Resume

Joey Kuras – Sound Designer

Summary

I am a seasoned Sound Designer with 32 years of experience crafting and implementing audio for video games, contributing to 111 titles and more on the way. My passion for video games and sound began at age 10 with the Atari 2600 and later the Commodore 64. Working at an arcade as a teen sparked my dream of creating video game audio, which has been my life’s work since 1993.

What I find most fulfilling is taking recorded or designed sounds and seamlessly integrating them into gameplay. I thrive on crafting custom, game-specific sounds that enhance the player experience.

Skills
  • Game Engines: Extensive experience implementing sound in Unreal Engine 4 & 5, with additional experience in Unity & GameMaker (sound integration for game objects and animations).
  • Sound Design Software: Proficient in Reaper, Sound Forge, Acoustica 7, and SoundMiner.
  • DAWs & Audio Tools: Experience with Sonar, Cubase, Ableton Live, FL Studio, Sony Acid, Wavelab, Digital Performer, Nuendo, Cakewalk.
  • Project Management & Version Control: Familiar with TestTrack, Perforce, Jira, Shotgun, Azure DevOps TFS.

Experience

Independent Sound Designer & Implementer – Joey Kuras Sound Design

Clayton, NC | April 2018 – Present

Some Recent Projects

  • IRA – Nicalis, Inc (Sound Design, Implementation, Mixing)
  • Critadel – Nicalis, Inc (Sound Design)
  • Army of the Dead: Viva Las Vengeance VR – Pure Imagination Studios (Sound Design, Implementation, Mixing)
  • The Legend of Bum-Bo – Nicalis, Inc (Sound Design)
  • The Binding Of Isaac: Repentance – Nicalis, Inc (Sound Design)
  • Crystal Crisis – Nicalis, Inc (Audio Director; full sound design, Unity implementation, dialogue editing, mixing, mastering)
  • Sackboy: A Big Adventure – Sumo Digital, Ltd (Sound recording, editing, design, implementation in Wwise & UE4)

 

Technical Sound Designer – Epic Games

Cary, NC | August 2012 – April 2018

Designed and implemented game audio using Reaper and Sound Forge, integrating sounds into Unreal Engine 4. Worked closely with designers, FX artists, and animators to create immersive soundscapes.

Notable Projects

  • Fortnite (Additional Sound Design, Memory Optimization, Custom Sound Recording)
  • Paragon (Full Sound Design & Implementation: UI, hero abilities, weapons, ambient sound, footsteps, cinematics, dynamic mixing)
  • Infinity Blade 3 (All Sound Design & Implementation)
  • Gears of War: Judgement

Technical Sound Designer – Independent Contractor

Clayton, NC | 2007 – 2012

Primarily designed sound for Epic Games and ChAIR Entertainment, working closely with the audio, design, and FX teams. Implemented sound using Unreal Engine 3.

Notable Projects

  • Shadow Complex
  • Infinity Blade 1 & 2
  • Gears of War 2 & 3

Lead Sound Designer – Tommy Tallarico Studios

San Juan Capistrano, CA | 1994 – 2006

Responsible for sound effects creation, dialogue editing, cinematic sound design, custom recording, and optimization for target platforms.

Notable Projects

  • Earthworm Jim 1 (1994 – uncredited)
  • Earthworm Jim 2 (1995)
  • Tony Hawk Pro Skater (1999)
  • Spider-Man (2000)
  • Snoopy vs The Red Baron (2006)
  • MDK (1997)
  • Duckman (1997)
  • The X-Files: Resist or Serve (2004)
  • Scooby-Doo!: Night of 100 Frights (2002)
  • Pac-Man World (1999)
  • Maximo: Ghosts to Glory (2001)
  • Evil Dead: Hail to the King (2000)
  • The Spongebob Squarepants Movie (2004)

Sound Designer – Virgin Interactive Entertainment

Irvine, CA | 1993 – 1997

Designed and implemented audio for Spot Goes to Hollywood, Walt Disney’s The Jungle Book, and various other titles. Integrated sound using a proprietary audio engine for SNES and Sony’s Scream tool for PlayStation.

Notable Projects

  • Cool Spot (1993)
  • Jungle Book (1993)
  • Demolition Man (1994)
  • Toonstruck (1996)
  • Terminator Sega CD (composed song “Visions”)
  • Spot Goes To Hollywood (1995)

Awards & Recognitions

  • 2012 G.A.N.G. Awards: Winner, Best Handheld Audio (Infinity Blade II)
  • 2012 G.A.N.G. Awards: Nominated, Audio of the Year (Gears of War 3)
  • 2012 G.A.N.G. Awards: Nominated, Best Cinematic/Cut-Scene Audio (Gears of War 3)
  • 2003 G.A.N.G. Awards: Winner, Best Sound Library (The SFX Kit)(Designed & Recorded Sounds)
  • 2003 G.A.N.G. Awards: Winner, Best Edutainment/Children’s Audio (Tonka: Rescue Patrol)
  • 2005 G.A.N.G. Awards: Nominated, Audio of the Year (Advent Rising)
  • 2005 G.A.N.G. Awards: Nominated, Best Cinematic Audio (Advent Rising)
  • 2005 G.A.N.G. Awards: Nominated, Sound Design of the Year (Advent Rising)
  • 2003 G.A.N.G. Awards: Nominated, Sound Design of the Year (War of the Monsters)
  • 1998 Interactive Academy of Arts & Sciences: Finalist, Best Sound (Wild 9)
  • 1995 Sega 3rd Party Awards: Best Music & Sound FX (Earthworm Jim 2)
  • 1994 Video Games Magazine: Best Sound Effects (Earthworm Jim)