Danny Tran
Danny Tran
Game Developer | Technical Animator
Game Developer | Technical Animator
The Big CON
Engine: Unity (C#)
Core Features Built:
- Unified rig architecture to reduce animation redundancy
- Reusable animation templates for rapid NPC production
- Workflow utilities for animator/designer collaboration
- Optimized sprite batching and animation performance for 2D rendering
Overview
The Big Con is a 90s-themed adventure game where players take on the role of Ali, a teenage con artist trying to save her family’s video store from loan sharks. Set against a world of neon malls, collectible plushies, and snappy dialogue, the game combines humor and nostalgia with classic point-and-click gameplay.
Players navigate quirky cons, disguise themselves, and hustle their way through a colorful, hand-drawn world, meeting eccentric characters and making morally questionable choices along the way. The game’s bold art direction and retro soundtrack capture the essence of the decade, blending heartfelt storytelling with lighthearted mischief.
My Role
As a Technical Artist and Tools Developer, I focused on improving production efficiency and animation consistency across the project’s diverse cast of characters.
Key Contributions:
- Designed and developed custom tools to streamline and automate the character/NPC creation process, reducing manual setup time.
- Built modular character rigs that allowed sprites and animations to be shared across multiple NPCs for faster iteration.
- Collaborated with artists and animators to ensure rigging systems maintained style fidelity while supporting flexible animation reuse.
- Assisted in optimizing sprite management and animation pipelines, improving runtime performance and workflow reliability.
- Supported the design team by implementing visual polish and animation refinements to enhance character personality and expression.
© 2021