rosiegao.com  


Rosie Haoyu Gao



A game narrative designer,
An interactive media storyteller



About Me 
Contact
LinkedIn




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Education University of Southern California 
M.F.A in Game and Interactive Media
2022 - 2025 

New York University
B.S. in Interactive Media Arts,
Minor in Creative Writing
2017 – 2021 



Project Experience Lead Narrative Designer
Unannounced Thesis Game
Present

Creative Director 
Alibi
2024 - 2025

Associate Director, UIUX Designer
How to Pet Your Cat
2024

Associate Director, Level Designer
InSync
2024 - 2025

Design Lead, Quest Designer
Abort: The Exile
2023 - 2024

Narrative Designer, Writer
Installation Wizard
2023 - 2024

Narrative Designer, Writer
Grandma Green
2022 - 2023

Narrative Designer, Writer
Machine Heart
2022 - 2023



EmploymentCinematic Production Intern
SEASUN GAMES
2021 - 2022

UIUX Student Designer
Alipay (Shanghai)
2021

User Research Intern
Microsoft (Chengdu)
2020

Manager Assistant Intern
Microsoft Professional Program
2018

Academic RolesStudent Assistant
Game Development Principle,   Tabletop RPG, Game System Design
USC Games
2023-2025


Information Assistant
NYU Academic Resource Center
2018



Awards




IGF alt.ctrl.GDC Finalist 
2025

MUSE Creative Awards Silver Winner 2024
Exhibition GDC 2025
Day of the Devs 2025,
IGN Live 2025,
CatCon 2025,
USC Games Expo (2023, 2025)






Last Updated 25.11.05


Installation Wizard

Narrative Designer

A heartfelt visual novel about family and distance, where you remotely guide your grandmother to fight through magical creatures, bad cell service, and difficult family conversations.



Installation Wizard tells a fantastical yet intimate story about intergenerational communication. Players take on the role of Albarn, a young man of immigrant background, who reconnects with long-lost relatives in the old country while caring for his gravely ill mother. As Albarn supports his grandmother’s visit, the narrative explores how emotions, cultural divides, and hidden histories shape the way families connect.

The game combines branching dialogue and interactive choice-making with light survival mechanics inspired by Oregon Trail. Players remotely guide their grandmother through magical obstacles, unreliable signals, and long-standing family conflicts—decisions that test emotional sensitivity and determine both her journey’s outcome and Albarn’s family story.


Exhibited at the USC Games Expo 2024, Installation Wizard reached a wide audience of players and industry professionals. Later released on itch.io, making the game publicly accessible to a broader community.



Info
  • Duration: May 2023 - May 2024
  • Genre: Visual Novel, Narrative Adventure, Fantasy, Choice-based, Indie,Family Drama
  • Platform:PC, Mac
  • Engine:Unity
  • Link: itch.io  
  • Role: Narrative Designer, Writer


    Contributions

    • Co-designed Zotto the Uncle, one of the game’s most popular characters. Defined his role, theme, personality, strengths and flaws, arc and voice. Developed his backstory and relationships,  inspiring events for three parent-generation characters.

    • Crafted Zotto’s key events and branching paths, including integrated enemy design. Contributed to  grandmother-centered storylines, ensuring multiple endings supported both gameplay flow and meaningful exploration of family dynamics.

    • Scripted opening dialogues between the protagonist and mother, establishing background, relationships, and the inciting incident.

    See more:
    [Narrative Design in Installation Wizard →]