Matthew Holzer

Video Game Developer & Software Engineer

Resume IconRESUME GitHub IconGITHUB LinkedIn IconLINKEDIN Email IconEMAIL

About Me

About Me

Hello! I’m Matthew Holzer, an aspiring Video Game Developer passionate about creating interactive worlds that blend technology and creativity. I’m currently pursuing a B.S. in Computer Science with a minor in Digital and Creative Technology at The College of New Jersey, where I focus on game design, programming, and immersive technologies like virtual reality.

My work spans a variety of projects, from developing a VR-based CPR training simulator that teaches life-saving skills, to researching decision-making in virtual environments, to designing tactical RPG systems inspired by classics like Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy Tactics. These experiences have strengthened my skills in video game development and working on collaborative projects.

Outside of coursework, I serve as President of the Kappa Theta Pi Professional Technology Fraternity and am an active member of Association for Computing Machinery where I serve as Outreach Chair, and Digit.ALL. My goal as a Game Developer is to create games that challenge, inspire, and leave lasting impressions on players.

Matthew Holzer

Experience

Undergraduate Researcher – Virtual Reality

The College of New Jersey

Jan. 2024 – May. 2025
▼
  • Conducted undergraduate research in Virtual Reality, focusing on moral decision-making in a virtual environment.
  • Designed and developed a Unity-based VR simulation to study ethical choices using the Trolley Problem framework.
  • Explored the impact of avatar characteristics (animated vs. static) on participants’ empathy and decision-making.
  • Researched ethical theories including utilitarianism and deontology to inform simulation design and experimental methodology.
  • Created reusable, well-structured simulation code to be used by future research students for participant testing.
  • Gained experience in project planning, pseudo-coding, and iterative prototyping within a collaborative research environment.
Unity C# Virtual Reality Research Collaboration Project Planning

Fraternity President

Kappa Theta Pi Professional Technology Fraternity

May. 2024 – May. 2025
▼
  • Presided over organizational meetings and guided strategic planning for the semester.
  • Set vision, mission, and goals while representing the organization to campus and national leadership.
  • Managed and coordinated a team of 18 executive board members to execute initiatives effectively.
  • Revamped the rush/pledge process, resulting in a measurable increase in new member recruitment.
  • Expanded social events and campus involvement to strengthen community, engagement, and belonging.
  • Collaborated with national organization leadership on policy, programming, and organizational alignment.
Team Management Event Coordination Communication Collaboration

Computer Science Peer Mentor

The College of New Jersey

Aug. 2024 – Present
▼
  • Assisted students during lectures and labs with topics such as variables, control structures, object-oriented programming, and basic algorithms.
  • Collaborated with course instructors to deliver targeted in-class and lab assistance tailored to student needs.
  • Enhanced personal expertise in computer science topics through teaching and peer collaboration.
Java Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) Technical communication

Undergraduate Researcher - Human Computer Interactions

The College of New Jersey

Aug. 2025 – Present
▼
  • Conducting undergraduate research in Human-Computer to enhance an American Sign Language (ASL) recognition system using Google MediaPipe.
  • Expanding recognition capabilities to include two-handed signs.
  • Improving existing detection features for greater accuracy and reliability.
  • Designing and implementing a comprehensive testing process to evaluate system performance.
Python Google MediaPipe Computer vision techniques

Featured Projects

WTMMTS

Where The Moon Meets The Sun

Independent project developing a tactical role-playing game using Unity. Inspired by games such as Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy Tactics, this game has the player strategically maneuver their units to defeat opposing enemy units. Each map presents different objectives, such as routing all enemies, defeating the boss unit, or safely moving all units to the escape point.

Video Demo See More GitHub
Rat

RatKyll and Hyde

Worked with a five-person team that developed a local couch co-op multiplayer game in Unity set in a lively restaurant and kitchen environment. The game featured a single mode in which players competed to get as much food into a shared pot as possible while sabotaging each other, blending competitive and cooperative elements to create strategic and interactive gameplay. We implemented dynamic environmental interactions—such as hazards, scripted events, and physics-based challenges—while optimizing for a smooth, balanced shared-screen experience.

Video Demo GitHub
CPR

CPR Simulator

Worked in a team of four to develop a VR CPR training simulator in Unity for Oculus headsets, designed to increase immersion and provide realistic, hands-on CPR practice. Implemented core gameplay features including a tutorial mode with real-time performance feedback, a chest compression rhythm minigame that tracks speed and accuracy, and a free play mode with multiple emergency scenarios such as choking, drowning, heart attacks, and smoke inhalation. Integrated interactive crowd control mechanics requiring players to calm bystanders before performing CPR, enhancing realism and scenario variety.

Video Demo GitHub

Projects

LeGalBTQ
February 2025
  • Built a secure full-stack web application using Ruby on Rails and PostgreSQL to inform LGBTQ+ individuals of legal rights and connect them with LGBTQ+ friendly lawyers.
  • Enabled case reporting and lawyer matching features, allowing clients to describe incidents and be connected with lawyers who specialize in LGBTQ+ legal issues
  • Created a searchable and filterable database of legislation relating to LGBTQ+ issues by state, enabling users to stay informed on relevant legal developments
Ruby Git Linux
WebScrapper Program
November 2024
  • Developed a Python web scraper to analyze the credibility of BestBuy product reviews.
  • Utilized Selenium WebDriver to automate site navigation and data extraction.
  • Implemented review analysis to assess authenticity and user sentiment.
  • Demonstrated expertise in web automation, data scraping, and content evaluation.
Python Selenium

ClickCanvas
December 2024
  • Designed an innovative drawing application enabling users to draw using nose or hand movements.
  • Utilized computer vision techniques to detect facial landmarks and hand gestures for hands-free interaction.
  • Built with Python, integrating graphics and image processing libraries for real-time tracking.
Python MediaPipe
Command Line Shell Interface
February 2024
  • Developed a custom command-line shell in C with dynamic directory-aware prompts.
  • Implemented process creation, command execution, and directory navigation.
  • Added support for input/output redirection and inter-process communication via pipes.
  • Integrated command history functionality for efficient user interaction.
C Linux
Command Line Chat Room
April 2024
  • Developed a multi-client command-line chat application using sockets for real-time communication.
  • Implemented chat rooms with user-defined names, client color-coding, and server-managed room allocation.
  • Designed a server capable of broadcasting messages, tracking connected clients, and handling dynamic chat rooms.
  • Ensured smooth client connections, disconnections, and room selection with an intuitive user interface.
C Linux Socket Programming
Hackathon Scheduler
February 2025
  • Developed a Ruby-based Scheduler application to automate room scheduling for university events, considering constraints like capacity, availability, and room type.
  • Implemented file handling with Ruby’s CSV library to read and write room reservation data, and designed algorithms for generating scheduling plans based on user input.
  • Ensured scheduling constraints, such as room size, computer availability, and proximity, were met for event planning, outputting results in CSV format.
  • Demonstrated the application’s functionality in a technical review, highlighting design decisions and efficient problem-solving approaches.
Ruby Git Linux
Contact Me

Resume Icon
GitHub Icon
LinkedIn Icon
Email Icon