Isa Mari De Leon • orkidian
GAME WRITER • STORYTELLER • POET
Latest Work
Me & You
2022 • Video Game • Original
‘“Hey, love?’ You say to me.”
Me & You is a surreal Twine game between a couple in a fraught relationship, navigating their memories by reminiscing through past polaroid pictures. With a gameplay loop inspired by tarot card readings and an amnesiac player character, the pictures reveal new facets of the past, present, and future. Like in tarot readings, photos are randomly drawn in upright or reversed positions, which create different interpretations and meanings. The story benefits from multiple playthroughs and explores ideas of memory, illness, loss, and seeing loved ones in old and new lights.
Made for Cal Women in Gaming's second spring Game Jam.
I did narrative design, writing, and 2D illustration for Me & You.
My name is Isa Mari De Leon, or Isa (ice-uh) for short.
I'm a Filipino American writer and narrative designer. I’m currently an Associate Narrative Writer at Riot Games.
My social handles or in-game names are (usually) orkidian.
I find life fulfilling when I can learn something new every day. I love to write as my means to learn about the world, about myself, and about the things I love.
My work is a motley collection of my learnings. In different modes and genres, I seek to deepen my understanding of the things I hold dear or take for granted. From domestically-oriented poetry to fan-made projects, I always try to write from a place of passion and discovery.
I thrive in the creativity and collaboration of game development. Currently, I work at Riot Games as an Associate Narrative Writer on League of Legends.
I earned a Bachelor of Arts in English at the University of California, Berkeley, graduating summa cum laude in 2022. Before that, I earned Associate of Arts degrees in English and liberal arts at Chabot College.
I'm a California native, dog person, lover of mango-flavored drinks, orchid admirer, and homebody. In my free time, I inch toward the lifelong goal of mastering as many forms of writing that I can.
I'm happy to help and share what I'm able, whether that be advice, knowledge, or a chat. Feel free to contact me using the form below. Thanks for reading and visiting!
