Rostik Fomich Portfolio

Shelter (2026)

| Counter-Strike 2 |

| Build time 20 months |

| Released June 2026 |

DOWNLOAD ON STEAM WORKSHOP

Shelter is a 5v5 hostage rescue level set in a fictionalized suburban animal shelter. Shelter prominently features rescuable Canine Hostages (Dogstages) that significantly refresh the rather plain visuals and interactivity offered by the default hostages in Counter-Strike's oldest gamemode.
Shelter was developed with the following principles:
Fast-paced and balanced engagements that promote team-play
Area control and denial that rewards smart decision-making
Intuitive design, flow, and color coordination to aid player orientation
Superior visual attention to detail and application of relevant reference photography
Extensive use of custom materials, models, and audio to establish a unique and authentic experience
Shelter's development took nearly two and a half years and its success is a testament to the persistent and unwavering faith I have in my abilities to produce exceptionally high-quality work, persevere through challenges, and remain focused regardless of the time required to uncompromisingly deliver on my creative vision.

LEVEL OVERVIEW
(Click to start/pause overview version slideshow)

HOSTAGE SHOWCASE AND DEVELOPER FLY-THROUGH

ANIMATED WORK-IN-PROGRESS RENDERS

MP4 Gallery
Storm Drain (2023)

| Half-Life Alyx |

| Build time 15 months |

| Released February 2023 |

DOWNLOAD ON STEAM WORKSHOP

Storm Drain is a polished hour-length level made in the style of the Half-Life: Alyx campaign. It introduces numerous unique puzzles and combat encounters designed from the ground-up for an immersive VR experience while focusing on:
Compact, but multi-purpose use of space
Guiding the player intuitively to goals with lighting and effects
Balanced pacing through varied combat and puzzles

INTENSE VR COMBAT

PUZZLES DESIGNED FOR VR

INTERACTIVE OVERVIEW
(Interact with viewer to zoom, pan, and advance slides)
MY DESIGN PROCESS

1. Idea
Establish the foundation of the gameplay experience. This can be a setting or a gameplay concept/hook.

2. Reference
Research and compile reference imagery which complements the setting.

3. Prototype
Prototype the concept or hook in test environments to ensure viability before incorporating it into the blockout.

4. Blockout
Define the playable space with attention to flow, scale, and framing. Consider the player's movement.

5. Gameplay
Establish the gameplay loops, puzzles, encounters, and other elements which the player will experience.

6. Initial Details
Establish fundamental details, basic materials, and lighting to guide the player. Focus on early readability.

7. Playtesting
Collect playtester feedback to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the level.

8. Iterate
Compile feedback and create a plan of action for addressing issues or concerns.

9. Polish
Expand upon visuals and audio to create a fully immersive environment. Optimize the level for solid performance.

10. Playtesting
Test, iterate, and polish cyclically until the level is shippable and all major concerns have been addressed.

11. Release
Collect additional player feedback and reflect upon challenges. Adapt my process to streamline future development.

12. Support
Fix bugs based upon severity. Address technical concerns or other issues.
RESUME
Print friendly version

Projects
Shelter (Counter-Strike 2)
Storm Drain (Half-Life: Alyx)

Core Skills
Iterative and Intuitive single-player and multi-player level design with respect for scale, flow, and pacing
Environment art with focus on composition, lighting, and attention to detail
Ability to organize, evaluate, and apply playtester feedback
Advanced scripting and v-scripting

General Skills
Hard surface modeling
Material creation
Basic rigging, skin weighting, and rigid body animation
Audio deisgn, production, composition, and performance

Software
Source 2 (Hammer, ModelDoc, Material Editor, Particle Editor)
Source 1 (Hammer, Crowbar, VTF Edit)
Blender
3DS Max
Photoshop & Gimp
Illustrator
Substance Painter
Substance Designer

Public Sector Experience
Executive Policy Coordinator and Advisor (2024-Present)
Manager and Policy Writer (2021-2024)
Associate Policy Writer (2019-2021)
Policy Writer (2018-2019)

Education
University of California, Berkeley. B.A. in International Relations (2017)
Saint Petersburg State University, Russia. Advanced Russian Language (2016)

About me:

Hello I'm Rostik Fomich! I am a level designer and artist who loves creating.

