(set: $StopCycle to 2)
Oh...hi there. Wow you're actually here! My profile must have been interesting enough that you were willing to click on my link.
Well this is embarrassing, I wasn't expecting anyone to check this out so soon. Just bear with me and click on the link below while I get myself situated real quick.
[[Ummm Sure. Click Where?->Splash]]
(set: $Points to 0)
Points: $Points
The objective is simple; rack up as many points as you can before reaching the end. You can score points by exploring every nook and cranny of my resume and selecting the (*preferred*) answers.
I'm sure you are wondering what the point is to gathering all these...points. Well wonder no more!
This sweet gem of a game has 3 different endings; sad, standard confetti throwing, and a special ending that includes a little something extra.
Let's get started, shall we?
[[Sounds easy enough.->DungeonsAndDragons]]
[[Awesome, this should be exciting!->DungeonsAndDragons]]
[[*Sigh* This all seems a bit corny but okay.->DungeonsAndDragons]](Okay, deep breath. You're a champion. You got this)
Hello and welcome to
(set: $StopCycle to 1)(live: 1s)[(if: $StopCycle is 0)[(transition: "pulse")+(transition-time: 4s)[
Byron's Interactive Resume(stop:)]](else:)[(set: $StopCycle to it -1)]]
A simple resume is limited to only **telling** a company how someone would be a reliable asset to them. This approach is like nails on a chalkboard to me because as a writer I prefer the "show, don't tell" discipline in storytelling.
So what better way to **show** you not only my professional qualities but also an interactive sample of my storytelling abilities to you?
Alright, let's get started. Click the link again.
[[Oh THIS link. I get it now.->GameRules]] (set: $Resume to $Resume + 1)
(set: $Education to 1)
(set: $Points to $Points + 1)
Points: $Points
There isnt really a whole lot to say about my education other than it was at the University of Washington where I majored in English with an Emphasis in Creative Writing.
Every since I was a wee child, I loved telling a good story. However, it wasn't until I went to college that I started to understand just how complex storytelling can be. I learned to avoid the dangers of repetition, to be more clear and concise, got familiar with different structures of storytelling, to avoid the dangers of repeti...*ahem*, how about we just mosey on back to the main page?
[[Ha! I see what you did there.->Repetition]]
[[Ha! I see what you did there.->Repetition]]
[[A bit hamfisted don't you think?->NotFunny]](set: $WorkEthics to 1)
(set: $Resume to $Resume + 1)
(set: $Points to $Points + 1)
Points: $Points
I always feel a little awkward trying to talk myself up to strangers. If only being humble was a highly sought after trait. Let's the break the ice by seeing what others have to say about my work ethics. More specifically, my former Senior Product Manager and one of the Producers I worked with at Big Fish Games.
<q1>**Byron is more than a tester. He is a consumate professional with the dedication, quick thinking, and attention to detail every team would find valuable. While working on my team he was a self-starter who continued to take on more responsibility and excelled at every new challenge. His work allowed us to deliver on schedule and very often meet our stretch goals. I recommend him with great enthusiasm as an asset to any organization.**
-Marisa Smailes (Bell)
**Byron is integral to functional testing. His knowledge of Mobile devices and PC/Mac is vast. He is always open and ready to help out when the team is in need. Truly, a person you want in your company.**
-Michael Donnelly</q1>
If I could only use one word to boil down these testimonials, it would be "reliable". For some reason, I have this deep rooted desire to be a person that people can count on; a crucial asset to the company in any way. I'm talking about being the guy that you go to when things aren't going exactly as planned because he has the skill and knowledge to fix it. The guy willing to learn skills outside of his job title in order to be able to help his coworkers when they are being overwhelmed. The guy who has a strong attention to deatils coupled with an ironic sense of humor.
[[HA! That's funny.->DetialFunny]]
[[I think you need to work on your proofreading.->DetialNotFunny]](set: $Points to $Points + 1)
Points: $Points
See how great of a fit I would be at your company? I'm just saying, people with a similar sense of humor helps with morale and in turn can potentially increase productivity.
