Known for:
Game Design, Level Design, Economy Design, Game Balancing, Narrative Design, Pixel Art, Board Game Design, Godot Development
Biography
Ehsan Kiani is an Iranian game designer and game development student whose journey into the video game industry began with a fundamental question about his future.
Originally planning to pursue dentistry, Ehsan studied experimental sciences during high school and achieved a strong result in Iran’s national university entrance examination. However, a conversation with his sister led him to reconsider the reasons behind his chosen career path. After researching different professions and reflecting on the activities that had always absorbed him as a child, he recognized video games as one of the strongest expressions of his interests and creativity.
He subsequently changed his academic direction, taking the mathematics entrance examination and pursuing Computer Engineering at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. His decision marked the beginning of a serious commitment to game development.
Ehsan has been professionally focused on game development for approximately two years. He initially explored game art before moving toward game design, which has since become his primary career focus. His approach to game development is strongly influenced by his interest in creativity, experimentation, systems, and the ability of games to constantly offer new challenges and possibilities.
Game Development
Ehsan specializes primarily in game and level design, with additional experience in economy design, game balancing, and narrative design.
His goal is to develop a strong understanding of both game design and programming, allowing him to translate his design ideas into functional gameplay systems. While game design remains his primary specialization, he is also interested in expanding his development skills to gain greater technical control over the implementation of his ideas.
His experience includes:
- Game Design
- Level Design
- Economy Design
- Game Balancing
- Narrative Design
- Gameplay Systems
- Board Game Design
- Pixel Art
He has participated in multiple independent projects and game jams, working within small development teams and exploring different genres and gameplay concepts.
Current Projects
Game Designer — Collaborative Project with Kanoon-e Parvaresh-e Fekri
Ehsan currently works as a Game Designer on a project developed in collaboration with the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults.
His role focuses on game design and contributing to the development of the project’s gameplay experience.
Independent Mobile Game
Alongside his professional work, Ehsan is collaborating with two fellow developers on a casual mobile game.
The project represents his ongoing exploration of accessible gameplay systems and mobile game design.
Board Game Design
Ehsan has also explored game design outside the digital medium.
He has designed an original board game and is currently considering developing it into either a physical or digital release.
This experience has allowed him to explore game mechanics, systems, player interaction, and balancing independently of digital game engines.
Game Jams
Ehsan has participated in several game jams, collaborating with small teams to rapidly develop playable game concepts.
Although his teams have not yet received an official placement in these competitions, their projects have consistently performed strongly relative to the team’s level of experience.
Game jams have played an important role in helping him experiment with mechanics, genres, production workflows, and rapid prototyping.
Technical Skills
Game Development
- Godot — Intermediate
- Game Design
- Level Design
- Economy Design
- Game Balancing
- Narrative Design
Art
- Pixel Art
- Aseprite
Ehsan has developed relatively strong skills in pixel art using Aseprite and incorporates visual experimentation into his game development process.
Education
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
Computer Engineering — Ongoing
Ehsan currently studies Computer Engineering at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad.
His decision to pursue computer engineering followed a deliberate transition from the experimental sciences track, motivated by his growing interest in game development and interactive technology.
Interests
Ehsan has a strong interest in PC gaming and is particularly passionate about the worlds and mythology created by J. R. R. Tolkien, including The Lord of the Rings and the wider legendarium surrounding Middle-earth.
His fascination with Tolkien’s world reflects his broader interest in rich fictional worlds, storytelling, and immersive experiences.
Areas of Expertise
- Game Design
- Level Design
- Economy Design
- Game Balancing
- Narrative Design
- Gameplay Systems
- Board Game Design
- Pixel Art
- Game Prototyping
- Godot
- Aseprite
Creative Philosophy
Ehsan approaches game development as a field built around continuous discovery and experimentation. His interest in game design comes from the medium’s ability to offer constantly changing challenges while giving creators the freedom to build interactive systems, worlds, and experiences.
He believes that understanding the technical side of development can make a game designer more capable of turning ideas into playable experiences. For this reason, alongside developing his design skills, he continues to expand his programming knowledge and explore game development tools.
Sources
- Personal Biography
- Professional Profile
- Project Information