Video Games & VR
Empire of Sin, the strategy game from Romero Games and Paradox Interactive, puts you at the heart of the ruthless criminal underworld of 1920s Prohibition-era Chicago. It’s up to you to hustle, charm and intimidate your way to the top of the pile and do whatever it takes to stay there. This character-driven game puts players smack dab in the glitz and glamor of the roaring ‘20s all while having them work behind the scenes in the gritty underbelly of organized crime. - Steam
I worked as part of the development team at Romero Games on Empire of Sin and the follow up DLC Make It Count, creating characters, writing barks and UI copy in the tone of the game world, and breaking and writing story missions with branching dialogue and mission paths. I collaborated closely with the lead writer to develop a robust writing workflow that engaged with the other design teams.
My story missions included the central characters Frankie Donovan and Goldie Garneau on the main release, and central character Maxim Zelnick in the DLC. I also wrote countless events, and story missions for the various hoods and malcontents that colour the streets of 1920’s Chicago.
Halcyon
Writer, 15 episodes
Produced BY Secret Location/syfy INTERNATIONAL
VR/BroadCast/webseries
(sci-fi/crime drama, 2016)
Police Detective Jules Dover and her Virtual AI Partner Asha battle to solve an apparently impossible crime: a murder in VR that caused a death in the real world.
I worked closely with producers Secret Location to develop story and characters from initial concepts before writing the scripts for the linear narrative episodes and contributing dialogue and concepts to the VR episodes, where the viewer donned their VR headsets at home to explore the virtual crime scene themselves.
A first-of-its-kind short form hybrid series developed in partnership with Syfy International, Halcyon brought audiences together across broadcast, web, and VR, spanning 80 territories globally, in many languages and on multiple channels, consistently exceeding viewership expectations.
Halcyon was featured in Playback Magazine, the Hollywood Reporter, and online through sites such as CNet and Engadget. The series was recognised for excellence by the London Design Awards, The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, AToMIC Awards, Webby Awards, FWA, the Banff World Media Festival, and was nominated for a Eurovision Rose D’Or.
The Multiversity
Writer & NaRRATIVE DESIGNER
Developed by talewind for The sandbox
FANtasy/science fiction/adventure game
2022 - 2023
Students, welcome to The Multiversity! Prepare to embark on a fantastical journey across time and space!
I crafted playful and fantastical story missions for The Multiversity, developed major characters in close collaboration with the narrative lead and other design teams, and wrote item descriptions and various UI copy in the comedic tone of the game.
I also created an overarching story bible connecting several titles under one story umbrella. The Multiversity was The Sandbox’s highest rated game on release.
Solve puzzles and renovate homes and businesses to help single mom Nora make dreams come true!
I wrote and developed soap opera style storylines and created characters for the live service game Matching Moments, integrating narrative into the core puzzle game with the renovation-themed metagame.
Working closely as part of narrative teams across both this game and its sister games, I delivered story chapters with a fast paced weekly turnaround.
I collaborated with an international team across three continents, working in-depth with the senior narrative designer to design a robust workflow to suit the game’s content needs and the availability of team members across time zones.
Matching Moments
Writer & NaRRATIVE DESIGNER
Developed by SOFTGAMES
romance/PUzzle/renovation casual game
2025-2026
Project Literacy is a travelling art installation and awareness campaign, exploring the fact that one in ten people internationally secretly have literacy issues.
I worked closely again with Secret Location on Project Literacy, writing dramatic pieces from the point-of-view of a person from totally different walks of life each dealing with literacy issues in their own way, using VR to place the audience inside the mind of a person struggling with literacy issues.
Project Literacy
Writer of vr segments
developed by secret location
travelling vr installation
(awareness campaign, 2016)
VR segment from Project Literacy
““Working with Mike on Empire of Sin was a great experience. He brings a native curiosity for the subject matter, a willingness to research and dive in, and an ability to work within a team. All of these things make for an excellent space for creativity to occur. Add to this Mike’s writing, and you have exactly what you’re looking for — gameplay and missions that give the player agency and provide them with rewarding gameplay.””
““Mike = magic. You need a scene that will convey all the backstory and exposition for an entirely fictional world PLUS make audiences cry? Go to Mike. You need a finely structured who-dun-it that ALSO provides ample opportunity for non-linear, progress-as-you-choose audience engagement? Go to Mike. You need someone to talk to for 3 - 6 hours about how frightened current political events make you AND you need some wry gallows humor to lighten your mood and make it all tolerable? Go to Mike. Your one stop shop for all writerly and “our world is ending but please make me feel OK about it” needs.” ”
““Mike is an all-star. He’s a great writer, creative collaborator, and all-around fantastic human being. Having Mike on a project means I not only get what I asked for, but I usually get some creative twist to the script that simply elevates the project.””