That's right, my intentions are on a profound level. I'm thinking 3 steps ahead.
Think of me as the white mage of the group and my humor being my method of healing to get everyone back on their feet.
[[We could always use a good healer.->MainHub]](set: $MoveOn to 1)
(set: $Points to $Points - 1)
Points: $Points
No, that was meant to supplement the joke I...
What I did was purposely mispell...
Oh boy is it getting warm in here? Let's just move on.
[[Yes, moving on.->MainHub]]No, that was meant to supplement the joke I...
What I did was purposely mispell...
This is a clear sign for us to move on.
[[Probably a good idea.->MainHub]](if: $WorkExperience is 0)[(set: $Resume to $Resume + 1)(set: $Points to $Points + 1)]Points: $Points
(if: $WorkExperience is 0)[I am currently working at Amazon Games as a Quality Assurance Tester which has been a great experience for me because of all the new skills I've been learning. Also all the narrative design based tasks I have been able to familiarize myself with.
If there was one job I would throw a bunch of flashy graphics around to encourage you to check out, it would be my first job as a writer and narrative designer when I was contracted to work for Daily Magic Produtions. It was an amazing experience that has helped me grow professionally in leaps and bounds.
In my previous job before that, I was a Quality Assurance Tester for Big Fish Games. Even though my job title was "Quality Assurance Tester", I was eventually given the opportunity to work on tasks usually meant for narrative designers.
Which one would you like to know about first?(set: $WorkExperience to 1)](else:)[What other job would you like to know more about?]
[[Wait...Amazon makes games?->AmazonGames]]
[[A writer and narrative designer for Daily Magic Productions? I should definitely check that out. (If I haven't already).->DailyMagicProductions]]
[[Big Fish Games. They made a Casino game and a bunch of Hidden Objects games right?->BigFish]]
[[Back to the main page->MainHub]] (if: $Lifeline is 0)[(set: $Points to $Points + 1)(set: $Lifeline to 1)]
Points: $Points
Lifeline Universe was a free-to-play interactive fiction based game that contained different gamebooks for players to enjoy. Here's an (link-repeat: "external link")[(open-url: "http://www.danselleck.com/lifeline-universe-interactive-fiction-mobile-f2p-game/")] to a page from one of the creators of Lifeline Universe, elegantly breaking down the design of the game.
Although my title was "Tester", I was doing Narrative Designer related tasks like editing, proofreading, and providing feedback to authors. Having access to the game scripts increased my learning in game writing on an astronomical level. Not only in writing but also how to use the game making engine, Twine. Using what I learned from this project, I made a demo of an adventure game and completed the first chapter of an interactive fiction game. Both which can be found on my Game and Writing Samples page. This interactive resume you are playing right now is a product of my time spent on this project as a tester.
[[Sounds like a really memorable time for you.->Memorable]]
[[What else did you do at Big Fish Games?->BigFish]]
[[What about your other work experiences?->WorkExperience]] (set: $WritingExperience to 1)
(set: $Resume to $Resume + 1)
(set: $Points to $Points + 1)
Points: $Points
Wow, you really want to see some of my samples? That's awesome! Then I must be doing something right with this interactive resume. Sorry, enough patting myself on the back.
This newfound confidence is giving me the courage to give you the option of checking out a short dialogue scene I wrote in my summary for LinkedIn.
The reason I'm bringing it up is because I'm pretty proud of it and people that have seen it told me that they got quite a chuckle from it.
[[Sure, I enjoy a good chuckle from time to time.->DialogueYes]]
[['*Patiently checks watch*' Let's just get to the samples.->Samples]](set: $Points to $Points + 1)
Points: $Points
Alright so this was under the "Summary" section in my LinkedIn profile until I realized maybe a big wall of dialogue wasn't the smartest way to give a good first impression.
''Me:'' What am I supposed to put here?
''Friend:'' Something that shows that you are a hard worker, quick learner, and works well in a team.
''Me:'' I mean I am but isn't that what everyone is going to write? Seems a bit generic.
