I have worked in the games industry for over a year. During this time, I've worked on a number of projects, mostly bug fixes or improvements to games prior to release. However, I worked on the game "Family Feud" for GameBoy Advance from beginning to end, and was one of only two programmers working full time on this project. I have also worked on a "homebrew" Nintendo DS project for a start-up company.
Before that, I worked in the Visual Simulation industry for four years as a software engineer. In my spare time, I wrote two small games for GameBoy Advance, including a 3D wireframe version of "Tempest" (which has now also been ported to Nintendo DS). My experience with this console gives me practical knowledge of working with resource limited systems, though I am also experienced in many other areas.
I enjoy working on a project from the start and seeing it through to completion, ultimately creating a product that was fun to work on as well as play. My enthusiasm for the job makes me a valuable member of any team.
One year's experience in the games industry
Worked on a number of games for PC/PS2 ("AMF Xtreme Bowling 2006", "Chronicles of a Vampire Hunter", "S.O.E: Operation Avalanche"), and "Family Feud" for GameBoy Advance.
Worked on a "homebrew" game for Nintendo DS for a startup company.
Written a version of "Tempest" for GameBoy Advance and Nintendo DS.
Written an image warper for Nintendo DS.
Written a top-down driving game for GameBoy Advance.
Freelance writing for computer and technology magazines ("Amiga Active" and "Digital").
C/C++, Windows (Microsoft Visual Studio), Linux (KDevelop, GCC compiler and GDB debugger), OpenGL, 68000 Assembly language.
ProDG for Gameboy Advance.
Four years experience in the Visual Simulation industry.
Softimage 3D, Premiere, Autodesk Viz.
Visualisation degree from the University of Teesside. This degree covered a wide range of computing subjects, primarily focussing on graphics, animation, programming and games.
3 A-Levels (Physics: A, Chemistry: B and Maths: C ) from Egglescliffe Sixth Form College in 1996.
Worked on a "homebrew" game for Nintendo DS.
Programmer on Gameboy Advance version of "Family Feud". Worked extensively on state-flow of the game, and question handling.
Additional programming on PC/PS2 version of "Family Feud". Implemented question class and loading code.
Additional programming on PC/PS2 game "AMF Xtreme Bowling 2006". Made improvements to collision response, including adding pin wobble.
Additional programming (localisation work and bug fixing) on PC games "Chronicles of a Vampire Hunter" and "S.O.E: Operation Avalanche".
Wrote a 3D model loader, including loading of textures, for the Gizmondo hand-held console.
Performing acceptance tests for software prior to release.
Customer support and bug fixing.
Member of development team for a graphics API designed for simulation, and other projects and in-house tools. Assisted in porting API to Linux.
Wrote code for demos to be displayed at trade shows.
Wrote code for the T89C51RD2 microcontroller, in order for it to act as a controller for an Image Generator.
Wrote diagnostics for an Image Generator.
Writing opinion pieces and reviews on a freelance basis.
Wrote script to automatically set up and run physical simulation scenarios from user input, removing the need for the user to set up all objects in the scene manually.
Designed and implemented the department's intranet site, which included animations edited with Adobe Premiere.
I have a passion for game development because I believe games are an important emerging art form. As a programmer, games are the greatest opportunity to work on an artistic project, and create something that people will potentially remember for years to come. Nowhere else in software development is it possible to find such a broad and interesting range of challenges, nor to have the greatest sense of accomplishment when the finished product eventually reaches the shelves. I am well suited to the logical thinking required for solving the unique problems of game development, and enjoy the challenge of such tasks. I am more interested in working on games themselves rather than tools, though I am interested in all aspects of game programming. My work in the past has included writing the states of a game and the logic to flow between them (Family Feud, GBA), approximate matching of strings, and processing spreadsheet data into a game-suitable format. In the future, I would like to work on AI as well.
I enjoy many genres of games; mostly those where there is some element of strategy involved or technique to be mastered. For example, my favourite games in recent years is the "Advance Wars" series, in which complex strategy emerges from the simple rules of the game. I also find pick-up-and-play games such as "Worms" or puzzle games like "Lumines" or "Diner Dash" to be highly enjoyable. Additionally, I find some open-ended games, such as "Elite 2: Frontier", to be extremely compelling, as I like the idea of an alternate life within a game.
Outside my interest in games, I enjoy comedy - both live and televised - and I try to attend the Edinburgh festival every year. I also have diverse musical tastes, ranging from the Canadian band "The Vincent Black Shadow" to the Irish cabaret singer Camille O'Sullivan.
Currently living in Middlesbrough, England.
Check out my demos at: http://www.vertex.ukfsn.org
or e-mail me at: games@vertex.ukfsn.org