Welcome to my portfolio!

I am Gareth Murfin, a remote Android freelancer from Newcastle, UK. I’m available now to develop your app. This is the latest version of my portfolio, you can also find my CV here (alternative CV here) or go directly to my previous apps here (or check out my youtube channel) – if you interested in games see my games portfolio at gaz.autos. Here is what I bring to the table:

  • Over 25 years of development experience (games, apps and tools), with 20 of them being almost exclusively on the mobile phone.
  • Single handedly developed apps for BBC, ITV, Premier League, NHS, Sainsburys, Royal Ascot, Alton Towers, Peppa Pig World, Angry Birds Land, CBeebies Land, Magners, Sinclair, Vodafone Mclaren Mercedes, Saatchi & Saatchi, Sasol to name but a few.
  • Expert in Java (24 years), Android (13 years), Unity (11 years), C# (11 years), J2ME (12 years) + others: Kotlin, Flutter, Dart, HTML5, JavaScript – I Started developing games as a child on ZX Spectrum and later Applications and games for Amiga, PC, mobile.coolandroid copy
  • Finalist in Google Android developer competition 2 (with Sonorox – 6th in world), Winner of UK Young Software Engineer of the year award in 2002, Best Scottish software engineering project 2002 from Spectra (with an MMO called VARS), TIGA games finalist in 2012 (with The Dead Walk), Winner of Razer OSVR developer competition (2016 with Genocide Dolphins), finalist in the first Startup Labs Program in Taipei (with The Dead Walk), finalist in Tokyo Game Show 2021, finalist in IGN Rogue Jam game competition 2022, holder of Taiwan elite Gold Card Visa for Software Development
  • Released commercial Commodore Amiga games worldwide before I left school (Ultimate Gloom, Zombie Massacre).
  • Successfully licensed my “Mango Booth Finger Paint” technology to BBC for CBBC Buzz and to PicCollage (a global top 10 app).
  • Ranked in TopTal‘s best freelance Android engineers in the world (Nov 2013-July 2015)
  • 100% ranking on PeoplePerHour.com (#25 in the world rankings) also highly recommended on LinkedIn – links on bottom of my CV
  • Elite Pro on Bark.com for software development (100% rank so far)
  • 100% ranking on Codementor.
  • BSc Computer Science (Hons), MSc Technology & Innovation Management (A+ Distinction) – dissertation and thesis both in Java (both received A+ Distinction, Masters degree received highest grade the University of Stirling have ever issued in their history)
  • Over 200 finished projects since 1995, and over 80 million downloads of my apps!
  • Experience working on very large commercial projects (+ knowledge of console development), I was a developer (& voice actor) on Grand Theft Auto – Vice City in 2001 for Rockstar North/Take Two, one of the biggest selling games in history (GTA VC sold 17.5 million copies PS2, PC, PSP, XBOX).
  • One of the earliest Oculus Rift VR game developers – runner up in VRJAM 2013 (Oculus VR game jam) with a rift compatible FPS (I now have a VR portfolio).
  • Augmented Reality (AR) developer currently using Vuforia/Unity3D (I now have an AR portfolio) – I developed prototypes for Marvel Comics.
  • Highly skilled in Codename One and also now Dart/Flutter (Flutter Portfolio) allowing delivery of multi-platform native apps including Android, iPhone and Windows Phone (see Codename One portfolio) some examples are shown below.
  • Developed the first ever bluecast Bluetooth advertising solution for world’s largest mall in Dubai, in-car prototypes for Seattle police, the first mobile trading tools for the London stock exchange and prototype software for London Ambulance Service.
  • 10 years of Unity3D & C# experience making multiplatform 3D games (FPS/3rd person/2D/VR/AR and more) (Unity portfolio) – see my epic open world cyberpunk game Genocide Dolphins (still in production and developed entirely alone for almost a decade – see some gameplay footage from 2019, new video soon!).
  • I am also skilled in Kotlin (12 months experience so far, 2 full apps developed including a canvas based game).
  • Web3, crypto, play to earn games. I have been lead developer for multi-million dollar crypto games (coming soon)
  • Many, many other projects completed, some of which cannot be shown for legal reasons.
  • I have also worked as a writer in the technology industry (Amiga Format, CU Amiga, Taipei Times, Rush Magazine and more), a graphic designer and a visual effects creator for some big name clients (producing posters, flyers, music videos and live VJ sets), my favourite being The Future Sound Of London (see my videos). I am also a VJ providing live visuals which react to sound for the largest night clubs in Taipei, Taiwan (Luxy), the software (Ferox Neutrino) was custom written by myself (some videos). Update Ferox2 is out now!
  • I have also created official music videos for famous Taiwanese bands such as LTK Commune (aka LTK, Taiwanese: Lô-chúi-khoe Kong-siā 濁水溪公社). I was second in the Urban Nomad Film Fest (城市游牧影展) in Taiwan (2011) with a movie called ‘Abaddon‘ – which was shown at Huashan 1914 Creative Park and Taipei Cultural Center + others, as well as being archived as an important piece of Taiwanese culture. I have produced multiple videos for music labels such as ‘Future Proof Taiwan’ to name but a few. On all of these videos I was director, producer, special effects creator and editor. A couple of examples shown below.