''Friend:'' Maybe throw in a an inspirational quote?
''Me:'' "I hope someday to make something worth plagiarizing." How's that?
''Friend:'' Who...who wrote that?
''Me'': No idea. The citation says "Unknown Author"
''Friend:'' ...How about a short blurb about yourself?
''Me:'' That's kind of redundant.
''Friend:'' How so? The first half is the professional traits and the second is more of you as a person.
''Me:'' No, I mean "short blurb" is kind of redundant.
''Friend:'' What?
''Me:'' Blurbs are a SHORT description of something.
''Friend:'' *Sigh* Forgive me Mr. B.A in English.
''Me:'' So just talk about how my love and appreciation of good storytelling makes me understand how it plays a vital role in all forms of media?
''Friend:'' Yeah that's good and-
''Me:'' And that my experience as a Quality Assurance Tester in the video game industry has not only significantly improved my comprehension of game design but also helped me get my first job as a writer and narrative designer?
''Friend:'' Oooh yeah and-
''Me:'' Also, in order to expand my understanding of a good story, I dive into the deconstruction of the world and characters in order to create more depth in my own game, Wayfarers?
''Friend:'' Yeah those are all good things to mention! Write those all in there.
''Me:'' I don't know. This is starting to feel like a lot of unnecessary work.
''Friend:'' What do you mean?
''Me:'' I mean, who is even going to bother reading any of this?
''Both:'' *Looks directly at readers*
So....what do you think? Funny right? Clever even?
[[Ha. I DID get a kick out of that.->SamplesKick]]
[[I mean it wasn't BAD...->SamplesMeh]]
[[Good thing you took it down.->SamplesBad]](if: $Samples is 0)[(set: $Points to $Points + 1)(set: $Samples to 1)]Points: $Points
Fair enough. To be honest, I'm just grateful you're in this section of my resume.
The main sample I would like to share is an adventure game I've been working on in my spare time called "Wayfarers". My original plan for Wayfarers was to make a demo to showcase my storytelling abilities in the form of a game. But then I saw a video of a YouTuber reviewing my game and saying some very nice things to say about it. You can click (link-repeat: "here")[(open-url: "https://youtu.be/DzgJA9bKpKQ?t=1351")] to hear those nice things. This video, as well as the positive reviews I started getting from other people, actually motivated me to work on Wayfarers more. If you'd like to try out the demo yourself, you can click on the link below to the latest PC and Mac versions:
(link-repeat: "Wayfarers")[(open-url: "https://wayfarers.itch.io/wayfarers-demo")]
For a more text adventure based sample, you can also check out the first chapter of Marooned, an interactive fiction game I made. This one was made so it can be played in a browser so you don't have to worry about downloading anything.
(link-repeat: "Marooned")[(open-url: "https://wayfarers.itch.io/maroonedch1")]
In case you're still hungry for more storytelling goodness, here are some writing samples as well:
(link-repeat: "Heritage: Sam's Birthday Surprise")[(open-url: "https://www.byrondonaldson.com/heritage-short")]
(Adventure Fantasy) - Sam heads to the tavern after a hunt and runs into a string of unexpected events.
(link-repeat: "Dealing with Time")[(open-url: "https://www.byrondonaldson.com/dealing-with-time-short")]
(Science Fiction) - A young man goes into a clock and watch store to try to correct an old wrong.
(link-repeat: "Retrieval")[(open-url: "https://www.byrondonaldson.com/retrieval")]
(Science-Fiction) - A retriever takes a risk to help a loved one
[[Back to the main page->MainHub]] (if: $WrapUp is 1)[Oh...okay. Let's...wrap it up.]
You got $Points points.
Which means you get the...
(if: $Points >= 11)[[[I'm at the edge of my seat.->SpecialEnding]]](else-if: $Points < 4)[[[Just tell me a already.->SadEnding]]](else:)[
[[[Just tell me already.->OkayEnding]] ]]...standard ending.
`*standard confetti throw*`
Congratulations! You've actually gone through the trouble of completing my game. Seeing how my game was interesting enough for you to want to complete it, surely that means I'm worth at least an interview...right?
