Millie-Jo MacIver
Junior Project Coordinator
Games Leadership Academy
Hello, I'm Millie-Jo (MJ)! I bring over 7 years of professional writing experience and media production knowledge to the table, contributing to multiple projects across various mediums including theatre, TV, radio, interactive story trails and games. I'm an IG50 2024 Winner in the Design & Narrative category, with experience working in teams on multiple projects as a Writer, Narrative Designer, Producer, Game Designer and Project Manager.I currently work as a Junior Project Coordinator at the Games Leadership Academy. I help ensure that the 12 Week Online Blueprint Course runs smoothly and that all participants have what they need to make the most out of their leadership training! I'm passionate about helping to make the industry a more positive place with increased workplace productivity and team satisfaction, as well as doing what I can to help set others up for success. You can find out more about what we offer and how this could benefit you here.To find out more about my current and previous work, please see the links below and the list of my published projects. If you would like to get in touch, feel free to do so via email or through LinkedIn!
GAME DEVLOPMENT
I'm an IG50 2024 Winner in the Design & Narrative category, with experience working in teams on multiple game projects as a Writer, Narrative Designer, Producer, Game Designer and Project Manager.Below is a list of the published games I have contributed to along with the roles I held, all of which can be played for free over on itch.io. I am currently working on a longer unannounced project as part of a small team of indie developers!
Little Captain, First Mate (October 2024)
My roles: Narrative Designer, Project Manager & Game Designer
Team size: 5 (+2 additional short-term members)
Development: 6 months
Play time: 15 minutesThis game was created for the Safe In Our World Mental Health Game Dev Champions 2024 jam. It follows the close bond of two siblings and the special memories they shared together, exploring the complexities of grief and how it can feel to revisit happy times through this lens. As my first longer game jam project, there were unique opportunities and challenges presented in pursuing a story with heavier themes and ensuring that we dealt with them sensitively. It is an ambitious game that I and the rest of the team are extremely proud of! Updated build coming in early December.
All Stacked Up (August 2024)
My roles: Game Designer & Project Manager
Team size: 8
Development: 96 hours
Play time: 5 minutesThis game was created for GMTK Jam 2024, incorporating the jam theme of 'Built to Scale'. All Stacked Up is a cosy puzzle platformer that follows a set of Russian Dolls from the smallest size upward, as they navigate cluttered shelves. Each Doll possesses unique abilities and limitations, relative to their size and the surrounding environment, which players must utilise to manipulate different their environment and reunite with the biggest Russian Doll!
Gnome vs Gnome (August 2024)
My roles: Producer & Lead Game Designer
Team size: 8
Development: 1 week
Play time: 5 minutesThis game was created for Snappy Gurus Game Off 2024, based on the jam theme of 'The Grass is Greener on the Other Side'. Gnome vs Gnome explores a comedic rivalry between two garden gnomes as they each attempt to see their territory take the prize for 'The Best Village Garden of the Year'! This was my first time taking full lead on a project: after thinking up the idea for the game concept, I approached various people in my network in order to assemble a multidisciplinary team and make it happen! Acting as both Producer and Lead Game Designer taught me much about supporting a larger team through managing and adapting individual workflows, balanced with my own contribution the game's design including the mechanics, gameplay loops, objectives, difficulty, narrative direction and overall progression.
Kitty's Revenge (July 2024)
My roles: Narrative, Game Design & Project Management
Team size: 4 (+1 feline voice actor)
Development: 1 week
Play time: 5-10 minutesHuman offends Kitty. Kitty gets revenge! A cute story game consisting of mini puzzle levels, created for Black Cat Jam and incorporating the theme of 'chaos'. This is the first game for which I was the sole game designer: comments left during the rating period were extremely positive, offering praise for the concept and how entertaining it was to play - so I'd say that it went well! Overall, this game placed #13 out of 135 entries for Black Cat Jam!
Graviton (July 2024)
My roles: Producer & Narrative Designer
Team size: 9
Development: 1 week
Play time: 10-15 minutesA 3D puzzle platformer game with the ability to manipulate time and gravity, created for Thinky Puzzle Jam 4 and incorporating the theme of 'Extreme Sports'. For my role as Narrative Designer, I constructed an elaborate world and backstory to explain the intended mechanics and meet the theme, as well as determining the overall art direction with the creation of a mood board for reference during development. I then oversaw production of the project, liaising between the creative and technical teams to create the demo currently published. We plan to further development of this game after the jam!
Shell Shuffle (May 2024)
My roles: Writer, Narrative Designer & Producer
Team size: 5
Development: 72 hours
Play time: 10 minutesA cosy puzzle game created for Mini Jam 159: Ocean by a team of IG50 2024 award winners. Incorporating the limitation 'as small as possible', this game includes a twist on traditional merge game mechanics by having items occupy varying amounts of grid space. As the sole writer and narrative designer on the team, I wrote all dialogue and tutorial text, providing narrative direction by liaising with other members of the team to ensure all aspects of the game worked together cohesively.
WRITING WORK
My work as a writer has afforded experience on multiple projects over 7+ years and across a variety of mediums, including commissioned work for Specsavers, episode pitches for a new series pitched to CBBC TV and an original play for Oldham Coliseum Theatre. Below is a list of my various professional credits.For my games writing work, please see my Game Development section!Ten Years' Time | Arts Emergency (16 Feb 2024)
• A commissioned article sharing my vision for the art and cultural world in 2034.24, Henry Street | Glossop Creates (25 Nov 2023 - 6 Jan 2024)
• Worked with a newly established business to produce a poem reflecting their business journey, as part of an interactive trail experience for A Local Winter Story Trail 2023.Father Christmas Goes to Specsavers - Again! | Glossop Creates (26 Nov 2022 - 6 Jan 2023)
• Worked directly with the Specsavers Glossop management team to produce a poem for their window display. Together with 20+ other writers, contributed to an interactive experience for A Local Winter Story Trail 2022.The Dying Light | Watch this (Nov 2020 - 12 Feb 2021)
• Credited as Assistant Director, I also wrote all chorus dialogue and additional background audio.Episode Pitches for New CBBC TV Series | Undeveloped (7 Jan 2020)
• Commissioned to write two episode pitches for a production company as part of a new television series pitched to CBBC featuring uplifting monologues delivered by children.Once Upon A Time | Take Back: Our Girls (8 Oct 2018)
• A theatre short inspired by the real life stories of different women, drawing attention to issues such as FGM and the treatment of women in the US prison system. Part of a script-in-hand performance evening by Take Back Theatre.Seeking Approval From Trustworthy Sources | Take Back: Our Bodies (6 May 2017)
• A response piece to a misogynistic listicle and the joy of friendship. Part of a script-in-hand performance evening organised by Take Back Theatre.Monsters Make Good Friends Too! | Oldham Coliseum Theatre (13 to 16 Feb 2017)
• An original children's play which toured across Greater Manchester libraries during school half-term. Commissioned exclusively for Oldham Coliseum Theatre's young rep company.Dear Mr President-elect | Take Back: America (24 Jan 2017)
• A response piece to the result of the US presidential election. Part of a script-in hand performance evening by Take Back Theatre.