Alistair Aitcheson - Game Developer

Award-winning game developer, creating and self-publishing games as an independent studio since 2010.

With a portfolio that includes educational games, custom-built controllers and playable stage shows, Alistair specialises in creating welcoming, accessible interfaces that inspire joy and creativity.

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He has developed several games from concept to finished product, and brought them to market. These include games published on the Apple App Store, and alternative-controller games installed in museums and rented out for public events.

Between 2013 and 2025 Alistair was the games expert for Sparx Learning, the UK's leading digital Maths learning platform, serving over 2200 schools.

Alistair has received numerous awards and nominations at international festivals including IndieCade in Los Angeles, PLAY Hamburg, A MAZE Berlin and Game Developer's Conference

His playable stage shows see audiences join in using their phones and custom-made controllers. As host he draws on several years of theatre clown training and has earned a reputation as a fearlessly creative performer who gets everyone joining in.

Having built custom controllers using everything from barcode scanners to paper shredders, he has become a prominent creator in the alternative controller field. He was selected to host the IndieCade Games Festival's Alternative Controller livestream show throughout its three-year run.

Working with Alistair

Are you pioneering groundbreaking digital projects and need a creative software engineer to bring them to life?

Do you need someone to make your digital product welcoming, intuitive and human-centred?

With over 15 years' professional experience bringing ambitious concepts into reality, and programming expertise that spans web, cloud, desktop, microcontrollers and classic game consoles, Alistair is the multi-talented developer you need on your team.

With a playful imagination, user-centred UX approach, and the curiosity to explore and experiment, Alistair has the creative mind to solve your design challenges and the technical skill to make your vision a reality.

Portfolio

Skills

Latest Release

Skies of Numberland

Download for free on iOS and Android. Looking to help young people develop times tables skills without it feeling like a chore?

Skies of Numberland is a fast-paced, lively and accessible maths-learning game for ages 9-14. It trains factorisation skills in a non-didactic puzzle that gets players using their own smarts, not just repeating rote memorisation.

Built in Unity entirely by Alistair, Skies of Numberland demonstrates his ability to build responsive, lively and intuitive interfaces, and design effective playful learning experiences.

Download Skies of Numberland from Google Play

Live Projects

Outside of his professional projects, Alistair explores the boundaries of play with his touring stage shows and through classic game emulation.

Upcoming Performances

26 - 28 Sep 2025 - QGCon, Montreal
15 Oct 2025 - Front Room Weston Super Mare
26 Oct 2025 - MCM Comic Con, London

Magic Box

Alistair is also the creator of Alistair's Magic Box - a hacked Sega Genesis emulator used for glitchy and alternative ways of playing classic games, including as Sonic the Hedgehog speedrunning challenges.