Co-Founder / Producer / Game Designer

Gerardo Hernandez is a first-generation college graduate from a Mexican immigrant family who has a passion for games, technology, and entertainment. He has experience working on multiple VR and video games from school, clubs, personal passions to his freelance career and independent work. Gerardo is a strong advocate for creating games and experiences that have a focus on social impact and education. This can be seen through Project New Leaf. A game he designed along with a team that allowed custom characters in a multi-branch narrative to experience issues that people from underrepresented backgrounds face in our country

Co-Founder / Director / Game Designer

Megan Scott got her start in VR at her university, building up the school’s first VR lab and club. She’s a 2018 & 2020 OLP fellow as well as a 2020 AR/VR Development fellow for the Television Academy Foundation. For her senior thesis, she directed & developed the first interactive VR experience, Avion, to be developed at her school leading a crew of over 30. Since, she developed & shipped an AR app on the Google & Apple Store. She’s passionate about empowering women, mental & emotional health, and telling impactful stories.

Art Director

Cassie Slack is a multidisciplinary digital artist interested in the potential of humanitarian game design and story-driven interactive experiences. Slack earned her B.S. in Interactive Media and Game Design at CSU Monterey Bay and leads the Creative Team as an Art Director at Klexos Interactive. Slack works within game design because she believes games have the power to connect people, share untold stories & ideas, and explore innovative means of storytelling. She actively works to expand creative bounds in game development through various levels of design including illustration, branding and prop art, character design, animation and UX/UI systems.

Lead Programmer

Eric Gonzalez is a college graduate with a Bachelors in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics, as well as the first in his family to study for a STEM degree. He is a first-generation graduate with parents who come from a Central American background. His passion for video games and technology led him to his interest in a career as a software developer creating games. He also supports the implementation of technology in academics and encourages the use of digital interactive media through educational means, not only as a form of entertainment.

Writer

Emmanuel has crafted settings and worldviews for several forms of media, ranging from the conventional short stories to the nonconventional board game. He enjoys the process of creating unique worlds and the creators that populate them. A jack of many trades, he has acquired various skills over the years, but writing remains one of his greatest passions. When he is not writing, you can most often find him near the beach, fishing or scuba diving, or lounging in a secluded location, watching the clouds go by.

Writer

Whitney Barnard is a multifaceted screenwriter with a commitment to substantive storytelling. She develops and writes scripts to ensure the content not only achieves its visual goals but also tells a compelling story. Whitney is passionate about stories that illuminate and expand the narratives of people of color throughout history. Her writing credits include the VR experience Avion and the short film How It Should Be. With drama and historical fiction as her areas of expertise, Whitney is ready to evoke the magic and nostalgia of the early 20th century in Hey Pops!

Concept Artist

Kia Carrion is a concept artist for the video game project "Hey Pops!" at Klexos Interactive. Her passion is to tell stories through her illustration and graphic design. She is currently studying at CSU Monterey Bay and will be getting a BS in Communication Design with a concentration in Game Design and a minor in Japanese. Kia is also working as the Lead Art Director for her senior capstone game project titled "NEWT", coming out this December 2021. Previously, Kia has worked as a graphic designer for a well-known global cookware corporation and as a photographer for a Bay Area photography company. Between working for "Hey Pops!" and "NEWT" she is also a 2D freelancer, providing illustrations to her clients. Kia loves to travel and hopes to travel more after graduation. She is a major foodie! However, her favorite meals will always be her grandpa's Filipino dishes.

Technical Artist

Micah Iwata is a technical artist for the project “Hey Pops!” and is a newcomer to the game industry. He started out making mods and working on games as a hobby, and is now pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Design at CSU Monterey Bay. During his studies, he has gained experience creating 3D assets for environments, working with other students building and designing games, as well as finishing his minor in Computer Science. When not working on “Hey Pops!” or his senior capstone, “NEWT,” Micah likes to consume knowledge engraved on dead trees and feed his ramen addiction in his free time.

Programmer

Eric Tinoco is a first-generation college graduate with a passion for games, technology, and entertainment. He's developed his skills over the years with a great deal using Unity as his main engine. His main focus is in UI Programming but has gained experience in many other areas as well. He has worked in multiple projects within teams of programmers and designers on multiple platforms such as VR, Mobile, and Desktop. He hopes to continue increasing his knowledge in game development as his dream is to work in the game industry as his main career.

1st Person Technical Programming

Marcus Dixon graduated with a software engineering degree and has worked on different projects including multiple video games. He is always on the lookout for new ways to expand human-technology interaction. He is interested in working with VR and other wearable technology. Marcus helped create a mobile VR multiplayer game that focused on family fun competition called Knock Off. He also created an Android app using the Emotiv brainwave headset that would play music depending on the user's mood. Marcus wants to evolve the gaming industry using new technology and continue creating games that are fun and easy for anyone to play.

2D/3D Artist and Designer

Brooke Pope is a 2D/3D artist and designer for the video game project “Hey Pops!” at Klexos Interactive. Currently, she is pursuing her Bachelor’s of Science in Communication Design at CSU Monterey Bay, and is the Vice President of CSUMB’s design club. Brooke is also the director and project lead for her senior capstone game project titled “NEWT.” Overall, her main focus is doing 2D/3D art, level design, and game design. She also has recently discovered her passion for story writing! Brooke also loves to do freelance work and design stickers and pins in her free time. Brooke loves music and finds comfort getting lost in a good playlist or soundtrack. She also loves spending time with her partner and their cat, Yzma

Character Artist

Johanna Heredia is always learning to be a better concept artist. She hopes to work on games talking about mental health issues in the near future. She will be receiving her bachelors in communication design with a concentration in game design. Her passion is to keep creating characters that will make an impact on every player, leaving a lasting impression. In her spare time she is a freelance artist hoping to open her own online shop someday soon!

Paige Powell-Revis is a 3D modeler for Hey Pops! She took a strong interest in creating animated content at Biola University and pursued this passion through countless hours of independent research. After graduating with a Bachelors degree in Production, she expanded her skillsets in CG arts and dove into the limitless world of VR. Though Paige's main focus is 3D modeling, she also runs a small production company with the intent of providing a platform for voices of minorities.