James Cousar
Resume
Game Designer with leadership, game system, quality assurance, and scripting experience.
Work Experience
Website Quality Assurance Tester Sep 2016 – Aug 2017
KingsIsle Entertainment, Austin, TX
Quality Assurance Lead January 2014 – August 2016.
Portalarium, Austin, TX
Technical Support Agent October 2013 – December 2013.
Nest Labs, Austin, TX
Scripting, and Design December 2012 – October 2013.
Kalani Games, Austin, TX
QA Testing May 2012 – December 2012.
Kalani Games, Austin, TX
Game Master (In-Game Support Representative, “World of Warcraft”) June 2008-March 2009.
Blizzard Entertainment, Austin, TX
Tester Nov 2011-Jan 2012.
Midnight Studios, Austin, TX
Information Technology Services Help Desk Sept 2006-May 2008.
Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO
Project Experience
Dark Silence January 2013 – August 2014.
Design Lead, Student Project (Unity3D Engine) Austin Community College
“Azeroth to Zork” Gaming Blog October 2010 – Present.
Writer, Editor, and Interviewer http://azerothtozork.blogspot.com/
Skills and Qualifications
Education
Austin Community College, Austin, TX 2013.
Associate of Applied Science, Game Design
Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO May 2008.
Bachelor of Arts. Major: English. Focus: Creative Writing
Interests and Hobbies
Work Experience
Website Quality Assurance Tester Sep 2016 – Aug 2017
KingsIsle Entertainment, Austin, TX
- Conducted rigorous manual regression test suites for web and mobile services with each major development iteration.
- Developed comprehensive trials for new web and mobile services as they were implemented.
- Continuously revised and updated regression plan for relevancy, efficiency, and clarity.
- Entered, tracked, and thoroughly regressed bugs in the JIRA Database.
- Monitored test and live server error logs, evaluating and writing up issues for developer attention.
- Conducted automated testing using JMeter and Autobot. Revised and developed SQL scripts.
Quality Assurance Lead January 2014 – August 2016.
Portalarium, Austin, TX
- Regression, Combinatorial, and Ad-hoc bug testing for single player and multi-player game clients.
- Polished existing Unity levels with additional points of interest and in-game documents. (letters, notes, etc)
- Entering, tracking, and regressing bugs in the project's JIRA Database.
- Wrote and updated player-facing game instructions and known issues documents for every monthly release.
- Managing QA department policy, scheduling, and personnel.
Technical Support Agent October 2013 – December 2013.
Nest Labs, Austin, TX
- Phone based technical support for Nest smart products. Diagnosed and resolved mechanical and wireless network related issues.
Scripting, and Design December 2012 – October 2013.
Kalani Games, Austin, TX
- Object interactivity scripting and level design for licensed “Rube Goldberg” game. Wrote new JavaScript scripts and modified existing scripts to achieve desired gameplay functionality.
- Player character movement scripting, environment scripting, and level design for unannounced mobile and PC action/adventure game in Unity 3D Engine.
- Polished assets from previous unreleased company project into playable demo. Overhauled and improved old character movement, enemy AI, and level loading functionality.
QA Testing May 2012 – December 2012.
Kalani Games, Austin, TX
- Conducted intensive combinatorial, ad-hoc, and white box bug testing for “Tiki Gods: Ancient Times.” On iOS, Android, and PC.
- Worked closely with programmers and designers to polish and tune character abilities, special puzzle block properties, and general gameplay.
- Documented, tracked, and regressed bugs in online Mantis database.
Game Master (In-Game Support Representative, “World of Warcraft”) June 2008-March 2009.
Blizzard Entertainment, Austin, TX
- Collected information and submitted reports and documentation on bugs related to quest scripting, character spells/powers, and environmental navigation.
- Assisted players with resolving in-game, account related, and technical concerns.
- Investigated and aided players in recovering and securing compromised accounts.
- Received multiple commendations for outstanding performance and perfect attendance.
Tester Nov 2011-Jan 2012.
Midnight Studios, Austin, TX
- Combinatorial testing for “Myflower” virtual greeting card, focusing on identifying, tracking and logging performance affecting and graphical bugs in JIRA database.
Information Technology Services Help Desk Sept 2006-May 2008.
Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO
- Worked with department of a dozen IT specialists and student workers to maintain hundreds of networked computers across the campus.
- Diagnosed and resolved networking, hardware, and general computing problems.
- Managed calls and records through the college’s online proprietary database.
Project Experience
Dark Silence January 2013 – August 2014.
Design Lead, Student Project (Unity3D Engine) Austin Community College
- Directed project as Lead Designer, managing a team of 8-12 artists, animators, designers, and programmers to create a finished, playable game.
- Created a third person adventure game in Unity3D engine based around using visualized sound to navigate a pitch black environment, solve puzzles, and evade hostile creatures.
- Guided team through overcoming design and technical challenges, such as changing camera systems and producing modular environmental components.
- Productively resolved artist/designer conflicts and communication problems by making sure all parties understood each other’s requirements, duties, and expectations.
“Azeroth to Zork” Gaming Blog October 2010 – Present.
Writer, Editor, and Interviewer http://azerothtozork.blogspot.com/
- Reviewed a variety of AAA and indie games, breaking down their design and examining which elements succeeded and which did not.
- Wrote and conducted interviews with veteran industry designers and writers, examining their careers and design philosophies.
- Collected screenshots and arranged articles in readable and aesthetically pleasing fashion.
Skills and Qualifications
- Extensive experience with JavaScript event scripting, level design, and mechanic design in Unity3D Game Engine.
- Proficient with UDK, Vicious, 3ds Max, Photoshop, and MS office software.
- Familiar with C++ and JavaScript, especially in relation to game scripting.
- High level of proficiency with Windows systems and PC and hardware and software in general.
- Skilled at communicating clearly, professionally, and efficiently with people with a variety of needs, attitudes, and personal skill levels.
- IGDA member in good standing.
Education
Austin Community College, Austin, TX 2013.
Associate of Applied Science, Game Design
Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO May 2008.
Bachelor of Arts. Major: English. Focus: Creative Writing
Interests and Hobbies
- Writing and playing pen-and-paper RPG modules.
- Writing humor and light fiction.
- Reading. (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Horror, History, Humor, Non-Fiction, etc…)
- Trail running and jogging.