To make it even easier for you, here is my email ready to be copied and pasted so you can get in touch with me right away to setup that interview:
Byron.J.Donaldson@gmail.com
Thank you so much for your time and interest in completing my game. I look forward in hearing back from you soon!
(set: $StopCycle to 3)(live: 1s)[(if: $StopCycle is 0)[(transition: "pulse")+(transition-time: 2s)[
Pssst! If you'd like to get the special ending, you can maximize your chances by exploring every part of my resume and laughing (regardless of it being insincere) at some of the humorous parts I painstakingly crafted.(stop:)]](else:)[(set: $StopCycle to it -1)]]
...special ending.
`*enthusiastic confetti throw*`
Wow, you not only completed my game but got enough points to get the special ending!
Either you are a dedicated completionist or you found me interesting enough to want to learn as much as you can about me. Seeing how my game was interesting enough for you to want to get the special ending, then surely that means I'm worth at least an interview...right?
To make it even easier for you, here is my email ready to be copied and pasted so you can get in touch with me right away to setup that interview:
Byron.J.Donaldson@gmail.com
Thank you so much for your time and interest in completing my game. I look forward in hearing back from you soon!
Oh also the special ending includes an Instagram video of me (link-repeat: "break dancing")[(open-url: "https://www.instagram.com/p/BwFvwc8FIU6/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet")]. Enjoy!
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn1lLgtlX1M/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn1lLgtlX1M/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div><div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div></a> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn1lLgtlX1M/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">My top 8 round at New Birth Anniversary. #RVS</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rybonix/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Byron Donaldson</a> (@rybonix) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2018-09-17T18:26:07+00:00">Sep 17, 2018 at 11:26am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>Double-click this passage to edit it.(if: $BigFish is 0)[(set: $Points to $Points + 1)(set: $BigFish to 1)]
Points: $Points
(if: $BFG is 0)[Yes they did, but they also were involved in a lot of other free-to-play games with one in particular I was fortunate to eventually be involved in.
My first 2 and a half years there, I worked as a Customer Support Specialist, where my primary duties involved answering emails from customers about issues with their bill and games.
Through a lot of hard work, I eventually became a Quality Assurance Tester. That's where the real meat and potatoes of my experiences manifested.]
Which one would you like to know more about?
[[Customer Support Specialist->CSR]]
[[Quality Assurance Tester->QATester]]
(if: $BFG is 0)[[[I'm not really compelled to know more about your time at Big Fish.->BFGBad]]](else:)[[[I think I've seen enough.->WorkExperience]]](if: $Boa is 0)[(set: $Points to $Points + 1)(set: $Boa to 1)]
Points: $Points
If by "interesting" you mean "stressful" then yes, it was the most interesting job I've ever had.
Keeping track of everyone's money wasn't the hard part; it was assuring customers that we were in no way secretly stealing their money when most of it went to eating out and Amazon purchases.
Aside from being able to simultaneously count and lay down bills at an impressive rate, I learned that not just bills but also tasks can easily add up when not taken care of. Which is why multitasking became a skill I made sure to hone during my time there.
[[Back to the Work Experience page->WorkExperience]] (if: $ESLTeacher is 0)[(set: $Points to $Points + 1)(set: $ESLTeacher to 1)]
Points: $Points
I was young, recently out of college, and felt it would be a good opportunity to get to know my mom's culture more while experiencing my first full time job.
I taught students as young as kindergarteners and as old as office workers. Aside from making sure the learning material was engaging, I also made tests from scratch, proofread and edited assignments, and managed the grading for all my classes. This experience taught me patience when it comes to cooperating with others. It helped me appreciate the teachers that left a lasting impression on me a little more because I ended up being more concerned than I expected with whether or not my students were were benefitting from my teaching methods. It also helped me understand that people have different approaches to life, not just teaching and learning.
Wait, why do I feel so sticky all of a sudden? Oh yeah, it's because I'm being really sappy right now. Well I still consider it a valuable insight so I'm not taking it back.