Browse my portfolio and get in touch to discuss your requirements. Towards the bottom you can see what I was doing before Android & iPhone arrived, the original app era on the classic Nokias, I was at the forefront. Also see my other portfolios at the top of this page for AR, VR, Unity, web games etc

Gareth Murfin (gareth.murfin@gmail.com) aka Gaz.

Add me on Skype if you wish to chat: gazy1980.

REFERENCES

gareth-realtime

gazs software award

Whilst working as a PS2 console programmer in Scotland for Rockstar North on “GTA Vice City” I was awarded “Software engineer of the year award” (2002), for previous work on my online world “VARS” – which allowed for virtual reunuions in an isometic world based on your university campus. Kriss Akabusi presented me with a trophy and cash prize at The Grand Sheraton Hotel in Edinburgh.

Testimonials:

Project Manager at Saatchi & Saatchi:

“Gareth is one of the most talented Programmer/Developers I have ever had the pleasure of working work. So much so, that I have introduced and recommended him on to a hand full of agencies here in Cape Town and all of them have had the same kind of response as I have.”

Project Manager at Sasol:

“Even though his hourly rate is higher than the companies I have outsourced too, he has saved me money and time because of his quick understanding and dare I say genius. A better developer you will have difficulty in finding.”

Producer at Elite Systems:

“Gareth has a great understanding of various programming languages and is always willing to put maximum effort into any project. He’s very punctual and always available when you need him.”

Head of Technology at Digitalist Group:

“We’ve hired Gareth on a few occasions to deliver the j2me part of mobile campaigns and he’s proved to be a real asset. Gareth has demonstrated great ability to drive a project from concept to delivery with minimal input, work under pressure, excellent knowledge of J2ME platforms with hands on experience for a wide-range of apps (from data-driven to full-blown games). ‘Can do’ mentality, consistent, reliable. Looking forward to working with Gareth in many more projects”

Project Manager at IWICS:

“Gareth is professional in his work and responsive to our requests and communication. He completed the project on time and to specification. We were highly satisfied with his work.”

UI/UX Designer at Siemens:

“Gareth is a reliable and persistent guy that is able to pull off the seeming impossible in crazy timeframes and has a real flare for mobile games development across multiple platforms and console game development.”

Technical producer at DC Studios (in-house role) :

“Gaz is the the most enthusiastic software engineer I’ve ever worked with. He really loves what he does for a living with a passion and it shows in his work. He is high energy and tends to bolster the team’s morale with his consistent positive attitude. He picks up new technologies and platforms lightening quick, making software development in a challenging games environment look easy. I’d not hesitate to recommend him to anyone for any development position or company. Very highly recommended!”

Project Manager at YoDJ:

“Gareth met the scope of the project and even went beyond the call of duty a few times. I would definitely work and recommend Gareth for future projects.”

IT at FMC Lithium:

“I worked with Gareth on a web project, I produced some graphics while he constructed the site and liaised with the customer. He was very easy to work with and clear about the specifications of the project. Good communication and sound forward planning made the project run very smoothly and it was completed way ahead of time.“

Brands2 copy

Also check out this quick video show reel showing some of the apps on this page in action. Bear in mind this is from 2014, new one coming soon 🙂

For examples of my game development work you can see the following two videos.

My personal project which will be released in the future.

An example of my Unity abilities, music by Opal Beau.

Music video developed in Unity & After Effects for Colourdomes Taiwan, published by Future Proof record label.

OK, now on with the apps, these are all developed entirely by me as a one man programmer (obviously art and backend API are usually supplied). I receive requirements, quote, take 25% upfront and then get to work. On average an app can be completed in around 8 to 12 weeks depending on availablity and complexity. I can deliver simultaneously on iOS and Android for an extra fee (which is 90% cheaper than getting them developed separately). More magic can be worked if required, like a web version of your app, or even a standalone PC or Mac version, it’s all up to you.

APPS DEVELOPED:

Note: I have developed over 50 of my own apps/games (on many platforms), which will be documented here over time. Also note that I usually have 10+ new apps/games waiting to go on here once I am legally allowed to add them.

QUICK LINKS to the apps shown on this page, almost all Android, but also some iOS, J2ME, Unity, PC, PS2 etc. Click on links or simply scroll down to see in order.

Game based glitch art. Keep scrolling 🙂

Leave a comment