My name is Laura Thompson and I am a Game Designer.

I have experience working in AAA studios from early alpha to ship as QA and as an associate game designer.

I thrive when collaborating with others to create new experiences and bring collective visions to life.

In a QA Design Support role, I took every opportunity to learn the tools and become versatile to assist with prototypes and improving game quality. I took quality ownership as a point of contact for different systems and levels.

Dice LA

As an QA Analyst, solving problems of how to best document tasks and requirements in a clear and constructive manner was a daily task for me, and one that I took great pleasure in. I showed strong time management skills as I kept to tight deadlines with our studios monthly releases. I performed manual smokes on builds to make sure they were stable for play tests and artists. Being able to play content in its earliest stages and write test plans on how to break the game, so that it is more stable and polished for the fans, was the most satisfying.

Naughty Dog

As an Associate Game Designer, I worked with multiple disciplines to create engaging environments using level composition and architectural concepts.

2023 – Present

2018 – 2023

2017 - 2018

Studio Projects

  • Battlefield 1 Expansions

    Dev/Publisher: Dice LA / EA
    Platform: PS4, Xbox One, Win 10
    Role: Quality Assurance Analyst
    Time on Project: Final Year

    Main Responsibilities:
    - Writing Design Documents and Test Cases
    - Running Manual Smoke Tests
    - Point of Contact for Game Modes

  • The Last of Us Part II

    Dev/Publisher: Naughty Dog / Sony
    Platform: PS4, PS5, PC
    Role: Design Support and QA
    Time on Project: Roughly one year (Beta to Ship)

    Main Responsibilities:
    - Point of Contact for Ch.6 Seattle Day 01
    - Visibility bounding volumes setup for optimization.
    - Authoring and editing NavMesh for NPCs.
    - Adjusting properties on materials and collision.

  • The Last of Us Part I

    Dev/Publisher: Naughty Dog
    Platform: PS5
    Role: Design Support and QA
    Time on Project: Six months (OT)

    Main Responsibilities
    -Platinum runs for stability
    - Assisted with NavMesh and Visibility Bugs

  • The Last of Us Multiplayer

    Dev/Publisher: Naughty Dog/ Sony
    Role: QA and Design Support, Associate Game Designer
    Time on Project: 4+ years

    Main Responsibilities:
    - Point of Contact for Environment and NavMesh
    - Visibility bounding Volumes setup for optimization.
    - Scripting and setting up trigger volumes to load/unload NavMesh
    - Authoring training levels for new hires
    - Blocking out 3d environments

  • Intergalatic: The Heretic Project

    Dev/Publisher: Naughty Dog
    Role: Associate Game Designer
    Time on Project: Two Years

    Main Responsibilities:
    - Design and Build 3d environments
    - Prototype new experiences