[[Sappy just shows how much you care.->Caring]]
[[I hope there isn't any more sappiness in this resume.->NoSappy]]Oh...well at least you're honest.
But hey, since you're here, you might as well check out my interactive resume.
What do you say?
Sure, why not.
Nah, I'm good.Oh yeah? Well this is MY game and I'm INSISTING you play through it. I'm the one in contr- WAIT WAIT WAIT! Don't close the browser. C'mon man. Just give me a chance.Points: $Points
(if: $Roll is 1)[With the help of a little random number generator script, you rolled a (set: $Dice to (random: 1, 9))$Dice. (if: $Dice > 4)[Nice! I probably would have written a sweet description of you attacking the Orc if it was part my actual game. Speaking of which...](else:)[Yikes. Probably best we got back to the actual game.](set: $Roll to 0)](if: $Confused is 1)[Something definitely worth your time. I promise.(set: $Confused to 0)](if: $Thunderbolt is 1)[It was...super effective? I guess?(set: $Thunderbolt to 0)]
(if: $MoveOn is 1)[Ahem, right. Moving on then. (set: $MoveOn to 0)](if: $Bad is 1)[Well that's a shame. (set: Bad to 0)](if: $MainHub is 0)[
Rather than make my resume be linear, I've made it more sandboxy where you can navigate to any part of my resume. See what I'm doing here? I'm giving YOU the power of choice to go wherever you see fit. There are also optional choices you can make within each segment where you can score even more points. Fair warning, returning to this page from a selected segment will result in it no longer being accessible for the current playthrough so make sure to explore every page for points.
Alright (print: $name), where would you like to go first?](if: $MainHub is 1)[Where would you like to go next, (print:$name)?](set: $MainHub to 1)
(if: $Education is 0)[[[Education->Education]] ](else:)[Education]
(if: $WorkExperience is 0)[[[Work Experience->WorkExperience]] ](else:)[Work Experience]
(if: $WritingExperience is 0)[[[Game and Writing Samples->WritingExperience]] ](else:)[Game and Writing Samples]
(if: $WorkEthics is 0)[[[Work Ethics->WorkEthics]] ](else:)[Work Ethics]
(if: $Resume is 4)[[[Let's see what ending I got->Closing]] ](else:)[(set: $WrapUp to 1)[[Sorry, how about we just wrap this up now?->Closing]]]
Right, enough patting myself on the back.
Before we get to the more "official" samples, would you care to see a short dialogue scene I used to have in place of my summary for LinkedIn?
The reason I'm bringing it up is because I'm pretty proud of it and the people that have viewed my profile told me that they got a kick out of it.
(set: $Points to $Points + 2)
Points: $Points
Really?! That's awesome!
Truth be told I was a little nervous showing that to you but now I'm glad I did. (Ma, you were right. I AM funny!)
The main sample I would like to share is an adventure game I've been working on in my spare time called "Wayfarers". My original plan for Wayfarers was to make a demo to showcase my storytelling abilities in the form of a game. But then I saw a video of a YouTuber reviewing my game and saying some very nice things to say about it. You can click (link-repeat: "here")[(open-url: "https://youtu.be/DzgJA9bKpKQ?t=1351")] to hear those nice things. This video, as well as the positive reviews I started getting from other people, actually motivated me to work on Wayfarers more. If you'd like to try out the demo yourself, you can click on the link below to the latest PC and Mac versions:
(link-repeat: "Wayfarers")[(open-url: "https://wayfarers.itch.io/wayfarers-demo")]
For a more text adventure based sample, you can also check out the first chapter of Marooned, an interactive fiction game I made. This one was made so it can be played in a browser so you don't have to worry about downloading anything.
(link-repeat: "Marooned")[(open-url: "https://wayfarers.itch.io/maroonedch1")]
In case you're still hungry for more storytelling goodness, here are some writing samples as well:
(link-repeat: "Heritage: Sam's Birthday Surprise")[(open-url: "https://www.byrondonaldson.com/heritage-short")]
(Adventure Fantasy) - Sam heads to the tavern after a hunt and runs into a string of unexpected events.
