Skill Sets
After graduating in Accounting from the University of Finance and Accounting, I spent two more years at FPT Aptech studying Programming. I then joined VNG, where I worked for six years as a Product Manager before taking on the role of Lead Game Designer in Game Studio South, a major Game Studio in VNG. As a result, I have become fluent in different “languages” of app and game development, including business, programming, psychology, game design, and user experience.
Start-up
Co-founded my game studio in 2013 and released many games since then with financial successes.
Leadership
Always strive for personal and team excellence by setting high standards for myself and team.
Communication
Spoke many “languages” in app and game development: business, marketing, programming, psychology, game design and user experience. I can cross the gaps between departments: from business plan to design to code.
Training »
“Best way to learn is to teach.” is my motto in learning. And this blog is another way for me to share my knowledge and experience for aspiring UX and game designers.
Project Management
Produced, Launched and Operated dozen of games and apps since 2006, from PC to Web to Mobile.
Business Mindset
As both an entrepreneur and a designer, I always looked at problems from two points of view: how to fulfil users' needs and how to make money from fulfilling theirs.
Data-Oriented
As market becomes more competitive, analytics held the key to success, as designers can benchmark and tweak games in real-time.
Programming Background
With programming background, I can communicate comfortably with developers which help to speed up progress.
Game Design »
Switched to game design since 2010 and never looked back. What I loved most is that I can apply psychological principles in game design to raise my kid.
User Experience »
It’s very easy to get lost in details and forget about your player. Always look at game design from both perspectives: game designer and player.
Marketing Strategy
From offline advertising to search, from Appstore to Social media, I always look for new ways to reach players and optimize costs accross channels.
Monetization »
The biggest challenge in F2P is monetization: from paid to IAP, Ads and subscription. Balancing ARPU and CPA is a must for game designers these days.
Contact me on LinkedIn
Experiences
Product Manager (2006-2013)
Launched and operated many games in VNG: Nine Dragons, 3D MMORPG by Indy21; Hotstep, 3D dancing games by Snailgame; Zing Speed, 3D racing game by Tencent; Thuận Thiên Kiếm, 2.5D MMORPG by Game Studio South.
Lead Game Designer (2010-2013)
Game Studio South, a major Studio in VNG. Responsible of training game designers in the studio. Producer and Designer: Happy Me, a Unity 3D social web game; Fish Hunt, a casual mobile game.
CEO (2013-2020)
Co-founded Gemstone Studio and acted CEO. Produced and launched more than 6 social casino games, all from scratch, with some financial success. Since our team was rather small, I also acted as Game Producer and Lead Designer.
#OpenToWork #Product Design #UX Design #Game Design #Training
Hobbies
Psychology »
Raising a kid isn't an easy job. Understanding the principles of child development, behavioral psychology, and cognitive psychology can provide valuable insights and strategies for effective parenting.
Languages
I'm always amazed at how language allows us to convey our thoughts, emotions, and experiences to others. Through words, we can describe the world, share our feelings, and tell stories. The emergence of LLM (large language model) in 2022 helps me a lot in improving my reading and writing skills.
Favorite Games
As a kid, I played numerous video games at a kiosk after school until they ran out of games. My favorite genres included RPG, FPS, Simulation, and Strategy. However, I always keep an eye out for good games, regardless of their genre.
Favorite Books
An avid reader of many genres, especially design, psychology, parenting, fantasy/sci-fi.
