Pixel Pat: A Thrilling Sprint Through a Chip Manufacturing Plant
Client:
Intel Corp.
My Contribution:
Concept Development
Creative Strategy and Direction
Agency Management and Partnership
Project Scope and Budget
Multi-Channel Branding
Design for Accessibility
Pixel Pat is a retro-style game I conceived, directed, and promoted for Intel to mark CEO Pat Gelsinger’s first year in 2022. The challenge? Celebrate a CEO’s first-year milestones in a way that felt authentic to Intel’s engineering culture while actually being fun.
In this endless scroller, players guide a pixelated Pat through Intel’s factory, collecting wafers, dodging hazards, and unlocking real company milestones via light bulbs. Each level represented actual achievements from Pat’s first year, from factory expansions to product launches, turning corporate comms into an experience people wanted to engage with.
More than just a game, it served as a creative promotional tool, celebrating Intel’s innovations through interactive storytelling that connected with both employees and external audiences. I led the creative vision from concept to launch, designing gameplay mechanics that felt intuitive, directing the retro aesthetic that nodded to tech nostalgia, and building a social promotion strategy that drove strong engagement and brand visibility.
The strategy was simple: make corporate storytelling playable. No boring press releases, no stiff executive videos. Just a pixelated CEO jumping over obstacles while the audience learned about Intel’s transformation. It worked because it had intention, not just novelty. And honestly? It was just plain fun.
Always with intention. Never just pixels.
The game was brought to life by MVRK, the studio responsible for its development and hosting services.
Intel releases Pixel Pat, an online 8-bit game featuring its CEO Pat Gelsinger
byu/reps_up inIntelArc
hothardware.com picked up the game and gave it rave reviews, such as “Pixel Pat, a delightful 8-bit retro romp through through a chip manufacturing plant.”
club386 had this to say: Pixel Pat is a retro-style game with simple graphics that ought to run swimmingly on any of those shiny new Arc GPUs. You click to jump, and that’s about it as far as controls are concerned. The goal is to help Pat collect wafers in an Intel factory while avoiding bugs and other dangers. The game speeds up and becomes harder the further you advance.
Bunny suits are at hand to give you temporary invincibility, and by collecting light bulbs you get to learn about Intel’s past milestones. The game is free to play, and contrary to what you might think, isn’t an April fool’s.
Think you can beat my score? Head on to this link and give it a try.
Amber Bytheway is, without a doubt, one of the most talented graphic artists I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. Her work is fast, beautiful, and impeccably executed. It’s modern and impactful, but what truly sets her apart is her ability to listen and understand exactly what you’re trying to convey. She always comes up with options that are more useful and refined than anything I could have imagined.
I had the opportunity to partner with Amber on crafting our employee value proposition storytelling and assets. She brought our words and values to life in a way that was visually stunning, consistent, and meaningful. Amber has an incredible knack for translating complex ideas and difficult messages into clear, digestible, and visually captivating content. Whether it was delivering tough news or simplifying complex topics, Amber always managed to create something that resonated and connected with our audience.
If I could, I would work with Amber every day. Amber Bytheway is, without a doubt, one of the most talented graphic artists I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. Her work is fast, beautiful, and impeccably executed. It’s modern and impactful, but what truly sets her apart is her ability to listen and understand exactly what you’re trying to convey. She always comes up with options that are more useful and refined than anything I could have imagined.
I had the opportunity to partner with Amber on crafting our employee value proposition storytelling and assets. She brought our words and values to life in a way that was visually stunning, consistent, and meaningful. Amber has an incredible knack for translating complex ideas and difficult messages into clear, digestible, and visually captivating content. Whether it was delivering tough news or simplifying complex topics, Amber always managed to create something that resonated and connected with our audience.
If I could, I would work with Amber every day. She is the kind of thought partner and strategist you always want by your side. She just gets it and consistently delivers outstanding work.
Beyond her incredible skill set, Amber’s way of working and her energy are calming and supportive. She brings a level of professionalism and grace to everything she does, making every project a positive and smooth collaboration.
Amber is an absolute gem, and I can’t recommend her enough. She’d be a tremendous asset to any team lucky enough to work with her.
— Karlin Keller, Global Head of Enterprise, Employee & Transformation Communications at Intel