(link-repeat: "Dealing with Time")[(open-url: "https://www.byrondonaldson.com/dealing-with-time-short")]
(Science Fiction) - A young man goes into a clock and watch store to try to correct an old wrong.
(link-repeat: "Retrieval")[(open-url: "https://www.byrondonaldson.com/retrieval")]
(Science-Fiction) - A retriever takes a risk to help a loved one
[[Back to the main page->MainHub]] Points: $Points
Okay...I'm not going to tell you who it is. But I'm just going to say that someone's feelings might be a little hurt right now.
How about you look through some of my samples while they regain their composure?
The main sample I would like to share is an adventure game I've been working on in my spare time called "Wayfarers". My original plan for Wayfarers was to make a demo to showcase my storytelling abilities in the form of a game. But then I saw a video of a YouTuber reviewing my game and saying some very nice things to say about it. You can click (link-repeat: "here")[(open-url: "https://youtu.be/DzgJA9bKpKQ?t=1351")] to hear those nice things. This video, as well as the positive reviews I started getting from other people, actually motivated me to work on Wayfarers more. If you'd like to try out the demo yourself, you can click on the link below to the latest PC and Mac versions:
(link-repeat: "Wayfarers")[(open-url: "https://wayfarers.itch.io/wayfarers-demo")]
For a more text adventure based sample, you can also check out the first chapter of Marooned, an interactive fiction game I made. This one was made so it can be played in a browser so you don't have to worry about downloading anything.
(link-repeat: "Marooned")[(open-url: "https://wayfarers.itch.io/maroonedch1")]
In case you're still hungry for more storytelling goodness, here are some writing samples as well:
(link-repeat: "Heritage: Sam's Birthday Surprise")[(open-url: "https://www.byrondonaldson.com/heritage-short")]
(Adventure Fantasy) - Sam heads to the tavern after a hunt and runs into a string of unexpected events.
(link-repeat: "Dealing with Time")[(open-url: "https://www.byrondonaldson.com/dealing-with-time-short")]
(Science Fiction) - A young man goes into a clock and watch store to try to correct an old wrong.
(link-repeat: "Retrieval")[(open-url: "https://www.byrondonaldson.com/retrieval")]
(Science-Fiction) - A retriever takes a risk to help a loved one
[[Back to the main page->MainHub]] <img src=https://i.imgur.com/SKP3kxJ.jpg>(if: $CSR is 0)[(set: $Points to $Points + 1)(set: $CSR to 1)]Points: $Points
I started working for Big Fish Games as a Customer Support Rep because I wanted to have some sort of involvement in the video game industry. Although my responsibilities didn't have to do with our games, directly, communicating to customers reinforced the habit of thinking of their wants and needs in a game. Whether it being a simple time wasting match 3 or series they were invested in. It also helped me exercise my writing skills by making sure my responses to them were clear and to the point while empathizing with them to assure them I was doing everything I can to help them.
[[That's interesting, I'd like to know more about your Work Experience at Big Fish->BigFish]]
[[What about your other work experiences?->WorkExperience]](if: $QATester is 0)[(set: $Points to $Points + 1)(set: $QATester to 1)(set: $BFG to 1)]
(set: $Bad to 0)Points: $Points
(if: $Mention is 0)[I look at being a tester as a kind of work-study opportunity to better understand how narrative design works. They thought I was just running test cases and reporting bugs? The FOOLS. Little did they know that I was doing that and much much more. Every game I tested, I took notes of narrative elements like the plot, characters, dialogue, and flavor text within them. I eventually even noticed how non writing elements like UI/UX design and gameplay mechanics contribute to the narrative of a game. This helped me discern what worked and didn't work; on their own or in tandem with each other.(set: $Mention to $Mention + 1)](else:)[As I mentioned in my section about Amazon Games, I look at being a tester as a kind of work-study opportunity to better understand how narrative design works. They thought I was just running test cases and reporting bugs? The FOOLS. Little did they know that I was doing that and much much more. Every game I tested, I took notes of narrative elements like the plot, characters, dialogue, and flavor text within them. I even familiarized myself with how narrative design plays a role in elements like UI/UX design and gameplay mechanics. This helped me discern what worked and didn't work; on their own or in tandem with each other.]
