Venkatesh Subramania Pillai

Senior Software Engineer, Unity

Passionate about architecture & programming systems, networks & graphics for games and game-engines.

SKILLS

Programming proficiency: C++ / C# / Python in that order.

Parallel programming: multi-threading / lock-free concurrent data structures / SIMD.

Authoring tools for content pipeline (Sprite-Shape, Sprite-Atlas, FBX, Collada etc..)

Network programming: client/server, peer-to-peer, hybrid networks for games and services.

EXPERIENCE

Unity,  Singapore - Senior Software Engineer

July 2013 - Present

• UTess 2D triangulation & refinement.

• Sprite Shape

• Sprite Atlas

• Sprite Mask

• Asynchronous texture upload

• Multi-threaded mesh/sprite batching

• Multi-threaded sprite skinning/rendering

• SRP/Light batcher for 2D.

• Multi-Display (Windows/Linux/Mac)

• AssetDatabase Pre-V2 refactor and tons of other stuff.

Unpublished contributions include :

• Unity WebCanvas (https://sites.google.com/a/unity3d.com/u-c2d/)

• AssetDatabase V2 (ADB meta & binary in LMDB)

• CAD Import

• nVIDIA iRay PathTracer Support

Ubisoft, Singapore - Senior Programmer

April 2010 - Jun 2013

Ghost Recon Online (www.ghostrecononline.com)

Lead architect of a multi-player system with major focus on

• Netcode to minimize latency and disconnects using hybrid topology.

• Match-Making system : Client, Game server and Lobby server.
  
  

Designed and Implemented critical components including but not limited to:

• File splitting, caching. (Also used by other Studios).

• Graphics pipeline analysis and optimization.

• Added tools for report/replay, logging,  analysis and optimization.

EA, Singapore - Lead Engineer

July 2006 - March 2010

FIFA Online (http://fifa-online.easports.com)

Technical leadership for EA Singapore client team, effectively collaborated with EA Vancouver and other technology groups.

• Designed a fully deterministic tournament and simulation engine.

• Architect of communication and state layer for Client, Lobby server.

• Re-Engineered and optimized client to meet low-end PC requirements.

• Interfaces for rendering to external transparent gadgets.

• Filesystem analysis and optimization for faster loading and patching.

FIFA Online Season 2 (http://www.eafifaonline2.com)

Systems Engineer responsible for core systems and multi-player aspects of the Game Client.

• Design and implementation of real-time game rendering to video files.

• Engineered online specific gameplay and network optimizations.

• Implemented several game modes and an all new Away-alone-goalie mode.

• Implemented fully replayable game save system for multiplayer modes.

• Contributed to EA internal render library base.

NBA Street V3 Online (unpublished)

Systems and Rendering Engineer for the PC On-line port.

• Porting game to meet low-spec requirements.

• Create-a-baller and Create-a-court render systems.

• Challenges mode multiplayer lobby system.

• Implemented several multiplayer simulation and network tools.

VBeing, India - Lead Technology Programmer

October 2004 - July 2006

Vbeing Engine:

Lead Programmer of Engine team, that developed and supported all aspects of core technology for in-house game, tools & pipeline. Provided technical leadership and oversight. Significant personal contributions include:

• Core architecture and implementation of a cross-platform renderer.

• Implemented 3D DCC toolchain based on collada open standard.

• Implemented unified scene graph architecture for Rendering, Physics & AI.

• Researched and implemented a proprietary cache-aware stripification.

• 3D visualization plug-in for 3DSMax/Engine Interaction.

Sengoku : Age of War:

• Implemented DirectX based rendering & assets pipeline.

• Implemented an extensible particle engine.

• Integrated D3DX based animation library and UI.

Marker Gnash:

Generalist Programmer responsible for game-play mechanics and presentation for the game that used the Lithtech engine.

• Implemented several AI Actors and a complex path-finding system.

• Implementation of terrain and vegetation renderer plug-ins.

• Implemented fake lighting and particle systems.

• Developed advanced radar Indicator systems and floating HUDs.

PERSONAL PROJECTS

Have been working on my own engine (https://sites.google.com/site/scvenkatesh/sciom).

• Windows, Linux and Android runtime.

• Threaded rendering for DirectX 7, 9, 11 OpenGL 2, 4 and GLES API.

• Task scheduler with dependency graph.

• Asset pipeline that supports data import through Collada/FBX.

• ECS on C++ with HLSL style SIMD code.

• Smart data stream supporting MsgPack, JSON and Binary.

• Fully asynchronous file system & resource loading.

• Skinned animation with blending/masking support.

• Bullet / Tokamak physics integration.

• Recast / Detour integration for navigation.
  
  

Games published in PCQuest magazine based on Borland Graphics Interface

• Yogari (Nov 1999 issue) 

• SpaceCraze (Dec 2000 issue)

EDUCATION

Bharathidasan University, Trichy, India- Bachelor of Engineering

June 1997 - April 2001