Portfolio

Ongoing trading card game project, where the player takes the role of a cursecatcher in an urban fantasy world.

An animated fantasy series concept submitted to OIAF’s 2023 Pitch THIS! contest.

Original horror thriller feature film script submitted to The TITAN (2022) Screenwriting Contest.

A fantasy short story following the adventures of an assassin rat named Flit.

D&D 5th Edition-compatible re-imagining of the classic D&D 4e adventure Keep on the Shadowfell.

D&D 5th Edition fan content paladin subclass inspired by Arthurian legend.

Resume

Skills

Advanced:
      Microsoft Office, GIMP, Creative Writing, Narrative Design, Game Design
Proficient:
      Unreal Engine, Audacity, DaVinci Resolve, Screenwriting, Python, C
Languages:
      English, Russian

Projects

Jynx TCG - Trading Card Game Project
Co-Creator & Designer (May 2023 - Present)
• Collaborated with co-creator to conceptualize, design, and playtest the game and its mechanics.
• Designed and playtested hundreds of unique cards.
• Currently working with co-creator to bring the game to market.Legends of the Ur Tree - Animated Fantasy Series Pitch
Creator & Writer (June 2023)
• Designed the fantasy animation pitch concept.
• Demonstrated proficiency in story structure, worldbuilding, and character design.Maxim - Original Thriller Feature Film Script
Co-Creator & Writer (April 2022)
• Collaborated with co-creator to develop the film script from first concept to final draft.
• Used the standard industry screenwriting format to deliver an engaging thriller story.The Reward of the Faerie King - Fantasy Short Story
Author (November 2022)
• Developed the narrative and characters for a fantasy short story.
• Demonstrated proficiency in creative fantasy writing.Assault on the Shadowkeep - Fan Content Adventure Path
Designer & Writer (April 2022)
• Demonstrated ability to adapt an existing design to a new rule system, keeping the spirit of the    original, while introducing new and exciting elements.
• Designed, wrote, and proofread the adventure document.Oath of the Grail - Fan Content Subclass
Designer (August 2022)
• Created a new subclass option for the D&D 5th Edition paladin class.
• Demonstrated ability to design unique mechanics and content for an existing system.

Education

University of Windsor, Windsor, ON
Master’s Degree in Performance Psychology (September 2019 - December 2021)University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Human Biology (September 2014 - April 2018)

Experience

Hippogryff Games, Toronto, ON
Co-Founder & Game Designer (February 2024 - Present)
• Co-founded a business enterprise focused on creating tabletop game products.
• Developed and playtested engaging tabletop game content, demonstrating skills in game design and    collaborative game development.

About Me

Hello, I’m Erkin and I love stories. In all my work I aim to create stories that resonate with the audience and leave a lasting impact. A great story can be told in any medium, but games, particularly videogames, interest me especially. It takes a great deal of effort and skill to deliver an experience that combines an engaging story and fun gameplay. And best games offer the players an opportunity to develop a sense of ownership and investment in the experience that is rarely matched in more traditional mediums.I strive to master the art of making great games. To that end, I've honed my skills in writing, world-building, and game design. I relish the challenge of bringing worlds to life through the fusion of storytelling and interactive design. If you're seeking a versatile game designer and writer who is passionate about the power of storytelling in games, I'd love to connect and discuss how we can collaborate to bring your vision to life.

Contact

Jynx TCG

Jynx is an ongoing trading card game project inspired by supernatural anime like Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, and Spirited Away. The game revolves around summoning spirits and casting spells to defeat your opponents. The players construct a deck of 40 cards and do battle against other players. Each card belongs to one of seven archetypes inspired by the seven deadly sins. The archetypes offer unique playstyles, and it's up to the player to construct a deck which combines multiple archetypes, or focuses on just one of them.

The gameplay is designed to emulate the exciting and dynamic flow of fight scenes in shonen anime and manga. The closer the players are to losing, the more powerful the cards they are able to play. The pace of the gameplay ramps up in tempo as a game goes on, culminating in an exciting showdown where victory and defeat are balanced on a knife's edge.

The game is being developed by Erkin Zuluev and Aqil Rajan. A Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign is set to launch in early 2025, and a webcomic set in the world of Jynx is in the works.

DesireArchetype focused on passion, in it's wonderful and terrible forms. The playstyle emphasizes casting Hexes to empower your Shadows, and to burn away your enemies.

GreedArchetype focused on yearning for material wealth. The playstyle emphasizes accumulating and protecting your Totems to gain an advantage.

DevourArchetype focused on the ceaseless drive to consume. The playstyle emphasizes using your Shadows as a resource to empower your other Shadows.

GloomArchetype focused on melancholy and sorrow. The playstyle emphasizes controlling the opponents' board state and delaying their game plans.

WrathArchetype focused on fury, both righteous and wicked. The playstyle emphasizes an aggressive approach and quick, persistent attacks.

EnvyArchetype focused on envy and spite. The playstyle emphasizes copying your opponents' cards and making their every advantage yours.

PrideArchetype focused on nobility and hubris. The playstyle emphasizes self-sufficiency and resilience against opponents' attacks.

Legends of the Ur Tree

Legends of the Ur Tree is an animated fantasy adventure series concept created for OIAF's 2023 Pitch THIS! contest. The series is aimed at children and teens.

The story focuses on the adventures of a group of fantastical beings – Aurika, the plant-loving gnome, and three goblin brothers: the big and slothful Tab; the anxious overthinker Ker; and the ambitious Zar. Aurika leads the brothers on a journey across a devastated fantasy world to discover the mystery behind a unique magic flower that was left to her by her grandfather. Travelling by a magic hot air balloon, the friends come face to face with dragons, explore the ruins of ancient castles, and meet other inhabitants of the land.The friends discover that in order for goodwill and chill vibes to survive, and even thrive in the ruins of the devastated world, they must meet each challenge with a hopeful and resilient attitude.Complete Pitch Document - 18 page document (PDF)

Maxim

Maxim is an original horror thriller feature film script written by Erkin Zuluev and Nadya Semenova. The script has been submitted to The TITAN (2022) Screenwriting Contest and 2022 ScreenCraft Feature Competition.The story follows a high school student who's been entangled in a tragic chain of events set off by the manifestation of her boyfriend's hereditary curse, and her unexpected pregnancy.Script Excerpt - 10 page document (PDF)

The Reward of the Faerie King

The Reward of the Faerie King is an original fantasy short story following the adventures of an assassin rat named Flit. In this venture, Flit has to infiltrate a wizard's tower in order to complete a task at the behest of a powerful and capricious Faerie King.The Reward of the Faerie King - 12 page document (PDF)

Assault on the Shadowkeep

Assault on the Shadowkeep is a D&D 5th Edition re-imagining of the classic D&D 4e adventure Keep on the Shadowfell. The original adventure has been converted to be compatible with D&D 5th Edition rules, introduces new story elements, and overhauls many parts of the original dungeon.Assault on the Shadowkeep is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast.

Assault on the Shadowkeep - Complete Adventure; 64 page document (PDF)

Oath of the Grail

Oath of the Grail is a D&D 5th Edition fan content paladin subclass designed to embody the ideals of the chivalric hero as described in Arthurian legends of Sir Percival and Sir Galahad.

Oath of the Grail - 2 page document (PDF)