The Canadian, who has been living in Dunedin for two years, recently won the "Across the Ditch" category in the Freeplay Independent Games Festival Awards with his game, Leap of Leaf.
The game is set in black and white. Players try to catch leaves falling from trees in a 2-D setting.
The inspiration for the game came from his childhood memories of playing in leaves in autumn.
The game was "an ode to when you’re a little kid and your mum tells you to do some chores outside... and then you just play around in the leaves".
Dunedin game development company Runaway Play was also a source of inspiration, he said.
"They’re always doing really natural-oriented games."
He used sounds he recorded around his house and garden to go into the game as well as his own voice.
About 15 people had bought the game, which cost $1.55.
"I think for indie developers it’s really hard to get any kind of marketing.
"This product was more of a learning experience to me ... Sales were expected to be super low."
He thanked the New Zealand Game Development Association and the gaming development community for providing him with support and motivation.
