Tim Sexton - Engineering Portfolio

Stern Pinball

I currently work at Stern Pinball as a Lead Software Engineer. I lead teams of 12-20 Software Engineers, Artists, Game Testers, Audio Engineers, Writers, and Musicians on Stern Cornerstone Pinball Machines. These games take 14-18 months to develop from concept to production, and remain supported with software updates through our Stern Insider Connected social gaming platform.

Rush - January 2022

Lead Software Engineer

I led the development team for Rush Pinball on Stern’s SPIKE 2 platform.

Responsibilities:

  • Designing the game’s rule and feature progression.

  • Leading a group of software engineers, audio engineers, and artists.

  • Integrating gameplay rules, lighting, sound, display, and accessory/peripheral effects.

  • Managing development and release builds.

  • Collaborating with playfield designer, mechanical and electrical engineers, licensing partners, and game production staff throughout all steps of game playfield development and production.

Rush Pinball has won several pinball awards including:

  • TWIPY 2022 - Game of the Year

  • TWIPY 2022 - Best Playfield Gameplay and Layout

  • TWIPY 2022 - Best Rules

  • TWIPY 2022 - Best Sound

Led Zeppelin - December 2020

Lead Software Engineer

I led the software development for Led Zeppelin Pinball on Stern’s SPIKE 2 platform.

Responsibilities:

  • Designing the game’s rule and feature progression.

  • Leading a group of software engineers, audio engineers, and artists.

  • Integrating gameplay rules, lighting, sound, display, and accessory/peripheral effects including the all-new Expression Lighting system.

  • Managing development and release builds.

  • Collaborating with playfield designer, mechanical and electrical engineers, licensing partners, and game production staff throughout all steps of game playfield development and production.

Black Knight: Sword of Rage - April 2019

Lead Software Engineer

I led the software development for Black Knight: Sword of Rage Pinball on Stern’s SPIKE 2 platform.

Responsibilities:

  • Creating original game concept and story.

  • Producing an original game score with Scott Ian (Anthrax) and Brendon Small (Dethklok).

  • Designing the game’s rule and feature progression.

  • Leading a group of software engineers, audio engineers, and artists.

  • Integrating gameplay rules, lighting, sound, display, and accessory/peripheral effects including the all-new Expression Lighting system.

  • Managing development and release builds.

  • Collaborating with playfield designer, mechanical and electrical engineers, licensing partners, and game production staff throughout all steps of game playfield development and production.

  • Developing proprietary effects system using game speech audio data to generate animatronic topper effects.

Black Knight Pinball has won several pinball awards including:

  • TWIPY 2019 - Best Music and Sound Effects

  • TWIPY 2019 - Favorite Pinball Topper

James Bond 007 - October 2022

Support Software Engineer

I supported the software development for James Bond 007 Pinball on Stern’s SPIKE 2 platform.

Responsibilities:

  • Integrating game modes for villain, henchman, and Q branch features.

  • Developing custom skill shot award framework.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - June 2020

Support Software Engineer

I supported the software development for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pinball on Stern’s SPIKE 2 platform.

Responsibilities:

  • Developing lifecycle test fixture software for Turtle Van, spinning disc, and servo lock diverter devices.

Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast - April 2018

Support Software Engineer

I supported the software development for Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast Pinball on Stern’s SPIKE 2 platform.

Responsibilities:

  • Integrating game speech for Eddie and Clairvoyant characters.

  • Developing light shows and game peripheral effects for RGB illumination dome and shaker motor.

Stranger Things - December 2019

Support Software Engineer

I supported the software development for Stranger Things Pinball on Stern’s SPIKE 2 platform.

Responsibilities:

  • Integrating 3D ball-tracking Demogorgon animation effects and game display effects.

  • Developing tools to support tiered product differentiation of projector screen and LCD-only models.

  • Optimizing game performance for multiple display devices.

Jurassic Park - August 2019

Support Software Engineer

I supported the software development for Jurassic Park Pinball on Stern’s SPIKE 2 platform.

Responsibilities:

  • Creating animatronic dinosaur effects using T-Rex device and shaker motor.

  • Developing Visitor Center wizard mode features.

Deadpool - August 2018

“Wingman” Software Engineer

I supported the software development for Deadpool Pinball on Stern’s SPIKE 2 platform.

Responsibilities:

  • Designing main game loop features including character battle modes, team-ups, multiballs, and quests features.

  • Designing fight sequence state machines for each mutant adversary and ally character.

  • Implementing gameplay logic for all major battle and quest features.

  • Integrating display effects within custom fighting game engine.