Meet Lawrance Karat – Game Designer and QA Specialist in San Diego
Lawrance Karat is a San Diego-based Technical Game Designer with real-world experience across both AA and AAA game environments. A graduate of Full Sail University’s Game Design program, Lawrance has contributed to projects like Spider-Man 2 for PlayStation, where he worked as part of the QA team to support gameplay testing, iteration, and polish. He is currently involved in live service and post-launch testing for an AA title, gaining hands-on experience with ongoing content updates, balance adjustments, and performance tracking in an active production environment.
Level Design and Systems Thinking
Lawrance is steadily building a strong foundation in level design and gameplay systems using Unreal Engine, Blueprint scripting, and C++. He’s contributed to sandbox-level builds, basic combat mechanics, and early prototyping efforts, often working directly from design documents to create testable gameplay spaces.
He’s also gained familiarity with tools like Mixamo and Cascador, which he’s used to explore animation and combat flow in early-stage environments.
QA Experience in Professional Studios
While working with Sony Interactive Entertainment (PSSQA), Lawrance participated in test case writing, bug tracking with Jira, and hands-on testing using PSDevKit builds and PC engines. His time on a AAA team gave him valuable insight into the pace and structure of game production, and sharpened his ability to spot and report gameplay issues early in the development cycle. His QA work helped ensure smoother development workflows and better player-facing outcomes.
In his current role supporting an award-winning AA live service title, Lawrance has expanded his skill set through ongoing content and systems testing across multiple platforms. He works with tools like TeamCity, GitLab, and Perforce to manage builds, track changes, and maintain deployment consistency. He’s also gained experience with test automation using Java, deeper collaboration with international development teams, and the complex demands of maintaining and improving a live, player-facing product. This work has strengthened his adaptability and given him valuable hands-on exposure to the challenges of cross-platform QA and live service support.
Generative AI and Future-Focused Development Skills
In addition to his design and testing experience, Lawrance is also exploring how artificial intelligence can enhance game development workflows. He has earned certifications in Generative AI and Large Language Models from Google Cloud and DeepLearning.AI, and is particularly interested in how these tools can support content creation, QA automation, and interactive storytelling. While still early in his exploration, he brings curiosity and technical awareness to AI’s emerging role in the industry.
Collaborative and Results-Oriented
Lawrance’s background also includes leadership experience as an assistant restaurant manager and independent freelance designer. He brings strong communication skills, conflict resolution ability, and a team-focused mindset to every project. Known for being adaptable, solutions-driven, and always learning, Lawrance is a dependable contributor who thrives in fast-paced, creative environments.
Whether he’s contributing to level design, supporting gameplay systems, or helping identify and resolve bugs, Lawrance Karat brings a thoughtful approach, growing technical skills, and a strong commitment to quality and collaboration.
Game Test Analyst – Spiderman 2
Sony Interactive Entertainment – PlayStation (PSSQA)
March 2023 – October 2023 | San Diego, CA
- Performed iterative playtesting on pre-release builds to evaluate core gameplay mechanics and user experience.
- Logged and tracked detailed bug reports using Jira and Excel to support effective debugging and quality assurance.
- Developed and executed test cases using TestRail, ensuring coverage across systems and features.
- Collaborated with developers and QA teams to align on build feedback and improve the game across development cycles.
- Gained strong understanding of AAA game production pipelines, development lifecycles, and live-service updates.
Education
Mumbai University- B.S. 05/2015
Full Sail University- A.S. 03/2023
Certifications & Professional Development
Introduction to Large Language Models
Google Cloud – Issued June 2025
Credential ID: 3AXBU8HA6ZIG
Generative AI for Everyone
DeepLearning.AI – Issued May 2025
Credential ID: 2J4RJKVP83O8
Introduction to Generative AI
Google Cloud – Issued May 2025
Credential ID: C347UGNASYKT
Unreal: Blueprint
LinkedIn Learning – Issued November 2022
Skills: Unreal Engine 4, Blueprint Scripting
2D Game Design and Development
Essential Training
LinkedIn Learning – Issued October 2022
Skills: Unreal Engine 4, Iterative Design
Unreal Engine: Game Terrain Techniques
LinkedIn Learning – Issued October 2022
Skills: Unreal Engine 4, Terrain Modeling, Prototyping, Iterative Design
Karat Media 