About

I believe players remember the moments when their choices truly matter. That's why I strive to balance narrative, gameplay, and game systems, ensuring that every decision has a meaningful place in the overall player experience.

Why Storysmith

To me, Storysmith represents the combination of creativity and systems thinking. Creating a great story isn't enough. Narrative Design must be clear to the development team, support gameplay, and remain effective throughout production.

I'm David Mato (Dave), a Narrative Designer, Game Writer, and Worldbuilder. I design narrative systems, create game worlds, and produce narrative documentation that supports gameplay, production goals, and the project's long-term vision.

How I Found My Way to Narrative Design

Games have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Thanks to my father, I had access to a computer from an early age. One of the first games that truly left an impression on me was Albion, followed later by Might and Magic VII. I was fascinated by the ability to explore new worlds, uncover their history, and become part of their stories. Years later, games like The Witcher 3 only reinforced that passion.

Over time, however, I started noticing something. Many newer games were technically impressive, with increasingly realistic graphics, yet they often felt like they were missing something. Their worlds looked beautiful but lacked a sense of life. Side quests frequently felt like filler, and player choices had little impact on the overall experience.

The more I played, the more I found myself asking why some games could captivate players for dozens of hours while others were forgotten shortly after the credits rolled.

Eventually, I decided to try creating my own game.

I began studying worldbuilding, character creation, Quest Design, Game Design, and other disciplines involved in game development. The deeper I explored them, the more fascinated I became by how these different disciplines come together to shape the player's overall experience.

As time went on, I realized that I wasn't only interested in creating my own games. What truly motivates me is helping create better games in general.

I came across many projects with great ideas that never reached their full potential. Interesting worlds lacked depth, compelling characters weren't given enough room to shine, and quests presented choices without meaningful consequences. In my view, these are the details that often determine whether players remember a game for years or forget it shortly after finishing it.

That was the moment I realized what I enjoyed most: finding ways to connect narrative, gameplay, and game systems into a cohesive experience.

Since then, I have focused on Narrative Design, Worldbuilding, and Quest Design. I design stories and systems that support gameplay and create meaningful player experiences.

Looking for a Narrative Designer for your project?

Whether you're developing a new game or expanding an existing one, I'd be happy to help with Narrative Design, Quest Design, Worldbuilding, or Game Writing. Let's create a story that supports gameplay, production goals, and a memorable player experience.