Education

MSc. Computer Game Programming - University of Hull, England

Sept 2006 - Sept 2007

Overall Result: Distinction (72.1)

Semester 3 Results

Semester 2 Results

Semester 1 Results

BSc. Multimedia - Dublin City University, Ireland

2001 - 2005

Leaving Cert - St. Macartan's College, Monaghan, Ireland

1995 - 2001

Skills

Programming Languages

• C++
• C#
• GLSL
• HLSL (basic)
• LUA
• ActionScript (Flash)
• HTML
• CSS
• Javascript
• PHP (moderate)
• Lingo (moderate)
• ASP (basic)

Tools

• Flash Develop
• Eclipse
• Visual Studio
• XNA
• AMD CodeAnalyst
• RenderMonkey
• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe ImageReady
• Adobe Flash
• Adobe Dreamweaver
• Adobe Director
• Maxon Cinema 4D
• 3D Studio Max (basic)

Check out my Projects section for some examples

Work Experience

Lead Ingénieur Développement

Village Media - Paris, France
May 2010 - Present

At Village Media, I'm responsible for developing single and real-time multiplayer games for both our web portal and Facebook. Games are developed with a mix of ActionScript 3 and Groovy (a layer on top of Java). I'm also responsible for developing our client side tech and leading our development team; giving tasks, direction and teaching knowledge.

Gameplay Engineer

Ubisoft - Paris, France
July 2008 - May 2010

I worked in GEEA team (Gameplay Engineering and Entertainment Analysis) at the main HQ in Paris. My roles were R&D, gameplay prototypes, controls and user experience.

Some of the areas that I worked under included: rapid prototyping using a Lua based 3D engine; prototyping gameplay for 3D cameras and later Natal; some R&D on Playstation Move; and concept development and brainstorming with the design firm IDEO.

My final projects were focused on creating games for Facebook using Flash. I developed a framework (later released internally as an "opensource" project) for developing Flash games which was used by a number of the studios inside Ubisoft, and I was the lead on a small excellent team that designed and developed 2 prototypes to explore different possible gameplay.

Programmer

Stainless Games - Isle of Wight, UK
October 2007 - June 2008

At Stainless Games, I was responsible for gameplay and general programming for short titles for the Xbox360 Live Arcade and PC. I've worked on Happy Tree Friends for SEGA, and on a Magic:The Gathering title for Wizards of the Coast.

Lead Programmer

PIXELSOUP - Dublin, Ireland
July 2005 - October 2007

At PIXELSOUP I was responsible for designing, creating, and publishing websites, applications, CD-ROMs, and print work. This often involved meeting and working directly with clients, as well as working under supervision or on my own initiative. I have worked on a number of high profile and international projects, including: Connacht Gold, Dimpco, Fingal County Enterprise Board, Healthcare21, Limerick County Enterprise Board, and PolarLake. Part of my job was to focus on creating standards-compliant, accessible websites. I was also involved in a small part in the day-to-day running of the company while in Ireland.

Bartender

Break For The Border - Dublin, Ireland
January 2004 - January 2006

At Break For The Border, I was working in sales, public relations, and partly management. I also created digital advertising features for constant public display, as well as preliminary development of platform for synchronised delivery of images and advertising to multiple digital projectors using Adobe Flash and socket-servers.

Bartender

An Poc Fada - Monaghan Ireland
December 2001 - December 2003

Worked as bar staff member, serving drinks and dealing with the public. Was full-time employed over during the summer months and enjoyed extended responsibility therein.

Hobbies / Interests

• Reading - I mostly read fantasy / fiction, but I also have a penchant for history, ancient or otherwise. Terry Pratchett, George R.R. Martin, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Robert Jordan being among my favourite authors. I have a tendancy however to get a little "preoccupied" with what I'm reading as as such my bank account unfortunately has to suffer.
• Computer Games - Final Fantasy VII is the game that single handedly got me into video games. Other favourites include: Zelda, Burnout, Medieval II, Soldat (especially over a LAN), and Metal Gear Solid (PSX). I've also made a number of games for projects or personal, mostly in Flash
• Music - Anything that has a bit of a melody to it, although I'm leaning more towards accoustic these days. Favourite artists include: Dave Matthews Band, José Gonzalez, K.T. Tunstall, Scott Matthews, Sigur Ros, Snow Patrol, Jack Johnson, and more recently, John Butler (check out Ocean on YouTube - it's unreal)
• Sport - My sport of choice is swimming - I used to swim competively with a club called Sliabh Beagh back in Ireland, but I'll play pretty much any sport. Preferences on football, gaelic, and hurling of course.
• Writing - I plan on making some of this available on the site over the next few months
• Graphics - Most of my work is in Illustrator, but I also enjoy photography and drawing. Some of this will be available on the site over the next few months.
• Poker - Tournaments entered to date: 2, Tournaments won to date: 1

Additional Information

• Full, clean driver's licence (Irish)
• Completed the Bronze Gaisce award - the President's award for young people
• Obtained the R.L.S.S. lifeguard qualification
• Treasurer, then P.R.O. Officer, of DCU Swimming Club.
• Working level French