Joe Casey

Joseph Casey is a Lecturer in Games Design at the University of Northampton, specialising in Unreal Engine development, real-time visualisation, and the creation of immersive 3D interactive experiences. He holds a First Class BA (Hons) in Computer Games Design from Teesside University and a Diploma in Education and Training from the University of Warwick. In 2024, he completed his MA in Indie Game Development at Falmouth University, producing a range of practice-based projects including an open-world climate-crisis exploration game, a Lo-fi rhythm game, and an Unreal Engine 5 augmented-reality educational app.

Since joining UON in 2022, Joe has contributed to the delivery and development of BA Games Design, BA Games Art, and BA Animation, with experience in module leadership, curriculum design, quality assurance, and industry liaison. His wider professional activities include supporting in-house game development projects, advising professionals on XR and virtual production workflows, and representing UON Games at major industry events. His teaching and research interests centre on Unreal Engine, game design practice, real-time rendering, and the development of engaging, interactive, experiences for both entertainment and educational contexts.

Research focuses on the development and critical evaluation of 3D interactive experiences, with a strong emphasis on Unreal Engine as a core platform for game design, real-time visualisation, and immersive environment creation. This includes practice-based game development, the exploration of engine-driven workflows, Blueprint systems, and the creative and technical possibilities of real-time rendering. Research in this area examines how Unreal Engine can support innovative design methods, interactive storytelling, virtual production, and the creation of engaging playable experiences across entertainment, education, and wider creative industry contexts.

Research Areas:
• Unreal Engine for game design and interactive experience development
• Real-time rendering, visualisation, and virtual production
• Immersive 3D environments, worldbuilding, and atmosphere design
• Blueprint-driven and engine-based development workflows
• Practice-based and pedagogic research in game development
• Applications of Unreal Engine in games, XR, education, and research-driven creative practice