Resume

For those that prefer, here is:

My LinkedIn Profile

The Visual Version of my Career

The Moby Games

Also just my plain old resume

Christopher L. Kao

Objective

To use my creativity, project management skills, and design knowledge to produce fun video games.

Experience

Music Mastermind, Calabases, CA     2/12 – Present

Senior Game Designer

• Lead design on Apple iOS and OSX platfroms on Zya, a social, online, game with over 150k registered users.  www.Zyamusic.com

• Design in-game mechanics, UX, and monetization mechanics for Zya.

• Represent company and design in direct meetings with Apple representatives.

• Analyze user testing and make design models off of user feedback.

Break Media, Los Angeles, CA     6/10 – 1/12

Game Designer & Web Editor

• Designed all aspects of social media games with focus on gameplay mechanics, levels, monetization, and virality.

• Led on and off site development teams of over 20 members during production process of flash, social media, and iPhone games, setting schedule, ensuring quality, and delivering product on time and on budget.

• Worked directly and acted as point of contact with clients including Starbucks, Universal Pictures, Lionsgate Films, Jack Daniels, and Trojan to deliver games based on client licenses.

• Assisted in setting business direction of the gaming department, including focus of department, size of team, and marketing direction.

• Interviewed and trained new designers in all aspects of game design, with focus on production and level design.

Disney Interactive Media,  Salt Lake City, UT     12/09 – 5/10

Development Support

• Quality test and sanity check builds for major Disney/Pixar franchise on PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii

• Assist development team in capturing video for marketing

• Write test plans and build notes for daily builds, working with QA Lead to ensure quality

Sensory Sweep Studios,  Salt Lake City, UT     1/07 – 3/09

Lead Designer

• Lead Designer for TNA: Impact 2, a major sports franchise on Nintendo DS

• Managed a team of 3 designers, 5 programmers, and 6 artists in the creation of licensed game

• Set scheduling, priority, and evaluated feasibility during project cycle

• Created and edited game play mechanics, User Interface, storylines, and in-game dialogue

• Used game engine to script events, designed levels on Wii, PS2, and PC

• Designed, implemented, and produced four titles from concept to ship, including critically acclaimed My Chinese Coach

• Represented PR for Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends (DS) at International Comic-con 2007, including multiple public presentations and interviews with press

• Wrote 6 game design documents, 10 pitch documents, and 1 published game manual

• Conducted market research on product placement, feasibility, and consumer wants

Japanese Exchange Teaching Programme (JET) – Namegawa Middle School,

Namegawa, Japan  7/04 – 8/06

Assistant English Teacher

• Taught English and international relations to over 500 students at 1 middle school and 2 elementary schools

• Designed and implemented full year academic English language curriculums for 6 different grade levels

• Studied Japanese video game culture, including differences in market wants, story telling, and level design

Vivendi Universal Games, Culver City, CA     1/04 – 7/04

Quality Assurance Tester

• Quality-tested 3 major franchise video games across multiple platforms, including PS2, Xbox, & Game Boy Advance

• Modified 3 existing test plans to suit project needs and produce greatest efficiency

• Assisted producers in development and design of Fight Club, recommending move sets, control design, and feasibility

• Chosen to present Fight Club to potential buyers at E3 2004, including Wal-Mart Australia

Education

Pomona College, Claremont, CA             BA, Philosophy, Politics, & Economics (PPE)             12/03

Nanjing University, Nanjing, China           Junior Year Study Abroad Program                           9/01 – 6/02

Other Skills

Dev Track, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Project, Sound Forge, visual scripting, Mandarin Chinese, conversational Japanese

Interests

Video games, Pro-wrestling, comics, Capoiera, MMA, cooking, collectible card games, languages, dance