In this episode of Dev to Dev – the podcast about everyday video game developers and why they do what they do every day – I talk with Orlando Jimenez. Orlando’s story is rooted in perseverance and curiosity. From his first encounter with Spider-Man on the Nintendo 64 to shaping combat systems on AAA games, he’s a developer who turned challenges into opportunities and setbacks into stepping stones.

Growing up in the Bronx, Orlando’s love of games began as a personal escape and evolved into a calling. His fascination with what made games feel “right” led him to pursue a degree at Full Sail University, where he faced serious financial and academic challenges. But rather than give up, he pushed forward — retaking classes, refining his skills, working full time during the day whilst studying at night, before graduating with honors.

After building prototypes and reaching out directly to recruiters, Orlando landed an internship at ZeniMax Online Studios that grew into a role as an Associate Combat Designer. Through it all, he’s carried one belief: growth never stops.

Highlights:

• Early inspiration from Spider-Man on the Nintendo 64

• Overcoming setbacks and returning to Full Sail University stronger than ever

• Landing a combat design role through persistence and self-driven learning

• Lessons learned about humility, curiosity, and collaboration

• The importance of fundamentals and empathy in great game design

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• Video Versions of each episode

• (00:00:00) - Dev to Dev: Orlando's Story
• (00:00:46) - In the Elevator With Video Game Legends
• (00:01:42) - The First Video Game You Played
• (00:04:43) - How Spider Man Inspired The Making of Video Games
• (00:06:31) - When I Was a Gamer: Spider Man N64
• (00:08:28) - How to get your degree in game design
• (00:13:20) - Did You Compete With Yourself While Studying?
• (00:16:58) - The Desire to Make Things Better
• (00:18:45) - Post-School: Learning to Make Games
• (00:25:37) - "It's okay if it doesn't work..."
• (00:29:57) - Tom Brady on the team's
• (00:30:18) - ZeniMax's 3 Year Capstone
• (00:36:42) - Unreal Engine 2 Demo
• (00:40:49) - The ESO Job Interview
• (00:42:54) - Combat Designer on The Internship
• (00:47:39) - Battlefield 1: A Natural Transition
• (00:49:13) - In the Elevator With Designers
• (00:50:35) - Having a dual role at Work
• (00:53:42) - Does Your Family Understand How Much You Do?
• (00:55:32) - How Combat Design Affects The Game
• (00:59:38) - Uncovering the Stories of Video Games
• (01:00:40) - Be Curious About Your Work