TERRY ESGUERRA
Web Designer | Artist | Game Studies Scholar
ABOUT TERRYTerry is a game studies scholar, artist, web designer, and educator specializing in the theoretical and artistic dimensions of game design, procedural rhetoric, and worldbuilding. With a background in computer science and digital humanities, Terry explores the intersection of games, culture, and player experience, focusing on how interactive narratives shape meaning and emotion. Their research spans game aesthetics, agency, and simulation, with a particular interest in how games can serve as tools for mental health intervention, education, and cultural discourse.
As a lecturer in game art and development, Terry has guided students through the complexities of visual storytelling, digital painting, and interactive entertainment. Their scholarly work delves into game theory, player immersion, and AI-assisted worldbuilding, contributing to the evolving discourse on games as an expressive medium. Currently, Terry is developing Astuvania: Legacy of the Crystals, an expansive worldbuilding project that integrates deep lore, procedural generation, and artistic storytelling.
Beyond academia, Terry is an independent web designer and developer, crafting visually compelling, mobile-responsive websites for creative professionals, academic organizations, and small businesses. His design philosophy combines aesthetic intuition with functional clarity—balancing user experience, storytelling, and accessibility. With a keen eye for detail and an empathetic approach to user journeys, Terry brings websites to life that don’t just inform—but inspire.
With a vision to bridge academia and industry, Terry is dedicated to advancing game studies and digital design through critical analysis, artistic exploration, and interactive experiences that challenge conventional narratives.
PHILOSOPHY
I believe that games are more than entertainment—they are powerful vehicles for meaning, emotion, and cultural expression. As a game studies scholar, I explore how interactive systems shape narratives, how mechanics evoke emotions, and how worldbuilding constructs immersive realities that extend beyond the screen. My work bridges theory and practice, critically examining games as complex rhetorical artifacts while actively creating experiences that challenge, inspire, and transform players.
At the heart of my philosophy is the belief that games are a form of dynamic storytelling, where agency and aesthetics converge to create profound experiences. I am particularly drawn to the intersection of procedural rhetoric, player agency, and worldbuilding, seeking to understand how systems-based storytelling fosters engagement and critical thought. My research and creative practice focus on how games can be designed to evoke emotions, shape identities, and serve as tools for intervention, particularly in areas such as mental health, cultural representation, and interactive digital humanities.
I view game studies as a multidisciplinary pursuit—one that draws from art, technology, psychology, and philosophy to uncover the depth of what games can achieve. Whether through theoretical analysis, artistic expression, or game development itself, my goal is to contribute to a future where games are recognized not just as play, but as immersive spaces for reflection, connection, and transformation.
I believe that websites—much like games—are more than functional tools; they are experiences, extensions of identity, and spaces for storytelling. As a web designer and developer, I bring the same lens I use in game studies: one that seeks meaningful interaction, aesthetic coherence, and user-centered engagement.
For me, web design is a dialogue. Every element—color, type, layout, motion—is part of a visual language that communicates who you are and what you stand for. Whether designing for an artist, academic institution, or small business, I focus on clarity, emotional resonance, and strategic design that honors both form and function.
At the core of my web philosophy is the belief that good design should feel effortless, intuitive, and emotionally aligned with the person or brand it represents. I build clean, responsive, human-first websites that not only look beautiful but guide users through narrative-like flows—creating trust, curiosity, and connection along the way.
Drawing from my background in computer science and digital storytelling, I approach development not as code alone, but as a creative craft. My goal is to shape digital spaces that are not just visited—but felt.
“Curiosity about life in all of its aspects, I think, is still the secret of great creative people.”
Leo Burnett
Research Work
2020
UTILIZING AFFECTIVE LEARNING AND AESTHETIC EMOTIONS IN DESIGNING A SERIOUS GAME TO CREATE AWARENESS ON MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS
Philippine Computing Science Congress 2020
Organized by the Computing Society of the Philippines
2018
EXPLORING PHOTOREALISTIC RENDERING FOR MIXED REALITY ON MOBILE DEVICES
Philippine Computing Science Congress 2019
Organized by the Computing Society of the Philippines
2018
INTERVENTION STRATEGIES LEVERAGING LEARNING RECORD STORE USING EXPERIENCE API IN AN AFFECTIVE LEARNING ROLE-PLAYING GAME
Moodlemoot Philippines 2018
Organized by Nephilia Web Technologies
2013
BAYANI: A ROLE-PLAYING GAME ON NATIONALISM
IT Research Forum 2016
Organized by De La Salle University
2016
GAME FOR LEARNING: AN APPLICATION OF TIN CAN API AND LEARNING RECORD STORE
De La Salle University Research Congress 2016
Organized by De La Salle University