Kienauer René

Gameplay Programmer

Rene Kienauer

Hello there! I'm René Kienauer, a passionate game developer from Austria who loves designing and programming games. My journey in game development began with a childhood fascination for games, which eventually led me to pursue it as a career.

With about six years of industry experience, I've had the privilege of contributing to a diverse range of projects. My passion lies at the intersection of programming and design, particularly in the realm of gameplay programming. I love bridging the gap between creative vision and technical implementation allowing me to create unique gameplay experiences.


Whether it's designing and implemetning gameplay features, crafting intuitive user interfaces, or solving complex network related bugs, I approach each project with enthusiasm and focus.

Professional Journey

  • 2020-2024: Senior Game Programmer - Strange Horizons

    Created and shipped a multiplayer survival game in Unreal Engine 5. Worked on almost every gameplay systems and made all the UI alone.

  • 2019-2020: Junior Game Programmer - d3t Limited

    Helped port high-end UE4 racing simulation Assetto Corsa to PS4 and Xbox One.

  • 2016-2018: Games Programming Diploma - SAE Institute Vienna

    Learned the foundations of game development. Honed rapid prototyping skills and team collaboration through multiple game jams.

  • 2010-2015: Higher Educational Institute for Electronics - Leonding Upper Austria

    Specialization in Technical Computer Science. Final Test in Technical Informatics, Applied Mathematics and Telecommunications.

Skills and Expertise

Technical Skills

Programming Expertise

  • Strong proficiency in writting clear C++
  • Excellent problem-solving abilities
  • Debugging complex networked systems
  • Experience profiling code for performance
  • Writing validation and test cases
  • Object & Data Oriented Programming

Game Development Expertise

  • Design & Implementation of gameplay features
  • Excel in cross-disciplinary team collaboration
  • Create and optimize intuitive UI/UX systems
  • Demonstrate keen eye for polish and feature iteration
  • Architect scalable multiplayer game systems
  • 3D Mathematics / Linear Algebra

Game Engines

  • Unreal Engine
  • Unity
  • Custom Engine Development

Tools & Platforms

  • PC Development (Windows, Linux)
  • Console Development (PS4, Xbox One)
  • Debugging & Profiling Tools
  • Version Control (Perforce, Git, SVN)

Soft Skills

Leadership & Collaboration

  • Project Management: Led design and implementation of features, coordinating multiple team members effectively.
  • Team Player: Known to use my sense of humor to foster a positive team environment and keep spirits high.
  • Clear Communicator: Able to break down complex systems for non-technical team members, making collaboration smoother.

Problem-Solving

  • Analytical Thinking: Likes to approach complex problems by breaking them down to their core components.
  • Pragmatic Approach: Not afraid to ditch the "textbook" solution when a more practical approach is needed.
  • Strong Attention to Detail: Can dive deep into a single game mechanic, analyzing and comparing it with similar features in other games.

Personal Qualities

  • Self-Managing: Always able to proactively identify areas for improvement in game systems.
  • Curious: Love diving deep into new systems and technologies, especially when it can benefit our current project.
  • Empathic and Caring: Strive to create a welcoming environment where everyone on the team feels valued and heard.