Liam Lovett developed core gameplay systems, UI features, and reliability improvements for the RockStars repository over eight months, delivering 215 features and resolving 95 bugs. He engineered robust achievement and save systems, streamlined Steam integration, and enhanced player feedback through audio, VFX, and input mapping. Using Unreal Engine, C++, and Blueprint scripting, Liam implemented level streaming, asset management, and cross-platform build stability, while optimizing performance and data persistence. His work included dialogue and cutscene systems, controller rebinding, and analytics integration, resulting in a maintainable codebase and smoother player experience. The depth of his contributions enabled rapid iteration and stable releases.
May 2025 monthly summary: Delivered a focused set of features and reliability improvements for RockStars, driving improved player experience, analytics reliability, and release readiness. Key outcomes include enhancements to the achievements system with a new ID framework and hitbox reliability; precise time tracking and durable data storage; streamlined Steam statistic writes with zero-delay, rate-limit handling, and guaranteed persistence on quit; expanded audio assets and binding fixes for dialogue and actions; and proactive maintenance hygiene via changelog cleanup to support upcoming updates. These efforts collectively enhance user engagement, data integrity for analytics and Steam metrics, and overall operational efficiency.
May 2025 monthly summary: Delivered a focused set of features and reliability improvements for RockStars, driving improved player experience, analytics reliability, and release readiness. Key outcomes include enhancements to the achievements system with a new ID framework and hitbox reliability; precise time tracking and durable data storage; streamlined Steam statistic writes with zero-delay, rate-limit handling, and guaranteed persistence on quit; expanded audio assets and binding fixes for dialogue and actions; and proactive maintenance hygiene via changelog cleanup to support upcoming updates. These efforts collectively enhance user engagement, data integrity for analytics and Steam metrics, and overall operational efficiency.
April 2025 – RockStars project (DanDiazRivera/RockStars) Key features delivered - Controller input settings UI overhaul: added invert right stick, rebinding types, and separated keyboard settings menu and central controls menu to streamline configuration and accessibility. - Startup UX: startup movie now skippable to speed up boot flow and reduce initial friction for players and QA. - Achievements and audio enhancements: expanded Steam achievements (including kill first erg, kill mother erg, perfect attack, and map-related goals) with improved audio feedback (footsteps and related audio) and Steam integration. - Data tooling: introduced Data Import Tooling for general content import and dialogue table import to accelerate content updates and localization workflows. - UI/UX and narrative content: intro/outro cutscenes added; menu system overhauled; pause menu UI refined; rebinding navigation improvements; level streaming enhancements and level naming adjustments; new key/gamepad icons and flower accents for input icons. Major bugs fixed - Navigation and controls stability: fixes to navigation and screen confirmation in controls settings; save of invert right stick setting resolved. - Save flow: disabled print strings during game and settings saves to clean logs and improve stability. - Cross-platform/build reliability: addressed build issues on other systems to improve release consistency. - NPC/dialogue UI: fixed input icons above NPC heads and main dialogue indicators; corrected overhead icon behavior. - Level streaming and UI: reconnected level streaming node; pause menu boss healthbar visibility fix; deduplication of rebinding entries to avoid duplicates. - No-op commit handling: added resilience for no-op commits to avoid affecting functionality. Overall impact and accomplishments - Significantly improved onboarding and configuration experience for players with a more robust and responsive UI, faster startup, and richer content through data/dialogue tooling. - Strengthened player engagement through expanded Steam achievements and audio polish, while delivering a more stable cross-platform experience. - Improved maintainability with codebase cleanup, better organization, and streamlined content import workflows. Technologies/skills demonstrated - UI/UX design and user-centric workflow improvements (settings, menus, rebinding). - Input mapping, rebinding flow, and navigation engineering. - Steam integration and audio design for achievements. - Data tooling and content pipeline optimization (dialogue tables, data import). - Cutscene integration, level streaming, and UI/iconography polish. - Cross-platform build troubleshooting and repository hygiene.
