Paris is a computer scientist, game designer, writer, and artist, based in Hobart, Tasmania. He’s also doing a law degree, because apparently he didn’t have enough on.
He co-founded Secret Lab — the studio behind the beloved ABC Play School games, best known for working on the BAFTA-winning Night in the Woods and creating Yarn Spinner, the narrative tools that power DREDGE, A Short Hike, Little Kitty Big City, and thousands more games. He’s written over 20 books for O’Reilly and Wiley, talks about space on ABC Radio, occasionally teaches at the University of Tasmania, and has a PhD in Computing and a degree in medieval history (which is more useful than it sounds).
When not doing any of that, he helps run Tasmanian Game Makers (as President), helps run /dev/world (the longest-running Apple developer conference not run by Apple), and co-founded a space centre with his wife. He lives in Hobart with said wife and serves as butler to three chihuahuas and a whippet.
Products & Projects
Yarn Spinner
The industry-standard narrative tool for games. Powers DREDGE, Venba, A Short Hike, Little Kitty Big City, NORCO, Luma Island, and thousands more.
Secret Lab & Yarn Spinner
Hint Line '93
A retro video game hint line experience, featured at ACMI.
Secret Lab
I Feel Fine
A narrative adventure game about the end of the world, written by Eisner-winner Ryan North, built with Yarn Spinner. Funded by Screen Tasmania.
Secret Lab
Leonardo's Moon Ship
An adventure game about helping Leonardo da Vinci reach the moon. Character and world created by Jim Capobianco, powered by Yarn Spinner, and partially funded by Screen Tasmania and Screen Australia.
Secret Lab
Night in the Woods
BAFTA- and IGF-winning adventure game about a college dropout returning to her crumbling hometown. Praised for its writing, art, and unflinching look at small-town life. We created Yarn Spinner for Night in the Woods.
Secret Lab
Mt Pleasant
Early, early pre-production for a workplace TV sitcom set at a radio observatory in rural Tasmania.
Secret Lab
Culture
One of the first games on the iOS (then iPhone) App Store, all the way back in 2008.
A Well-Known Company
Redacted
A game to teach children important skills built for a major client.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Play School Games
Official games for Australia's beloved children's TV show, Play School, for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Art Maker
Creative art-making app for kids, part of the ABC Play School suite.
Qantas
Joey Playbox
Creative children's entertainment for in-flight use on one of the oldest and most respected airlines in the world.
CSIRO
Physical Activity Games
Exploring whether video games can help motivate people's fitness, for Australia's national laboratory.
National Museum of Australia
The Museum Game
An interactive experience that has helped thousands of school children explore and engage with the museum's collection.
TasNetworks
Bill Shock
A game to help people understand how their appliance use impacts their energy costs.
CoRE Learning Foundation
Old as Dirt & Resource, Respond Rescue!
Award-winning party games and custom Minecraft: Education Edition content to teach the next generation of STEM leaders. Minecraft content by Mars.
Australian Government
National Science Week Apps
The official National Science Week apps for Australia, built for many years running. Most recent versions by Mars.
Port Arthur Historic Site
Guide App
Visitor guide app for one of Australia's most significant heritage sites.
Fastmail
iPhone and Android App
Work for the most amazing email provider on the planet.
Mighty Games Group
Client Projects
Projects for the Australian game development powerhouse.
Studyladder
Feed a Frog
An engaging educational game for children, tied into Studyladder's classroom rewards system.
Plus hundreds more projects I can't talk about, including work for Google, Apple, a rather marvellous superhero comics publisher, a beloved cooking app for the ABC, educational games for courseware companies, and hundreds more.
Books
Work
Secret Lab
Head of Product & Creative · 2008–present
Award-winning game development studio (Night in the Woods)
West Coast Space Centre
Chair · 2023–present
Not-for-profit STEM engagement initiative
ABC
Space News Presenter · 2025–present
Monthly radio segment on space news, ABC Radio Hobart
University of Tasmania
Sessional Academic · 2008–present
Teaching and research in computing
Meebo
Product Manager · 2007–2013
Consumer web platform, acquired by Google for $100M
GovHack
Program Manager · 2018
National open-data hackathon competition
ITHINKITWORKS
Software Engineer · 2001–2007
Software engineering and consulting
Events
AUC
/dev/world + X World
The longest-running Apple developer conference not run by Apple, since 2008.
Tasmanian Game Makers
Level Up Tasmania
Tasmania's game development conference and showcase.
IFTF
NarraScope 2026
Interactive narrative and storytelling conference. Part of the Programming Group.
West Coast Space Centre
West Coast Space Show
A live space show bringing STEM engagement to regional Tasmania.
And hundreds of events, including corporate training for Apple, Google, Microsoft, and everyone in between, plus regular meetups for Tasmanian Game Makers, Inc., AUC events like XWorld and CreateWorld, and all manner of workshops. More on speaking appearances and events.
Community
Tasmanian Game Makers
President · 2019–present
Government advocacy securing policy changes and sector funding
AUC
Secretary of Executive · 2014–present
Australasian Apple University Consortium, runs /dev/world
Pearcey Foundation
Committee Member · 2014–present
Recognising contributions to the Australian ICT sector
ACS
Executive Committee Member · 2008–2020
Australian Computer Society, Gold Disruptor 2016
Skills
Technical · Product Strategy · Swift · C# · C++ · C · Rust · Python · React · TypeScript · Vite · Unity · Godot · Unreal Engine · Phaser.js · Game Development · Narrative Systems · Yarn Spinner · Ink · Mobile Dev · Android · Apple Platforms · Machine Learning · AI · Data Science · Language Design
Research & Writing · Qualitative Research · Quantitative Research · AI Governance · Technical Writing · HCI Research · Policy Analysis · Information Management · Public Speaking · Science Communication · Broadcasting · Administrative Law
Leadership · Government Advocacy · Community Building · Board Governance · Stakeholder Engagement · Event Organisation · Funding Strategy · Education · Cross-functional Teams
Education
University of New England
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) · 2018–present
Understanding how regulation actually works, particularly for AI
Tasmanian Leaders
Graduate TLP12 · 2018
Intensive year-long program developing high-potential leaders
University of Tasmania
PhD, Computer Science · 2009–2012
Managing personal information across multiple platforms
University of Tasmania
BComp (Hons), Computing · First Class Honours
Thesis: See Through Paper — Exploring PIM with RFID
University of Tasmania
BA-BComp, Medieval & Modern History, CS
Double degree in history and computer science
The Hutchins School
Secondary Education
Hobart, Tasmania
Awards
Best Customer Service or Solution
Educational Games for CoRE Learning Foundation
BAFTA Award, Best Narrative Game
Night in the Woods
Excellence in Narrative
Night in the Woods
Seumas McNally Grand Prize
Night in the Woods
Best Tasmanian Customer Service or Solution (Merit)
Yarn Spinner & Night in the Woods
Mobility Innovation of the Year
Joey Playbox for Qantas
Gold Disruptor
Best of Tablet (overall winner)
Play School Play Time
Best of Tablet – Entertainment
Play School Play Time
Best of Tablet – Learning and Education
Play School Play Time
Best ICT Solution
Go South Awards, Business Category
SnapTas
Effectiveness
Play School Art Maker
Best Application for a Tablet
Play School Art Maker
Best Children's
Play School Art Maker
Best Software Product
Play School Art Maker
Best Cultural or Lifestyle
Foodi
Best Application on a Tablet or Mobile
Play School Art Maker
Excellence in Digital Media
Export Success
President's Award for Excellence
Pearcey Award