset integration, and performance/quality improvements across multiple features and bug fixes.
February 2025 monthly summary for repo PopSusi/Frest. Focused on delivering core gameplay flow improvements, expanding hub architecture, enriching visuals/UI, and stabilizing interactions to enhance player experience and retention. The work spanned level loading, hub navigation, progression mechanics, asset integration, and performance/quality improvements across multiple features and bug fixes.
Month: 2025-01 Concise monthly summary for PopSusi/Frest focusing on delivering gameplay features, stabilizing core interactions, and laying groundwork for future content. The work this month reduced risk and increased velocity by delivering foundational systems, cleaning up the codebase, and improving player experience across multiple subsystems. Key features delivered: - Laser System: full laser mechanics including creation, debugging, bounceback behavior, and completion readiness. Commits: 22453b09e71346ba75c9e96023909fc656353748; 219b66d22ed0be0050adbdbceba989a0343c5039; 7532720fcc62ef83f3f2efe6301d69f85aac9a26; 5db762146c5613bc20afad3f848af456f4a77fcc. - Goo System: startup, throwing mechanics, visuals, and Goo piles., with enhancements to goo pods, zoom, and gooey visuals (Goo System Improvements). Commits: a358bce44700adc96c8f1da33f5725a4c5d212bf; 478341e7283e0ed44105ab898ed4389016235050; 810fb3b29137fcd500264c7f5f3837f66e72699d; 37ec031e95575e0e5b1bc8b8f9176bf8929d57a4; 035f6a6b5e72b39110fd9336fb9a34a5d2b131e4; 60b5e7f418f5ec720878c79299e511c62d2376e4; 7c24151784ef9dd81db8d55e8a2b834f5bfcfd30. - ENUM STATE MACHINE and Pushing: enum-based state machine and pushing mechanic for interactions. Commits: c51bc3899b6374e513cfcb1c73a564bb7aa23083; e0703f0fc3983fe68f1833e64604c9e45e0d7fe3. - Infrastructure and polish: project structure updates and baseline polish, including project file rename, hub/world scaffolding, forest overworld setup, and UI polish. Commits: 4fca96ececb29016fb3d155c87079a7ee1c75f83; 647f4a06eb1340d5bec7bfe7fb3fd76aa977df61; 7be4839711f86cfe7a7e34534ac87cba5c176e00; 8ba5058e500ca36a08d0232cb23276d4856ee97a; 0ec420e8f7d9f9b3d32bb6f9d3bcb24cc85aad5c; c0dddc65ca39437185f8b66e5f8ce304fae6c487. - Minor polish and supportive work: placeholder SFX, animation montages, and UI/UX polish to improve player feedback and consistency. Commits: e956a3411aa69f87ef0786241967d2f32c967262; 14d028bd879d134e89f377083ab3ea1e0168987c; cc1e350b58091f6e082dc957162e8ee5216f11a5. Major bugs fixed: - Level 2 fix: resolved Level 2 issues to restore progression flow. Commit: 9efb1cb820edd257d72380d306a2521927aff5b5. - Debug traces and Ben Float integration cleaned up to reduce noise in logs. Commit: d696d2c0ef3e4c9e9fac79d97539c52ff8b1f4cb. - Crouch mechanics issue fixed to improve player control. Commit: afd319b4c308662086e6468fba47dc2240f89b06. - Push action bug fix and Interact system reliability fix to ensure robust gameplay interactions. Commits: bbeb22d50671c605391379b26853cd82ab24cc17; 14c51c4e619a68269475840474e08d1d55c2b899. - Teleport bug fix and HourGlass related issue resolution to stabilize world navigation. Commits: a618c72c0ff82fc7439fa3baaec9945d38b01cf3; 99504e7d4ffd7f8426e3dae6db251798f0fcf12e. Overall impact and accomplishments: - Improved player experience through expanded gameplay systems, more stable interactions, and consistent performance across the Overworld, Hub, and combat-like mechanics. - Laid the groundwork for upcoming features with scalable architecture, clearer project structure, and robust interaction patterns. - Accelerated feature delivery cadence by combining gameplay features, reliability fixes, and polish into a cohesive monthly sprint. Technologies and skills demonstrated: - Unreal Engine gameplay programming, including physics-like interactions, visuals, and animation integration. - State machine design using enums for robust interaction flows. - Performance optimization and FPS improvements; code cleanup and readability improvements. - Asset integration, UI/UX polishing, and audio workflow scaffolding. - Strong commit discipline and traceability across features and fixes. Business value: - Faster feature delivery with reduced regression risk, improved player engagement, and a more scalable codebase enabling future content with lower turnaround times.