April 2025 – RockStars project (DanDiazRivera/RockStars) Key features delivered - Controller input settings UI overhaul: added invert right stick, rebinding types, and separated keyboard settings menu and central controls menu to streamline configuration and accessibility. - Startup UX: startup movie now skippable to speed up boot flow and reduce initial friction for players and QA. - Achievements and audio enhancements: expanded Steam achievements (including kill first erg, kill mother erg, perfect attack, and map-related goals) with improved audio feedback (footsteps and related audio) and Steam integration. - Data tooling: introduced Data Import Tooling for general content import and dialogue table import to accelerate content updates and localization workflows. - UI/UX and narrative content: intro/outro cutscenes added; menu system overhauled; pause menu UI refined; rebinding navigation improvements; level streaming enhancements and level naming adjustments; new key/gamepad icons and flower accents for input icons. Major bugs fixed - Navigation and controls stability: fixes to navigation and screen confirmation in controls settings; save of invert right stick setting resolved. - Save flow: disabled print strings during game and settings saves to clean logs and improve stability. - Cross-platform/build reliability: addressed build issues on other systems to improve release consistency. - NPC/dialogue UI: fixed input icons above NPC heads and main dialogue indicators; corrected overhead icon behavior. - Level streaming and UI: reconnected level streaming node; pause menu boss healthbar visibility fix; deduplication of rebinding entries to avoid duplicates. - No-op commit handling: added resilience for no-op commits to avoid affecting functionality. Overall impact and accomplishments - Significantly improved onboarding and configuration experience for players with a more robust and responsive UI, faster startup, and richer content through data/dialogue tooling. - Strengthened player engagement through expanded Steam achievements and audio polish, while delivering a more stable cross-platform experience. - Improved maintainability with codebase cleanup, better organization, and streamlined content import workflows. Technologies/skills demonstrated - UI/UX design and user-centric workflow improvements (settings, menus, rebinding). - Input mapping, rebinding flow, and navigation engineering. - Steam integration and audio design for achievements. - Data tooling and content pipeline optimization (dialogue tables, data import). - Cutscene integration, level streaming, and UI/iconography polish. - Cross-platform build troubleshooting and repository hygiene.
March 2025 monthly summary for DanDiazRivera/RockStars: Delivered a focused set of gameplay features, UI improvements, and reliability fixes that strengthen gameplay feedback, accessibility, and readiness for broader distribution. Key features delivered include louder audio preview, Haak planets movement replication, simplified demo mode activation, health-based bandaid drops for enemies, skybox customization, and enhanced grapple range UI. Major bugs fixed include bandaid collection at max health, accidental restart keybind presses, visibility fixes for all targets, removal of debug print strings, and removal of in-progress destructible icons. Overall impact: improved player experience, reduced edge-case failures, cleaner logs, and a stronger foundation for post-release content and Steam distribution. Technologies/skills demonstrated: audio integration, input rebinding and keyboard mappings, UI/UX improvements, level streaming enhancements, VFX/audio balance, and cross-team collaboration for platform readiness.
March 2025 monthly summary for DanDiazRivera/RockStars: Delivered a focused set of gameplay features, UI improvements, and reliability fixes that strengthen gameplay feedback, accessibility, and readiness for broader distribution. Key features delivered include louder audio preview, Haak planets movement replication, simplified demo mode activation, health-based bandaid drops for enemies, skybox customization, and enhanced grapple range UI. Major bugs fixed include bandaid collection at max health, accidental restart keybind presses, visibility fixes for all targets, removal of debug print strings, and removal of in-progress destructible icons. Overall impact: improved player experience, reduced edge-case failures, cleaner logs, and a stronger foundation for post-release content and Steam distribution. Technologies/skills demonstrated: audio integration, input rebinding and keyboard mappings, UI/UX improvements, level streaming enhancements, VFX/audio balance, and cross-team collaboration for platform readiness.
February 2025 monthly summary for DanDiazRivera/RockStars. Consolidated changes via the Feb 2025 batch including multiple merge commits that stabilized the mainline (e.g., February 2nd Merge, Merge Stanley, Merge John, February 4th Merge, February 7th Merge, February 9th Merge; representative hashes include c696fe4c2c542e59dd0a827539487e07ac69a565, e5cabdc7ac1efc76b59ed8ce5812a191a9a994d7, 972499020ae1103ce4be8c45f8e8a006b5afeb5b, 1430f0671309210379ddf5f5e5315708c97e95e4, acf3db5b60afb1d7270cfc536080bf7b278389e1). Additional map and gameplay system changes were merged (05a31f65654509ba14c18c1d35323a82f983f4d2).
February 2025 monthly summary for DanDiazRivera/RockStars. Consolidated changes via the Feb 2025 batch including multiple merge commits that stabilized the mainline (e.g., February 2nd Merge, Merge Stanley, Merge John, February 4th Merge, February 7th Merge, February 9th Merge; representative hashes include c696fe4c2c542e59dd0a827539487e07ac69a565, e5cabdc7ac1efc76b59ed8ce5812a191a9a994d7, 972499020ae1103ce4be8c45f8e8a006b5afeb5b, 1430f0671309210379ddf5f5e5315708c97e95e4, acf3db5b60afb1d7270cfc536080bf7b278389e1). Additional map and gameplay system changes were merged (05a31f65654509ba14c18c1d35323a82f983f4d2).
