John H. Scott

Arcade Game Developer with over 18 years of experience Resume (PDF)

Introduction

Software Engineer with 18+ years of experience creating top-earning arcade and console games. Proven expertise leading full-cycle development, shaping player-centric design, and optimizing for custom hardware across arcade and home platforms. Passionate about blending technical innovation with unforgettable player experiences.

Jurassic Park Arcade

Arcade - Shooter | 2015 | Raw Thrills
Custom Game Engine | Language: C | Linux
Role: Lead Programmer

Overview:
Licensed 2-player on-rails shooter where players battle to save dinosaurs running amok across Isla Nublar. Designed for fast, thrilling gameplay in high-traffic arcade environments.

Key Contributions:

• Led development using a newly licensed game engine from another studio, onboarding the entire team and rebuilding our development pipelines from scratch.
  
• Tuned core gameplay pacing by creating enemy behaviors and timings to maximize excitement, balance difficulty, and encourage repeat play.
  
• Evaluated and implemented motion system hardware, balancing player feel, cost, and reliability for high use arcade environments.
  
• Dialed in repeat play causing Jurassic Park Arcade to remain one of the top-earning arcade cabinets globally, a decade after launch.

Cruis’n Blast (Arcade)

Arcade - Racer | 2017 | Raw Thrills
Custom Game Engine | Language: C & C++ | Linux
Role: Lead Programmer

Overview:
A revival of Nintendo’s iconic Cruis’n series, Cruis’n Blast delivers over-the-top arcade racing action for up to 8 linked players, featuring exotic tracks, explosive set pieces, and high-speed competition.

Key Contributions:

• Merged the technical and visual capabilities of our new game engine with the signature “special sauce” arcade racing feel Raw Thrills is known for.
  
• Implemented AI and driving physics that give players of all ages a fun race, helping all players feel like they played well but always have room for improvement in the next race.
  
• Developed a flexible system for trackside destructibles—allowing objects to explode and react in dramatic, satisfying ways during races.
  
• Lead to development process to make Cruis’n Blast as a consistently top-earning title in a highly competitive arcade racing space.

Cruis’n Blast (Nintendo Switch)

Nintendo Switch (Digital & Physical) | 2021 | Raw Thrills
Unity Game Engine | Language: C#
 Role: Lead Programmer

Overview:
An expanded adaptation of the arcade version, increasing the game to 27 tracks and 23 unique vehicles. The Switch version brought the over-the-top racing action to home consoles for the first time, with enhanced content and local multiplayer support.

Key Contributions:

• Initiated the project and led the pivot to console development during the COVID-19 lockdown, keeping the team employed and focused on a profitable platform while arcades were shut down.
  
• Guided the team through a rapid transition from in-office, arcade-focused development to fully remote, console-focused workflows.
  
• Spearheaded the art and engine transition from a proprietary arcade engine to Unity, optimizing visuals and performance for Nintendo Switch hardware.
  
• Helped deliver a fast, flashy console experience praised by reviewers for its fun racing, smooth performance, and outrageous gameplay.

T-Rex Safari Adventure

T-Rex Safari

Arcade - VR Adventure | 2024 | Raw Thrills
Unity Game Engine | Language: C# | Windows
Role: Lead Programmer

Overview:
An unattended VR arcade experience where players explore prehistoric environments and interact with dinosaurs using HP Reverb 2 headsets and Leap Motion hand tracking. Encounters include feeding a Brachiosaurus, hatching a baby Utahraptor, and more—blending cinematic immersion with tactile engagement.

Key Contributions:

• Prototyped and refined core interaction mechanics early in development, enabling a cohesive blend of ride-like spectacle and hands-on dinosaur encounters.
  

• Tackled motion sickness by ensuring a consistent 90 FPS experience and tightly synchronizing motion platform feedback with in-game actions, minimizing sensory mismatch and maximizing player comfort.
  

• Developed scripts and automated recovery processes to keep headsets functioning without requiring input from players or operators—ensuring smooth, maintenance-free operation on arcade floors.
  

• Built analytics systems to monitor headset uptime and performance, addressing the perceived unreliability of VR hardware in unattended environments.

Superbikes 3

Arcade - Racer | 2019 | Raw Thrills
Unity Game Engine | Language C# | Linux
Role: Lead Programmer

Overview:
The third entry in Raw Thrills’ high-speed motorcycle racing series, featuring modern visuals, intense gameplay, and enhanced earning potential for operators over prior titles.

Key Contributions:

• Led the team’s transition from a custom in-house engine to Unity, modernizing the development pipeline and improving long-term maintainability.
  

• Designed and implemented new features including upgrade systems and refined gameplay loops aimed at increasing repeat play and boosting earnings.
  

• Directed early hands-on testing and play observations to identify which mechanics and features resonated most with players, guiding key design decisions.

Fast & Furious Arcade

Arcade - Racer | 2022 | Raw Thrills
Unity Game Engine | Language: C# | Linux
Role: Lead Programmer

Overview:
 A mission-based arcade racer inspired by the blockbuster film franchise. Features high-speed challenges and explosive set pieces, with linked cabinets forming massive video walls to grab attention across any arcade floor.

Key Contributions:

• Helped shape mission-based gameplay structure, keeping the team focused and productive amid shifting plans and late-stage design changes.
  

• Emphasized and integrated hardware features such as full-motion platforms and panoramic video wall setups to create a standout player experience and drive earnings.
  

• Balanced cinematic spectacle with technical stability to ensure performance and reliability in demanding arcade environments.