Matthew Birch — Senior JavaScript Game Developer

About

I’m a Senior JavaScript Game Developer specialising in iGaming. I focus on building games that are visually polished, technically solid, and enjoyable to play. I like working closely with teams, solving tricky problems, and making sure the end result feels right.

Outside of work, I spend a lot of time on music. I’ve played in bands around Manchester and now write and record from my home studio. It’s a creative outlet that balances the more technical side of game development.

I also have a chow chow called Bear, who keeps me active with long walks and fresh air. I often bring my camera along, combining my love for photography with exploring new places together. It’s a good way to step back from the screen and come back to projects with a clear head.

Work Experience

Lead Game Developer

Crucible · Full-time

Sep 2020 – Present •

Sheffield, England, United Kingdom

At Crucible, we are dedicated to creating high-quality slot games in a highly competitive market. As a Lead Developer, I oversee the game development process, train new team members, and support developers by addressing challenges and fostering collaborative problem-solving.

Drive the development of innovative and engaging slot games from concept to completion.
Mentor and train new team members.
Collaborate across the team to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues.

PixiJSES6AWSEC2WebpackGSAPTexturePackerffmpegChrome DebuggerInternal FrameworksRollbarGitTrello

JS Game Developer

IGT · Full-time

Dec 2016 – Sep 2020 •

Manchester, United Kingdom · Remote

Developed high-quality, well-designed games across Casino and Instant Win categories, delivering titles such as Cleopatra, Wishwood, and Coin O' Mania. Worked independently while collaborating with artists and producers to meet aesthetic and functional standards.

Develop and implement engaging games with a strong emphasis on design and performance.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver polished final products.
Maintain high code quality and best practices.

PixiJSES6RequireJSGSAPTexturePackerHowlerJSaudiospriteChrome DebuggerJenkinsPerforceJIRAAgile

Junior JS Developer

Pulsar healthcare · Full-time

Mar 2016 – Dec 2016 •

Cheadle, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom · On-site

Diverse front-end role focused on animation and interactive design for international pharmaceutical clients: interactive sales presentations, large touchscreen event applications, HTML emails, and websites.

Primary front-end developer for animations and interactive elements.
Organised and owned project timelines and deliverables.
Produced videos to support pitches for major healthcare companies.

HTMLCSS3Node/NPMGulpUglifyjQuerySASS/SCSSFoundation for EmailsGitAgnitioVeevaAdobe CC

Web Design and Developer

Self-employment

Jan 2016 – Mar 2016 •

Manchester, United Kingdom

Freelance web development across several client projects, managing delivery end-to-end while building client relationships and asserting product direction.

This period allowed me to hone my skills in front-end and back-end development, deepen my understanding of client needs, and adapt quickly to new technologies and requirements.

I focused on improving code quality, learning best practices, and delivering tailored solutions that balanced technical excellence with user experience.

HTMLCSS3Node/NPMGulpSASS/SCSSBootstrapGit

Junior Software Developer

Bright Future Software

Sep 2014 – Jan 2016 •

MediaCityUK

Completed my software development apprenticeship at Bright Future Software, gaining hands-on experience in both independent and Scrum team environments. Built web applications for commercial clients, developed strong front-end skills, and contributed to real-world projects while receiving formal training and mentorship.

HTMLCSS3JavaScriptPHPLaravelMySQLGitAgile

Portfolio

Here’s a small snapshot of projects I’ve worked on over the years. They represent a mix of styles, technologies, and challenges I’ve tackled in my career. While I’ve worked on many other projects that pushed my skills further, these give a good idea of the type of work I’ve been involved in and the approaches I take to development.

Websites

Prefab sprout books

Custom site from scratch with integrated checkout and PayPal, regularly updated for new releases.

PayPal CheckoutCustom build

Funhouse Nursery

End-to-end photography and custom site to showcase the nursery and its staff.

PhotographyWebsite

Optimality

Custom WordPress solution built for full content control and a modern, flexible design.

WordPressCustom CMS

Compensation Experts

Custom WordPress landing page focused on conversion and clear calls to action.

Landing pageCRO

wafitness

Site built on a website builder with custom overrides for unique client needs.

E-commerceCustom

Abscaff

Custom WordPress site for a scaffolding company, built from scratch with a tailored CMS.

Custom CMSBranding

Pinpoint Partners

Bespoke WordPress site for a recruitment firm, designed for performance and easy content updates.

WordPressRecruitment

32BRAINS

Custom site for a creative agency, featuring a portfolio showcase and custom contact form.

Custom CMSAgency

Games

Slot & Casino Games

Over 30 slot and instant win games delivered for leading iGaming studios. My work spans concept, prototyping, production, UI design, with a focus on gameplay, animation, and technical polish.

Slot Games Instant Win HTML5 PixiJS GSAP Performance Animation

Frameworks & Tooling

Major contributor to internal game frameworks and developer tools, improving build pipelines, asset management, and debugging. My code helps teams ship faster and maintain high standards.

Internal Frameworks Tooling Webpack TexturePacker Debugging Automation

Collaboration & Mentoring

I work closely with artists, producers, and developers to deliver polished games. I mentor new team members, share best practices, and help solve tough technical challenges.

Mentoring Collaboration Agile Code Reviews Teamwork

Misc

Healthcare agency projects

Interactive projects using new technologies. I also produced a companion video playlist showcasing related work.

InteractiveVideo

Recommendations

Louis Atkinson

Developer/Colleague

“It has been a pleasure working with Matthew… He is approachable, friendly, and always willing to provide guidance. As a lead developer, Matthew is extremely knowledgeable and has a deep understanding of both the technical and architectural aspects of development… Overall, Matthew is not only a highly skilled developer and leader but also someone who genuinely cares about the people he works with.”

Crucible Gaming

Shafeeq Muhammad

Former Manager/Trainer

“Matthew consistently produced high quality work and followed direct orders, they had an excellent work ethic which made my job very easy. Matthew completed all of their work on time, never missed a meeting and was hungry to learn more. Overall, my experience with Matthew was an enjoyable one and I would recommend them to any company.”

Bright Future Software

Ryan Bibby

Developer/Colleague

“Matthew is an exceptional front end designer who I have had the pleasure to work with for the last 18 months. His attention to even the smallest of details is extraordinary and his knowledge of HTML/CSS is second to none. I have always been impressed by his work pace and commitment…”

Bright Future Software

Fred Durst

Limp Bizkit

“Does anybody really know the secret? Or the combination for this life and where they keep it? It's kinda sad when you don't know the meanin' But everything happens for a reason (Everything happens for a reason) I don't even know what I should say 'Cause I'm an idiot, a loser, microphone abuser I analyze every second I exist Beatin' up my mind every second with my fists”

Bad Joke..

Contact

For professional inquiries, feel free to reach out on LinkedIn or send me a direct message on Instagram.

Connect with me on LinkedIn Send me a DM on Instagram