January 2025 performance summary for DanDiazRivera/RockStars. Delivered substantial gameplay and UI improvements, targeted bug fixes, and repo stabilization across the RockStars project. Focused on enabling smoother player experiences, faster iteration cycles, and stronger collaboration workflows.
January 2025 performance summary for DanDiazRivera/RockStars. Delivered substantial gameplay and UI improvements, targeted bug fixes, and repo stabilization across the RockStars project. Focused on enabling smoother player experiences, faster iteration cycles, and stronger collaboration workflows.
December 2024 monthly summary for DanDiazRivera/RockStars: Delivered three major features and stabilization efforts across a single repo, focusing on audio immersion, world expansion through level streaming, and asset reliability. Key outcomes include: 1) Audio enhancements with new event sounds, improved BGM playback, and initial grappling-related audio tweaks; 2) Level streaming assets and maps enhancements enabling an extended game world with integrated streaming objects and added footstep sounds; 3) Crystal texture updates and asset organization to ensure correct textures and folder structure; 4) Merge and asset consolidation to resolve cross-branch merges and standardize asset changes; 5) Collision and gameplay polish with camera interaction adjustments and wrappers/crystal behavior fixes. These deliverables improve player engagement, stability, and developer efficiency by reducing asset conflicts and enabling faster iteration. Technologies demonstrated include audio pipeline improvements, level streaming integration, asset management and texture workflows, Git merge strategies, collision/camera handling, and repository setup/maintenance.
December 2024 monthly summary for DanDiazRivera/RockStars: Delivered three major features and stabilization efforts across a single repo, focusing on audio immersion, world expansion through level streaming, and asset reliability. Key outcomes include: 1) Audio enhancements with new event sounds, improved BGM playback, and initial grappling-related audio tweaks; 2) Level streaming assets and maps enhancements enabling an extended game world with integrated streaming objects and added footstep sounds; 3) Crystal texture updates and asset organization to ensure correct textures and folder structure; 4) Merge and asset consolidation to resolve cross-branch merges and standardize asset changes; 5) Collision and gameplay polish with camera interaction adjustments and wrappers/crystal behavior fixes. These deliverables improve player engagement, stability, and developer efficiency by reducing asset conflicts and enabling faster iteration. Technologies demonstrated include audio pipeline improvements, level streaming integration, asset management and texture workflows, Git merge strategies, collision/camera handling, and repository setup/maintenance.
November 2024 performance summary for DanDiazRivera/RockStars: Delivered core visuals, audio, and UX improvements, expanded level streaming and map integration, and stabilized the build for ongoing sprints. Key deliverables include skybox visuals integrated across Luke mapey and all levels; enhanced main menu/UI with dynamic attack audio, grapple VFX, and player damage feedback; extensive level/map work including a waterfall addition, latest maps on Ben and Luke Canyon branches, and default/testing maps; grapple visibility enhancements and mic-based UI clarity; and coordinated integration of Dylan's, Michael's, and other contributions to maintain a cohesive main branch. These efforts improved visual fidelity, player feedback, and streaming performance while reducing merge conflicts and build instability.
November 2024 performance summary for DanDiazRivera/RockStars: Delivered core visuals, audio, and UX improvements, expanded level streaming and map integration, and stabilized the build for ongoing sprints. Key deliverables include skybox visuals integrated across Luke mapey and all levels; enhanced main menu/UI with dynamic attack audio, grapple VFX, and player damage feedback; extensive level/map work including a waterfall addition, latest maps on Ben and Luke Canyon branches, and default/testing maps; grapple visibility enhancements and mic-based UI clarity; and coordinated integration of Dylan's, Michael's, and other contributions to maintain a cohesive main branch. These efforts improved visual fidelity, player feedback, and streaming performance while reducing merge conflicts and build instability.
2024-10 Monthly Summary for DanDiazRivera/RockStars: Delivered the RockStars Asset Pack Refresh and Grapple Target Tuning, focusing on asset quality, gameplay tuning, and UI consistency. Implemented grapple target size adjustments, added new assets, and applied configuration changes that impact visuals, gameplay elements, and user interface. Also added main branch files to streamline onboarding and CI readiness. No separate critical bugs were documented this month; work centered on asset improvements and pipeline readiness with traceable commits.
2024-10 Monthly Summary for DanDiazRivera/RockStars: Delivered the RockStars Asset Pack Refresh and Grapple Target Tuning, focusing on asset quality, gameplay tuning, and UI consistency. Implemented grapple target size adjustments, added new assets, and applied configuration changes that impact visuals, gameplay elements, and user interface. Also added main branch files to streamline onboarding and CI readiness. No separate critical bugs were documented this month; work centered on asset improvements and pipeline readiness with traceable commits.
Overview of all repositories you've contributed to across your timeline