Ian W. Adams
About Ian W. Adams
Ian W. Adams is a Senior Designer at Wizards of the Coast, specializing in game design and narrative creation. With extensive experience in the gaming industry, he has held various roles at companies such as Undead Labs, 17-BIT, Inc., and Z2Live.
Current Role at Wizards of the Coast
Ian W. Adams serves as a Senior Designer at Wizards of the Coast, a position he has held since 2019. In this role, he focuses on creating engaging narratives and designing player experiences. His responsibilities include scenario creation, writing dialog and tutorial text, and puzzle design. Adams has been instrumental in refining game concepts and leading teams to test and enhance gameplay.
Previous Experience in Game Design
Before joining Wizards of the Coast, Ian W. Adams worked at several notable companies in the gaming industry. He was a Lead Game Designer at 17-BIT, Inc. from 2017 to 2019, and prior to that, he spent three years at Undead Labs as a Designer from 2014 to 2017. His earlier roles include Game Designer and QA Director at Z2Live, where he worked from 2011 to 2014 and 2010 to 2011, respectively. He also served as Test Lead & Game Design at GameHouse from 2007 to 2010.
Education and Early Career
Ian W. Adams completed his education at Wooster High School. He began his career in the gaming industry at GameHouse, where he worked as a Customer Support Representative from 2004 to 2007. This foundational experience in customer service contributed to his understanding of player needs and expectations in game design.
Skills and Specializations
Ian W. Adams possesses full cycle experience in the game industry, encompassing game design, testing, and customer service. He specializes in scenario creation, writing dialog and tutorial text, and puzzle design. Adams is also skilled in administering play tests and developing game mechanics, which are critical for creating engaging player experiences.
Publications and Technical Writing
In addition to his design work, Ian W. Adams has contributed to the gaming community through published articles in Game Developer Magazine and on the GamaSutra website. His expertise extends to technical writing, documentation, and bug reproduction, showcasing his comprehensive understanding of game development processes.