Name: Pittsburgh Unreal Group January 2026 Online Meeting
Start: 2026-01-17T20:30:00-05:00
End: 2026-01-17T21:30:00-05:00

Boost Unreal skills with a welcoming online community; learn practical tips, hear real-world dev stories, and connect with fellow creators.

Pittsburgh Unreal Group January 2026 Online Meeting

Agenda

8:30 PM:

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Hosted By

Ryan Lee Eicheldinger (UNREAL RYAN), Executive Director & Chief of Game Development

🏆Award Winning Game DEV🎮Executive Director & Chief of Game DEV @Unreal Engine Pittsburgh🕹️DEV @ NVIDIA🎮Community Director & DEV @*WVU-Reed College of Media-MRG🕹️Professional Game DEV Student @Harvard University

Ryan Lee Eicheldinger's journey began with a spark of creativity at Manticore Games, where he excelled as a Freelance Character Designer & Associate Art Director. His innovative spirit found a home at MonRiverGames, where, despite the challenges, he thrived as an Interdisciplinary Game Developer & Community Outreach Director. However, he stepped down from his higher roles so that someone else on the team could have an opportunity, which was unfortunately taken advantage of by the Director.

Amidst his numerous accomplishments, Ryan Lee Eicheldinger's role as a whistleblower is perhaps one of his most defining moments. His decision to expose the unfair practices at MonRiverGames, a non-profit volunteer game studio partnered with West Virginia University (WVU), marked a turning point in his career. The studio, led by a WVU Professor associated with the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), was accused of not crediting its volunteers, primarily WVU students, for their contributions to game titles. Ryan Lee Eicheldinger's courageous stand brought to light the importance of recognition and respect for intellectual contributions in the gaming world.

Scholar and the Innovator

A relentless pursuit of knowledge took Ryan Lee Eicheldinger to Harvard University, where he explored Computer Science for Professional Game Development. His leadership at Unreal Engine Pittsburgh as Executive Director and Chief of Game Development reflects his unwavering commitment to excellence.

Ryan Lee Eicheldinger's passion for education is evident in his roles as a Visiting Professor at institutions like WVU, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), University of Pittsburgh (PITT), Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), and Westmoreland County Community College (WCCC). His ambition to bring Harvard University’s Computer Science Certification Course to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,

https://communities.unrealengine.com/u/mbmhg5/

https://www.monrivergames.com/profile/RyanLeeEicheldinger/profile

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleeeicheldinger/

https://www.facebook.com/RyanLeeEicheldinger

https://www.youtube.com/@unrealryan

https://www.tiktok.com/@unrealryanlee

https://musicofpittsburgh.com/ryan/

Patrick McKenzie, Registered Architect & Emeritus Founder

I am an architect who uses Unreal Engine 5 for architectural visualization.

Rob Milliken, Unreal Engine Adviser & Collaborative Team Lead

I have a background in everything from 6510 assembly language to Blueprints. Personally I use the Unreal Engine for general applications. Applications I've created include prototypes in altered reality to assist surgeons in the operating room (the ability to call up images on voice command via the internet), assistance for the visually impaired (visual that floats where a person can see better for people affected by macular degeneration), and childrens books where the pages come to life and you can interact/quiz the characters for context.

Wendy Sherer, Event & Social Media Manager

Complete your event RSVP here: https://communities.unrealengine.com/events/details/epic-games-pittsburgh-presents-pittsburgh-unreal-group-january-2026-online-meeting/.

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Pittsburgh Unreal Group January 2026 Online Meeting

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