Journey to Valhalla is a nail-biting War Game for two Players where one of the Players is simply attempting to leave the board and enter into Valhalla.

With this game, I wanted to have a unique objective that most games do not focus on or have completely forgotten. To gain inspiration, I looked at some ancient games like Senet and Tafl, with the latter being a huge inspiration. Tafl has a simple objective of Player 1 attempting to move their King unit off the board. I decided to take this concept and run with it while at the same time adding more of the modern war game mechanics like health and dice rolling for attacking. Each Player has a different set of units that were designed to fit within their themes. Player 2 can respawn his units throughout the game, where as Player 1 can not. This was designed so that as Player 1 continues through the game, it will become more and more difficult and therefore much more intense for that Player. At this point in the game, in order to win, it becomes necessary to know when to sacrifice units so that the others may continue through. 

Jonathan Gregoire - Game Design
JonathanAGregoire@gmail.com

July 2020

Started at Ready at Dawn as a Senior Level Designer on an unnanounced project.

March 2020

Last days at Naughty Dog working on The Last of Us Part II.

September 2019

Shipped the Last of Us Part II press demo level "Patrol".

May 2018

Started working at Naughty Dog as a Contract Single Player Level Layout Designer on The Last of Us Part II. 

December 2017

I started doing contract work for a start-up company called MyPad3D that focuses on VR experiences for corporate products.

More interestingly, I have begun to prototype my own card game on the side and have been volunteering with Sunbreak Games on an unannounced product.

July 2017

With a heavy heart, E-Line Media has shut down the Seattle studio, laying off everyone including myself. I am currently looking for new opportunities.

November 2016

Began working at E-Line Media again as a Level Designer on an unannounced and untitled game.

October 2016

Updating my website to reflect the work I did on the Forest Song with Colabee Studios. Unfortunately due to funding issues, I am no longer with them, so I am currently looking for new opportunities.

December 2015

Lots of new stuff since I last updated. Added in a short comic I made called Old Debts. Also have put up information about my role(s) on Never Alone and Never Alone: FoxTales.

January 2015

Promoted to Lead Designer on Never Alone: FoxTales at E-Line Media.

Summer 2014

Graduated Digipen as a BAGD and with a Cum Laude. Started working at E-Line Media as a Level Designer.

March 2014

Uploaded a new Beta build of Chained. Also just put up the old builds of the game for anyone interested in our very quick process and progress.

January 2014

I recently wrote a paper that was published for the IGDA about the benefit of Paper Prototyping. You can read it at this following link: http://newsletter.igda.org/2013/11/30/student-beat-faceoff-the-influences-of-board-games-on-video-games/#!