QUALIFICATIONS

Software engineer with ten years of experience in the games industry. Generalist, but primary areas of interest and expertise are AI, gameplay, and multiplayer systems.

EXPERIENCE

AI/Gameplay Programmer, 2K Marin, Novato, CA

(Mar 2008 – Present)

§ XCOM (Xbox 360, PC): 1^st person shooter (FPS) game.

· Performed technical evaluation, documentation, initial groundwork and bug fixes to expand a single player vertical slice to support multiple players.

· Implemented incapacitation/revival mechanics for multiplayer co-op.

· Created HUD systems for fast prototyping of co-op game objectives and mechanics: squad status, radar, incapacitation/revival, and a system to add custom HUD elements via scripting.

· Created a co-op game pace manager inspired by the AI Director of Left 4 Dead.

§ Bioshock 2 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC): 1^st person shooter (FPS) game.

· Contributed to AI, gameplay, and tools using C++, UnrealScript and UnrealEd.

· AI character and behavior implementation: Brute Splicer, Big Sister, Alpha Series Big Daddy.

· Prototyped the player Drill Dash ability and other underwater player movement and abilities.

· Extended and supported the scripting system used by level designers.

· Added functionality to GUI tools: JIRA bug reporting, UnrealEd actor browser with search, other UI and display enhancements that improved usability and productivity.

Senior Programmer, Secret Level Inc. (Sega), San Francisco, CA

(Jan 2007 – Mar 2008)

§ Golden Axe: Beast Rider (Xbox 360, PS3): 3^rd person action/adventure 3D combat game.

§ Created a tactical AI system that used behaviors created in a visual hierarchical state machine editor.

§ Led a small group of AI designers and scripters, enabling them to implement character behaviors.

§ Developed AI and gameplay in Lua and C++. Used tools such as the Havok Behavior Tool for animations and an in-house tool for authoring hierarchical state machines.

Programmer, BottleRocket Entertainment, San Diego, CA

(Oct 2005 – Jan 2007)

§ Xiaolin Showdown (PS2, PSP): 3^rd person arena fighting 3D action game.

§ Created tech and tools for a proprietary PS2/PSP game engine using C and C++.

§ Created an effects scripting and simulation system, along with a GUI tool to edit and preview effects.

§ Implemented save/load systems and managed TRC compliance for memory cards.

Game Developer, Mobliss Inc, Seattle, WA

(Feb 2005 – Jun 2005)

§ Slyder (BREW Mobile): 2D puzzle maze strategy game.

Software Engineer, Valve Corporation, Bellevue, WA

(Jan 2000 – Oct 2003)

§ Counter-Strike, Half-Life, Team Fortress, Day of Defeat, Half-Life Source

§ Developed 1^st person shooter (FPS) games for PC using C and C++.

§ Implemented NPC AI, game rules, weapons, HUD, effects, and world objects.

§ Added multiplayer features and addressed security issues in multiplayer components.

Software Engineer, Independent

(May 1999 – Jan 2000)

§ Member of the team that developed Counter-Strike for Half-Life.

§ Developed Phineas Bot, a multiplayer AI (“bot”) for Half-Life, using C and C++.

SKILLS

Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, PC, PS2, PSP
Languages: C, C++, Lua, UnrealScript
Engines: Unreal, Half-Life, Source
Middleware: Havok Behavior, Havok Behavior Tool
Design tools: UnrealEd, Hammer, Maya (as a design tool via plug-ins)

Proficiency in many tools related to game software development, including:

Microsoft Visual Studio/C++
Microsoft Xbox 360 Game Disc Authoring Tool
Dev kits for Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, and PSP
ProDG tools for building and debugging on PS3, PS2 and PSP
GCC, Makefiles, and related building tools
Perforce, Subversion, Microsoft Visual Source Safe, CVS
JIRA, Bugzilla, TestTrack, Hansoft, Mantis, PVCS Tracker

General understanding of most game subsystems such as gameplay, AI, animation, physics, client/server networking and messaging, input, and HUD.
Experience with Windows GUI programming in C++ to create applications and tools.
Familiar with cross-platform development, environments, and processes.
Ability to work through problems by using not only personal knowledge, but also the wisdom of other people and sources such as books and the Internet.
Strong ability to communicate with designers, animators, and artists to help them with day to day issues and enable them to add content and features to the game.
A proactive interest in spreading good development processes and practices to my team and my company.

EDUCATION

Western Michigan University (September 1996 – April 2001)

Majors: Computer Science, Philosophy

Minors: Mathematics, Astronomy

Organizations: Upsilon Pi Epsilon (Honor Society for Computing Sciences)