Summary:

 

One of my lifetime goals has been to develop AAA games. Recently completed a Masters of Science in Computer Science in the fields of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and Game User Research (GUR). My research focuses on modifying GUR methods and tools specifically for independent developers.

 

Education:

 

Masters of Science in Computer Science                                 Oshawa, Ontario                      Aug 2014 – Aug 2016

University of Ontario Institute of Technology – Human Computer Interaction and Games User Research

  • Volunteered and presented at IEEE G.E.M. 2014, the paper was titled: Physiological Acrophobia Evaluation Through in Vitro Exposure in a Virtual Reality CAVE
  • Volunteered at CHIPlay 2014 to provide IT and logistical support to the presenters and organizers
  • GDA 2015 scholarship recipient for an all access pass to GDC, studio tours, VIP Q&A seminars and luncheons
  • CHI 2016 LBW publication titled: Games User Research for Indies
  • Computer science representative for Graduate Student Council

 

Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours)                       Oshawa, Ontario                      Sept 2010 – Apr ‘14

University of Ontario Institute of Technology – Game Development & Entrepreneurship, minor in Marketing

  • Placed on the President’s List and the Dean’s List multiple times
  • Vice President of the Game Development Society & Leader of Scorching South Studios development team

 

Work Experience:

 

Teaching Assistant: Game Design & Production                       Oshawa, Ontario                      Sept 2013 – Dec '16

University of Ontario Institute of Technology

  • Developed a new gamified experience point grading system in conjunction with the professors goals
  • Assessed classes of 50 to 80 game design students on oral exams, tests, papers, blogs, board games and digital games
  • Developed assessments, performed tutorial and lecture sessions on game design theory, practical application using Unity and paper prototyping

 

User Research Moderator                                                        Toronto, Ontario                      June 2015 – Sept '15

Ubisoft Toronto

  • Conducted 20 player appreciation tests for several Ubisoft titles in development and provided initial analysis on playtest findings
  • Recruited participants to participate in playtests that correlated with the lead designers persona
  • Developed user test reports highlighting main issues and results from the questionnaires
  • Performed qualitative analysis techniques on questionnaire responses to gather quantitative data for repots

 

Game & Level Designer, User Researcher (Internship)            Montreal, Quebec                    April 2014 – July '14

Ubisoft Academia Game Lab Competition – Book Brawl

  • Developed a competitive 3D multiplayer game in a 26 person team: Across multiple dimensions 3 factions of cocky spellcasters engage in a game of cat and mouse for the possession of the ultimate tome of knowledge
  • Designed and tested core mechanics from conception to implementation and polish
  • Conducted two user tests using qualitative and quantitative mixed methods to improve design

 

Level Designer, User Researcher (Competition)                      Oshawa, Ontario                     Nov 2013 – April '14

Ubisoft Academia Game Lab Competition – Clan Combat

  • Developed a competitive 3D multiplayer game in a 8 person team: Rival aliens clash in a fierce struggle for food on an uninhabited planet their survival depends on the alliance between the primal hunters and the intelligent gatherers
  • Rapidly prototyped level designs using Unity3D and designed secondary game mechanics
  • Conducted three user tests using mainly qualitative methods to improve design

 

Technical Support (Internship)                                                Shatin, NT Hong Kong              June 2013 – Aug '13

DNET Solution

  • Completely redesigned and rebuilt DNET’s website from the ground up following minimalist design
  • Performed functional testing and demonstration of DNET products to clients and during conferences
  • Participated in a sales team visiting clients across Hong Kong, running sales presentations and tech demo’s
  • Setup equipment and fixed broken hardware that clients had sent in for repair
  • Wrote technical documentation using Adobe Illustrator and performed research presentations

 

Vice President (Volunteer)                                                      Oshawa, Ontario                    Sept 2012 – April '14

Game Development Society – UOIT and Durham College

  • Organized, budgeted and advertised events such as the Great Canadian Appathon, Global Game Jam, a trip to the 2012 and 2013 Montreal International Game Summit and UOIT Game Con
  • Conducted group activities, seminars and workshops for 20-40 society members a week

 

Accounting Assistant                                                                Toronto, Ontario                    May 2012 – Aug '12

SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.

  • Provided support for financial analysts moving from Job Costing System (JCS) to a newer Oracle financial system
    • Took part in training seminars and taught other financial analysts how to use the software
    • Converted income statements, transfers and budgets from JCS to Oracle
  • Created accounting journal entries using the JCS and Oracle systems
    • Using Excel for RAW data and online Oracle and JCS modules
  • Consolidated and verified income statements and budgets
  • Navigated the corporate extranet searching for proof of payments and prepared them for archiving
    • Requested archived files and searched through different financial reports for invoices and receipts
  • Wrote Excel VBA macros to automate redundant and cumbersome day-to-day tasks, increasing efficiency

 

Assistant Project Coordinator                                                 Toronto, Ontario                    May 2011 – Aug '11

SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.

  • Developed monthly progress reports and other corporate documents by coordinating with several subsections of an EPCM team working on the Mina De Cobre Panama mining project
  • Created complex Excel spreadsheets that organised the layout engineers workflow in an easy to read manner
  • Developed organisational charts showing the management structure of different stages of the project
  • Completed training for Microstation V8 XM
  • Revised and edited engineering layout drawings for a mining facility prepared by layout engineers
  • Prepared Process Flow Diagrams using CAD software (PFD’s)

 

Awards & Achievements:

 

  • 2015 IGDA Scholar
  • Ubisoft Academia Best Programming trophy – Clan Combat by Team Phoenix
  • Placed first at the 2014 DECAU Provincials for the Business-to-Business case competition
  • UOIT’s Game of the Year trophy – Red Dawn by Scorching South Studios
  • UOIT’s Best Third Year Game trophy – Red Dawn by Scorching South Studios
  • UOIT’s Best Gameplay trophy – Red Dawn by Scorching South Studios
  • Ubisoft Academia Best Marketing Strategy trophy – Project Euphoria by Euphoria Origins
  • UOIT $5,000 Award of Recognition for high academic achievement
  • UOIT $2,500 International Education Scholarship
  • Third place at FBIT International Photo Contest