Resume

ANNIE VANDERMEER MITSODA

Seattle, WA 98115

blue_comics@hotmail.com

OBJECTIVE

To create engaging and innovative games with a dedicated team, and assist in crafting memorable characters and gameplay as a writer and/or level designer.

WORK EXPERIENCE

DoubleBear Productions   Jan 2009 - present

Unannounced RPG (PC) Writer / Designer

  • Helped craft original game concept
  • Worked with lead designer to create a comprehensive design doc (including setting, systems, characters, desired look & feel, reference materials, etc.)
  • Created mock-ups for character creation and menu screens
  • Created additional design elements, such as character write-ups, items, quests, and settings

Obsidian Entertainment     Jan 2006 – Oct 2008

Aliens RPG (PS3, Xbox 360, PC) Writer / Designer

  • Handled writing responsibilities for half the major characters
  • Gave design input on levels and boss encounters

Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir (PC) Lead Writer / Designer

  • Lead writing responsibilities (including dialogue and item/area/character descriptions)
  • Worked with lead designer and license holder to develop story and characters
  • Created areas – from original level concept to characters, scripting, quests, and items – within the Neverwinter Nights 2 toolset
  • Designed new loot system
  • Coordinated with producers and license holder to promote recent developments within IP
  • Worked with Lead Designer and VO Director to cast and direct voice-over performances

Alpha Protocol (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)      Designer/Writing Assistant

  • Wrote several major and multiple minor characters (totaling several thousand lines of dialogue)
  • Organized writing tasks and crafted dialogue direction with Creative Lead
  • Wrote all email, dossiers, news, and banter
  • Worked closely with Creative Lead to offer pointed feedback and collaborate on dialogue
  • Coordinated with level designers regarding dialogue needs for areas
  • Worked with Creative Lead and VO Director to cast and direct voice-over performances

Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer (PC) Designer

  • Created dozens of specialty weapons, armor, and items to fit the game’s setting
  • Coordinated with Creative Lead to craft appropriately “epic” item descriptions to suit the license

Neverwinter Nights 2 (PC) Designer

  • Created all items, weapons, and armor in game
  • Coordinated closely with Lead Artist in bug-fixing for item models
  • Aided in bugfixing, level testing, and dialogue feedback

Unannounced Console Action-RPG (PS3, Xbox 360) Production Design Assistant

  • Worked on level design with Senior Level Designer
  • Created system for ambient life within game world

Papaya Studio            Aug 2004 – Oct 2005

Taxi Driver (PS2, Xbox) Designer

  • Wrote all in-game banter, majority of game cutscenes
  • Handled sound design, approval, and testing
  • Worked with 3D Studio Max assisting artists with bug-fixes

EDUCATION

Macalester College Sept 1999 – May 2003

B.A. in English – literature emphasis

  • Graduated cum laude
  • Wrote honors project examining literary genres
  • Member of Macalester Gaming Society, Working Title Theater Company, and wrote for/acted with sketch comedy group Bad Comedy

SKILLS

  • Prior experience with Unreal 3, 3D Studio Max
  • Used multiple systems and engines (provided key feedback on systems in development, such as Onyx and the Neverwinter Nights 2 toolset) – quick to pick up on functionality
  • Familiar with Google Sketch-Up, MS Visio
  • Experienced with dialogue set of Onyx (Obsidian’s proprietary engine for Aliens RPG)
  • Highly experienced with Neverwinter Nights 2 toolset, MS Word, MS Excel, Photoshop
  • Previous dealings with Mantis, SourceSafe, SharePoint, Perforce, AlienBrain, and Test Track Pro

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

RELATED INTERESTS

Playing video games (I have a special love for RPGs, action games, and platformers, but I’m a game omnivore and will try anything), drawing, writing, playing pen & paper RPGs, attempting to garden, making silly crafts and shiny things, savoring clever dialogue wherever I can find it, and being a complete nerd about comic books.

WHAT I CAN OFFER:

Dedication; knowledge of large words such as “lugubrious,” “iterative,” and “epicurean”; pragmatism and a willingness to do what it takes to get something really cool done; creativity; an unstoppable desire to learn and keep learning; a completely preposterous love of games and a fierce desire to be great at making them; a willingness to get into a mo-cap suit and make an enormous fool out of myself if it’s good for the project.