Thomas Cross

Thomas Cross has a diverse work experience in the gaming industry. Thomas started their career as a game designer at Rules of the Game, where they helped develop the site and its content. Thomas then worked as a columnist at Game Set Watch, where they wrote articles on gaming topics. Thomas also gained experience as a staff writer at PopMatters, where they wrote game reviews and participated in podcasts.

In 2011, Thomas joined the University of Southern California, where they worked on various projects. Thomas served as a research coordinator, designing an alternate reality app for the Interactive Media building. Thomas also worked as a world designer, writer, and game designer on different projects, including an in-car geocaching game and a virtual space inspired by Scott Westerfeld's novel Leviathan. Furthermore, they served as a producer and creator/designer for a thesis project, where they designed an open-world graffiti game and managed a team of graduate students and contractors.

Thomas then joined Giantsdance Games as a contract game designer, working on unannounced projects with Disney Imagicademy. Thomas created new designs, wrote design documentation, and developed levels and content. Thomas later joined Disney Consumer Products as a game designer for Imagicademy's educational apps, where they created designs, wrote documentation, and developed educational content.

In 2016, Thomas joined LEVEL-5 International America Inc. as a game designer, where they designed and pitched games and features. Thomas also worked with external vendors on mobile projects and developed engagement and progression systems.

From 2017 to 2020, Thomas worked at Ripple Effect Studios as a systems designer II, leading the Portal Team and designing progression, social, and customization systems for an unannounced project.

Most recently, Thomas has been working as a senior systems designer at Ready At Dawn Studios and Sledgehammer Games, where they are responsible for designing and developing systems for their projects.

Thomas Cross obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in History from Pomona College between 2004 and 2008. Later on, they pursued a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Interactive Media and Game Design at the University of Southern California, where they studied from 2011 to 2014.