From an early age, I have always had a fascination with creation. One day this fascination found GtkRadient and Source SDK. The rest is history.

Over the years I have used this fascination to foster a robust set of level design and environment art skills. I am interested and experienced in creating both single player and multiplayer experiences. I am well-versed in level design and environment art and am capable of producing polished projects from start to finish. Lastly, I love to learn and always challenge myself to pick up new skills.

I currently work as an Executive Policy Coordinator and Advisor in the public sector. It pays the bills, but doesn't quite tickle my creative urges the same way level design and environment art does. Despite this, my career has given me a wealth of experience collaborating and communicating with others and has helped me greatly in becoming a better communicator and team-member. These experiences have been very useful to me in my pursuits of level design and environment art and have allowed me to be a more effective designer.

Why me?

I am a nuanced and thoughtful designer and artist.
I have excellent attention to detail and dedication in completing my projects.
I work tirelessly to improve my skills, design process, and knowledge.
I am an experienced collaborator and effective communicator.

Shelter (2026)

| Counter-Strike 2 |

| Build time 20 months |

| Released June 2026 |

Shelter is a 5v5 hostage rescue level set in a fictionalized suburban animal shelter. Shelter prominently features rescuable Canine Hostages (Dogstages) that significantly refresh the rather plain visuals and interactivity offered by the default hostages in Counter-Strike's oldest gamemode.

Shelter was developed with the following principles:

LEVEL OVERVIEW

(Click to start/pause overview version slideshow)

HOSTAGE SHOWCASE AND DEVELOPER FLY-THROUGH

ANIMATED WORK-IN-PROGRESS RENDERS

Storm Drain (2023)

| Half-Life Alyx |

| Build time 15 months |

| Released February 2023 |

Storm Drain is a polished hour-length level made in the style of the Half-Life: Alyx campaign. It introduces numerous unique puzzles and combat encounters designed from the ground-up for an immersive VR experience while focusing on:

INTENSE VR COMBAT

PUZZLES DESIGNED FOR VR

INTERACTIVE OVERVIEW

(Interact with viewer to zoom, pan, and advance slides)

MY DESIGN PROCESS

1. Idea

Establish the foundation of the gameplay experience. This can be a setting or a gameplay concept/hook.

2. Reference

Research and compile reference imagery which complements the setting.

3. Prototype

Prototype the concept or hook in test environments to ensure viability before incorporating it into the blockout.

4. Blockout

Define the playable space with attention to flow, scale, and framing. Consider the player's movement.

5. Gameplay

Establish the gameplay loops, puzzles, encounters, and other elements which the player will experience.

6. Initial Details

Establish fundamental details, basic materials, and lighting to guide the player. Focus on early readability.

7. Playtesting

Collect playtester feedback to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the level.

8. Iterate

Compile feedback and create a plan of action for addressing issues or concerns.

9. Polish

Expand upon visuals and audio to create a fully immersive environment. Optimize the level for solid performance.

10. Playtesting

Test, iterate, and polish cyclically until the level is shippable and all major concerns have been addressed.

11. Release

Collect additional player feedback and reflect upon challenges. Adapt my process to streamline future development.

12. Support

Fix bugs based upon severity. Address technical concerns or other issues.

RESUME

Print friendly version

Projects

Core Skills

General Skills

Software

Public Sector Experience

Education

About me:

Hello I'm Rostik Fomich! I am a level designer and artist who loves creating.

From an early age, I have always had a fascination with creation. One day this fascination found GtkRadient and Source SDK. The rest is history.

Why me?

I am a nuanced and thoughtful designer and artist.

I have excellent attention to detail and dedication in completing my projects.

I work tirelessly to improve my skills, design process, and knowledge.

I am an experienced collaborator and effective communicator.