Hi, I'm Charl-Pierre
But you can call me Charlie
But you can call me Charlie
I'm a software engineer and game developer. Interested in who I am or what I've done? Come and take a look.
Who am I?
Hey there! I'm Charl-Pierre Marais, a software developer with a love for games and problem-solving algorithms. I'm currently in the last year of my master in Game & Media Technology at the University of Utrecht after previously completing the bachelor in Computer Science there as well.
Ever since discovering GameMaker Studio in primary school, I've always known that programming was my passion and future. Since then I've learned numerous programming languages along with a variety of miscellaneous digital skills that allow me to work as a jack of all trades.
I was born in South Africa but aside from a few years in the UK, I've spent almost all my life in the Netherlands. These circumstances have provided me a broad range of experiences through which I've been able to develop into a more well-rounded person. Furthermore, living in these different countries has helped me become a trilingual with an affinity for languages.
For a more detailed look at my skillset, take a look at the Skills section below.Projects
Caribbean Climb (2024)
Made for the 2024 GMTK Game Jam, Caribbean Climb is a 2D platformer about climbing a lighthouse while trying to outrun the rising, shark-filled sea level. The game features a random level generation, the ability to build your own path and an online leaderboard. 
Of the 8,000 submissions, our game placed 70th in Style and 91st overall.
Of the 8,000 submissions, our game placed 70th in Style and 91st overall.
The Cycle (2024)
The Cycle is a short film made for the Computer Animation course of my Game & Media Technology master. It tells the story of a robot mercenary and was made using the Vicon Motion Capture system provided by Utrecht University.
Our movie placed second in the film festival held at the end of the course.
Our movie placed second in the film festival held at the end of the course.
First Aid Fever (2024)
First Aid Fever is a serious game aimed at teaching first aid techniques to novices. The game engages players through interactive levels that simulate medical emergencies, requiring them to use first aid tools. 
As players advance, they face increasing time constraints, promoting the memorization of correct procedures. The accompanying research showed that First Aid Fever's methodology is effective at gamified learning and improving knowledge retention.
As players advance, they face increasing time constraints, promoting the memorization of correct procedures. The accompanying research showed that First Aid Fever's methodology is effective at gamified learning and improving knowledge retention.Unusual Suspects (2023)
In collaboration with the Dutch Police and KMar, I and 9 other students developed a proof of concept surveillance system that detects suspicious behavior. The goal was to streamline the surveillance of public spaces and improve efficiency of suspect tracking in the case of criminal activity. To achieve this, we created:
This project served as the final assignment for my Computer Science Bachelor.
- A dashboard website
- An API + Database to store activity
- An object detection AI to detect suspicious behavior
This project served as the final assignment for my Computer Science Bachelor.
Pokémon Higher or Lower (2023)
Inspired by The Higher Lower Game, Pokémon Higher or Lower is a browser game that tests how well Pokémon players know the stats of various Pokémon. The game uses the PokéAPI to obtain up-to-date data on all existing Pokémon.
RESTACKED (2022)
Made for the 2022 GMTK Game Jam, RESTACKED is a game about blasting aliens and collecting dice to upgrade your alien-killing-power. The game features infinitely scaling waves of different enemies and allows the player to choose which upgrades they want to invest their dice in.
Of the 6,000 submissions, our game placed 64th in Enjoyment and 447th overall.
Of the 6,000 submissions, our game placed 64th in Enjoyment and 447th overall.
Nonogram Solver (2022)
Nonograms are a type of puzzles similar to Sudoku that require a methodical process and juggling of different potential board states in order to solve. This algorithm takes an analytical approach to solving Nonograms without the use of bruteforcing or backtracking. To ensure total correctness, the different components that make up the algorithm have also been unit-tested using NUnit.
XLR-8 (2019)
XLR-8 is a top-down racing game that features a variety of gamemodes and many different vehicles to play around with. The game offers both singleplayer missions as well split-screen multiplayer with controller support. Using the money earnt from missions, players can unlock various new vehicles and paint jobs.
This game was made as a project for my high school senior year Computer Science class.
This game was made as a project for my high school senior year Computer Science class.
Skills
| Programming Languages | |
|---|---|
| C# | |
| Python | |
| Java | |
| TypeScript / HTML | |
| SQL | |
| Haskell | |
| C++ | |
| Languages | |
|---|---|
| English | |
| Dutch | |
| Afrikaans | |
| German | |
| French | |
| Other | |
|---|---|
| Git | |
| Software Testing | |
| Video & Image editing | |
Contact
You can access my CV here.