Eric Stein

Eric Stein is a game development instructor at Trinity Western University and Development Director at Electronic Arts, contributing to major titles like FIFA 23 and FC 24. He holds an MA in Interdisciplinary Humanities (TWU, 2018) and a BA in English with distinction (SFU, 2016). His research focuses on narrative design, game mechanics, and philosophical analysis of AAA and tabletop games. Notable works include studies on FromSoftware’s Souls series, Kentucky Route Zero, and tabletop RPGs like Dream Askew.

Research interests span literary analysis of game mechanics, techno-ecological themes in Starfield, and zoopolitical theory in Dark Souls. He teaches courses on game aesthetics, project management, and interactive storytelling. Awards include the SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship and TWU’s Humanities Award.

His publications analyze AAA titles (e.g., Starfield’s environmental narrative) and indie games (e.g., Trophy Dark’s failure mechanics). He actively contributes to the Canadian Game Studies Association and International Game Developers Association. Courses taught include GAME 140 (Game Design Fundamentals) and GAME 471 (Video Game Aesthetics).