About

My name is Clinton Shepherd, and Foolhardy Games is the creative label I’ve used during most of my 20+ year career making video games.

Starting out as a programmer in 2005, I’ve spent much of my time since making games with small teams, giving me the opportunity to take on a variety of different roles in game development. I wear my jack-of-all-trades badge proudly, but if you ask me where my expertise lies I would say it sits in the intersection between the technical and production sides of game design.

I have a particular soft spot for turn-based gameplay, good coffee, and painting miniatures (when I get the time!). If you want to get in contact with me the best places are either via my BlueSky or LinkedIn.

Game Credits

Here’s a bunch of games I’ve worked on over the years that you can check out…

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Warhammer Underworlds Online Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire Edition
Tin Man Games (2020) – PC
Working on this digital adaptation of Games Workshop’s tabletop game was certainly a career highlight for me. As Technical Lead I worked closely with programmers and artists to help translate the physical game’s unique combination of cards, miniatures and dice into a multiplayer focused video game, with many content updates and DLC.
Table of Tales Table of Tales: Crooked Crown
Tin Man Games (2019) – PSVR, Meta VR, PC, Switch
An immersive VR roleplaying game experience where a magical table springs to life to tell the story of a bunch of scoundrels on an epic journey of potential redemption. I took a lead design role that saw me involved in many aspects of this project. Among my favourite bits were working on the combat mechanics, skill systems, and planning out the epic combat encounters. Table of Tales was also the winner of the 2022 AGDA for excellence in VR!
Warlock of Firetop Mountain Warlock of Firetop Mountain
Tin Man Games (2016) – PC, Mobile, Switch
Warlock expanded Tin Man’s approach to Fighting Fantasy gamebook adaptation into a more tabletop-like game experience. The catacombs of Firetop Mountain lock into place around the player like detailed model dioramas, with beautifully painted miniatures to represent the player’s hero and the other characters they encounter. I designed this game’s simultaneous turn-based combat system, giving the players more agency in their battles with Zagor’s minions.
Legacy of Dorn Legacy of Dorn: Herald of Oblivion
Tin Man Games (2015) – PC, Mobile
There are two reasons I will always have fond memories of this project. First, was the challenge of adapting a gamebook and its combat mechanics to make it look and feel like it was being played out on an ancient cogitator console from the Warhammer 40k universe. The other was getting to spend time with my co-workers assembling Warhammer 40k miniatures in the office so we could 3D scan them into the game. Herald of Oblivion is the reason I have a massive Ork Stompa sitting on my shelf to this day!
To Be Not To Be To Be Not To Be
Tin Man Games (2015) – PC, Mobile
This incredibly funny, “chooseable path” take on Shakespear’s Hamlet will always be one of my absolute favourite games I’ve ever worked on. Ryan North’s writing is hilarious and our team was given the opportunity to riff on and play around with it. While I was mostly a programmer on this project, I feel at least somewhat responsible for and PROUD of the game’s HAML-O-METER.
Starship Traveller Fighting Fantasy: Starship Traveller
Tin Man Games (2014) – PC, Mobile
I worked on many different gamebook titles at Tin Man, but Starship Traveller gets a shout out as it was the first one I had full responsibility for adapting. Previous Fighting Fantasy titles from Tin Man had the player take on the role of a solo hero/adventurer, but Starship required the player to take command of an entire spaceship and its crew. Redesigning the interfaces to support special away team missions, epic starship battles, and the ability to name the ship’s cat all made working on this particular gamebook memorable.

Older Game Credits

Games from earlier in my career that are sadly either no longer playable, or not as easy to track down and play these days.