Meet the Team

John Swiderski
President and Lead Game Designer
President of Mean Hamster Software since 1985, developed, produced and co-produced many titles including Pet Shop Hop™ (designer and producer), Cat Wash™ (designer and producer), Everything Nice™ (designer and producer), Passport to Perfume™ (designer and producer), Myst™ (lead programmer) and Riven™ (producer) for Pocket PC. John is currently working on 3 new game titles, all his designs with Playfirst and Big Fish Games. With more than 20 years as a software developer, John ‘speaks’ Artist, Programmer, Musician, Hardware and Software. He is also the Chairman of the government E-Waste Recycling program for the entire state of Washington.

 

 

Ben Amos
Lead Programmer
An Eastern Washington University graduate with a Bachelors in Computer Science focussed on creating video games. Formerly an independent video game developer, he joined the Mean Hamster team in 2006. Since then, he has worked on various projects, including his role of Lead Programmer for Pet Shop Hop, a joint effort between Playfirst and Mean Hamster. More recently, he has kept himself busy assisting Mean Hamster's other developers, coordinating their efforts and offering technical support. When not helping out the team, he is reported to usually be working on "The Next Big Thing." Out of the office, his hobbies include listening to music, playing video games, writing fiction, and watching the occasional anime. "There's no better feeling in the world than when the code you write comes to life and does just what you intended."

Jeffrey Cassey
Lead Writer
It was a dark and stormy night ...or that's what he'd leave you to believe. A 2006 graduate from EWU (Bachelors-English certification in Creative and Technical Writing). Always with one writing project or another, he is currently working on a Children's Story when not writing for MHS. Jeffrey has written stories, scripts and comic book style intros for 4 future Mean Hamster Software games!





Bryan Vestey
Programmer

After taking a class in programming in high school Bryan decided to program video games for a living.  Bryan went to DeVry University for a BA in Game and Simulation Programming after high school.  When Bryan graduated in June 2008 he went looking for a job and eventually found Mean Hamster Software.  Bryan was quickly assimilated into the team and continued his passion for programming games in his career. Bryan recently completed Everything Nice and is putting the finishing touches on Ye Olde Sandwich Shoppe.

 

 

 

 

Taylor Brandt
3D Modeler

When I was 15 I picked up an issue of 3dWorld magazine, and began my journey into the world of computer graphics. I went through Blender, MAX, Maya, and even purchased a rather large book on level editing with the Unreal engine. 3d was where my passion lie however, and eventually I settled on Blender for my main CG needs. After working at a couple random jobs (food service to cabin cleaning), I discovered that the was a rather well known studio located close to where I live...

 

Kyl Wellman
Programmer

Derrick Robinson
Concept Artist

Eric Anderson
Art Direction

Richard M. Spitalny
Advisor
Sometimes consults for and represents Mean Hamster Software, remains the president of First Star Software, Inc., as he has been since co-founding the company in 1982. Within 18 months of starting the company Richard had produced Astro Chase, the company's first game (and the first of dozens he would produce); licensed various rights to the company's early titles to the likes of Parker Brothers and Radio Shack; purchased all the intellectual property right to Boulder Dash® and sold half the company to Warner Communications. This lead to the licensing of the rights to Spy vs. Spy® and Superman® from sister Warner companies E.C. Publications and DC Comics. Richard continued to grow the company, expanding internal development capabilities. He also established strong relationships with retailers whilst working with external developers and licensed foreign rights to First Star's titles extensively throughout the world, particularly in Europe and Japan.
Currently, Richard continues to head First Star's endeavors, working with external development partners (such as Mean Hamster Software) and co-publishing partners, exploiting the company's games across mobile platforms, home computers, video game consoles, and hand-held devices, as well as online 'try and buy' portals and subscription-based channels such as GameTap.

Chris Brandkamp
Advisor
Former Vice President of Cyan Worlds, in addition to his extensive legal and financial background, was key to the audio effects of Myst, the Novels, film scripts, production and design of Cyan's work on Cecilia Dart-Thornton's 'Crowthistle Chronicles', and the production of Myst for PPC with Mean Hamster Software. Chris is currently a Financial Representative with Richards, Merrill & Peterson, Spokane, WA.

Jim Leiterman
A senior computer engineer who has been developing hardware and software professionally since 1978 and programming video/computer games for 23+ years. He has worked for multiple game companies including Midway, LucasArts, Atari, Wild Goose Games, a casino gaming company, and two Internet online game companies and has shipped ten games. He is also the author of Vector Game Math Processors and Learn Vertex and Pixel Shader Programming with DirectX 9.

Sean Harrington
Comic Artist
The co-founder of Harrington Artwerkes art studio. He has illustrated childrens' books, book covers, posters, advertisements, t-shirts and online comics, and his work has appeared in The Readers Digest and Cincinnati Magazine. Sean is currently working on the comic book panels for 2 game projects and has started illustrations for a 3rd.






Toni Atkins
Artist
From Yelm, Washington, near Olympia. New to the game industry, in-house artist at MHS being the first job and hopefully the beginning of a long and rewarding career. Also a current student at ITT Technical Institute in Spokane Valley, studying for a bachelor's degree in Digital Entertainment and Game Design. Previous work experience includes service and installation of mailing equipment and satellite systems, but art and games have always been passions and the combination is a dream come true.

Somatone Interactive Audio
Visit Somatone
SomaTone Interactive Audio is an audio production team that services the game industry. We provide original music, sound efx and VO (if applicable) to console, PC, Web, downloadable, XLA, handheld and Mobile game developers and publishers. Our clients include: EA, Ubisoft, DreamWorks, SONY, Warner Bros, Leap Frog, Nickelodeon, Wild Tangent, PlayFirst, PopCap, PlayFirst, Disney, Microsoft, Vivendi, Sierra Online, Oberon, Game Trust, SandLot, etc.

Cougar
Mascot
Cougar is the (other) mascot of Mean Hamster Software (besides the hamster, of course). She's been with us since she was a kitten, she likes to get her nose into everything. To see more click the cat.