Month: 2025-01 Concise monthly summary for PopSusi/Frest focusing on delivering gameplay features, stabilizing core interactions, and laying groundwork for future content. The work this month reduced risk and increased velocity by delivering foundational systems, cleaning up the codebase, and improving player experience across multiple subsystems. Key features delivered: - Laser System: full laser mechanics including creation, debugging, bounceback behavior, and completion readiness. Commits: 22453b09e71346ba75c9e96023909fc656353748; 219b66d22ed0be0050adbdbceba989a0343c5039; 7532720fcc62ef83f3f2efe6301d69f85aac9a26; 5db762146c5613bc20afad3f848af456f4a77fcc. - Goo System: startup, throwing mechanics, visuals, and Goo piles., with enhancements to goo pods, zoom, and gooey visuals (Goo System Improvements). Commits: a358bce44700adc96c8f1da33f5725a4c5d212bf; 478341e7283e0ed44105ab898ed4389016235050; 810fb3b29137fcd500264c7f5f3837f66e72699d; 37ec031e95575e0e5b1bc8b8f9176bf8929d57a4; 035f6a6b5e72b39110fd9336fb9a34a5d2b131e4; 60b5e7f418f5ec720878c79299e511c62d2376e4; 7c24151784ef9dd81db8d55e8a2b834f5bfcfd30. - ENUM STATE MACHINE and Pushing: enum-based state machine and pushing mechanic for interactions. Commits: c51bc3899b6374e513cfcb1c73a564bb7aa23083; e0703f0fc3983fe68f1833e64604c9e45e0d7fe3. - Infrastructure and polish: project structure updates and baseline polish, including project file rename, hub/world scaffolding, forest overworld setup, and UI polish. Commits: 4fca96ececb29016fb3d155c87079a7ee1c75f83; 647f4a06eb1340d5bec7bfe7fb3fd76aa977df61; 7be4839711f86cfe7a7e34534ac87cba5c176e00; 8ba5058e500ca36a08d0232cb23276d4856ee97a; 0ec420e8f7d9f9b3d32bb6f9d3bcb24cc85aad5c; c0dddc65ca39437185f8b66e5f8ce304fae6c487. - Minor polish and supportive work: placeholder SFX, animation montages, and UI/UX polish to improve player feedback and consistency. Commits: e956a3411aa69f87ef0786241967d2f32c967262; 14d028bd879d134e89f377083ab3ea1e0168987c; cc1e350b58091f6e082dc957162e8ee5216f11a5. Major bugs fixed: - Level 2 fix: resolved Level 2 issues to restore progression flow. Commit: 9efb1cb820edd257d72380d306a2521927aff5b5. - Debug traces and Ben Float integration cleaned up to reduce noise in logs. Commit: d696d2c0ef3e4c9e9fac79d97539c52ff8b1f4cb. - Crouch mechanics issue fixed to improve player control. Commit: afd319b4c308662086e6468fba47dc2240f89b06. - Push action bug fix and Interact system reliability fix to ensure robust gameplay interactions. Commits: bbeb22d50671c605391379b26853cd82ab24cc17; 14c51c4e619a68269475840474e08d1d55c2b899. - Teleport bug fix and HourGlass related issue resolution to stabilize world navigation. Commits: a618c72c0ff82fc7439fa3baaec9945d38b01cf3; 99504e7d4ffd7f8426e3dae6db251798f0fcf12e. Overall impact and accomplishments: - Improved player experience through expanded gameplay systems, more stable interactions, and consistent performance across the Overworld, Hub, and combat-like mechanics. - Laid the groundwork for upcoming features with scalable architecture, clearer project structure, and robust interaction patterns. - Accelerated feature delivery cadence by combining gameplay features, reliability fixes, and polish into a cohesive monthly sprint. Technologies and skills demonstrated: - Unreal Engine gameplay programming, including physics-like interactions, visuals, and animation integration. - State machine design using enums for robust interaction flows. - Performance optimization and FPS improvements; code cleanup and readability improvements. - Asset integration, UI/UX polishing, and audio workflow scaffolding. - Strong commit discipline and traceability across features and fixes. Business value: - Faster feature delivery with reduced regression risk, improved player engagement, and a more scalable codebase enabling future content with lower turnaround times.
2024-12 monthly work summary for PopSusi/Frest. Delivered Codex Level 1 content integration across multiple maps with asset and puzzle updates; resolved Laser Wall Interaction bug in BP_Player.uasset via asset/config adjustments (no code changes); refreshed core map assets including CaveLevel1Persistent.umap, TestMap.umap, CaveLevel2Persistent.umap and BPC_TeleportPickupScholar.uasset to ensure asset consistency and playtest readiness; demonstrated strong asset management and cross-map collaboration, enabling QA readiness and more stable gameplay experiences.
2024-12 monthly work summary for PopSusi/Frest. Delivered Codex Level 1 content integration across multiple maps with asset and puzzle updates; resolved Laser Wall Interaction bug in BP_Player.uasset via asset/config adjustments (no code changes); refreshed core map assets including CaveLevel1Persistent.umap, TestMap.umap, CaveLevel2Persistent.umap and BPC_TeleportPickupScholar.uasset to ensure asset consistency and playtest readiness; demonstrated strong asset management and cross-map collaboration, enabling QA readiness and more stable gameplay experiences.
November 2024 (PopSusi/Frest) focused on stabilizing core gameplay, delivering new mechanics, and strengthening the user experience while improving performance and maintainability. Major efforts centered on collision stability, laser/platform systems, and data-driven updates to player and level assets. UI improvements and engine/config maintenance further enabled faster iteration and cleaner releases. The month culminated in a more robust, performant, and visually polished experience with clear business value in reliability and player engagement.
November 2024 (PopSusi/Frest) focused on stabilizing core gameplay, delivering new mechanics, and strengthening the user experience while improving performance and maintainability. Major efforts centered on collision stability, laser/platform systems, and data-driven updates to player and level assets. UI improvements and engine/config maintenance further enabled faster iteration and cleaner releases. The month culminated in a more robust, performant, and visually polished experience with clear business value in reliability and player engagement.
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