When the interactive fiction based game project, Lifeline Universe, was ramping up and in need of help, I knew how beneficial it would be for me as a writer and narrative designer so I did everything I could to be involved in it, which I eventually became a full fledged member of the team. My time on that team was the most fulfilling and beneficial job I had until I actually became a writer and narrative designer for Daily Magic Productions. (If you haven't already, you should definitely check out that section on my Work Experience page.)
[[Lifeline Universe, huh? Tell me more about it.->Lifeline]]
[[That's nice. What about your other work experiences?->WorkExperience]] Points: $Points
It really was. I enjoyed the team I worked with and I was really invested in the game because I know how much potential it had in having a strong presence in the interactive fiction genre. It was also my experience in Lifeline that helped me get my first job as a narrative designer.
But enough dwelling on the past, I'm here for my future!
[[That's the spirit! Although I'm still looking through your past experiences to determine your future.->WorkExperience]]
(set: $Bad to 1)
Points: $Points
Are you sure, $name? I can understand my time in Customer Support not being very appealing but my time as a tester played a pretty big role in my pursuit in narrative design. I'm going to resort to playing my one "I must insist" card for you to check out my work experience as a tester.
[[Alright. Tell me about your experience as a tester.->QATester]]
[[I think I've seen all I need to in regards to Big Fish Games.->WorkExperience]](if: $Caring is 0)[(set: $Points to $Points + 1)(set: $Caring to 1)]
Points: $Points
Right?! Ain't not shame in being a dude that simply cares.
[[Right on, my dude. What other work experiences do you have?->WorkExperience]](set: $MoveOn to 1)
(set: $Points to $Points - 1)
(set: $Sappy to 1)
Points: $Points
*Ahem* No of course not. I'm just going to check on a...thing while you look through the rest of my work experiences.
[[A "thing". Right...->WorkExperience]](set: $Points to $Points + 1)
Points: $Points
Hmmmm not exactly what I was shooting for. Guess I have some redrafting to do...AGAIN. Anyways, about those samples...
The main sample I would like to share is an adventure game I've been working on in my spare time called "Wayfarers". My original plan for Wayfarers was to make a demo to showcase my storytelling abilities in the form of a game. But then I saw a video of a YouTuber reviewing my game and saying some very nice things to say about it. You can click (link-repeat: "here")[(open-url: "https://youtu.be/DzgJA9bKpKQ?t=1351")] to hear those nice things. This video, as well as the positive reviews I started getting from other people, actually motivated me to work on Wayfarers more. If you'd like to try out the demo yourself, you can click on the link below to the latest PC and Mac versions:
(link-repeat: "Wayfarers")[(open-url: "https://wayfarers.itch.io/wayfarers-demo")]
For a more text adventure based sample, you can also check out the first chapter of Marooned, an interactive fiction game I made. This one was made so it can be played in a browser so you don't have to worry about downloading anything.
(link-repeat: "Marooned")[(open-url: "https://wayfarers.itch.io/maroonedch1")]
In case you're still hungry for more storytelling goodness, here are some writing samples as well:
(link-repeat: "Heritage: Sam's Birthday Surprise")[(open-url: "https://www.byrondonaldson.com/heritage-short")]
(Adventure Fantasy) - Sam heads to the tavern after a hunt and runs into a string of unexpected events.
(link-repeat: "Dealing with Time")[(open-url: "https://www.byrondonaldson.com/dealing-with-time-short")]
(Science Fiction) - A young man goes into a clock and watch store to try to correct an old wrong.
(link-repeat: "Retrieval")[(open-url: "https://www.byrondonaldson.com/retrieval")]
(Science-Fiction) - A retriever takes a risk to help a loved one
[[Back to the main page->MainHub]] I try to look at hardships and misfortunes as
Hardships are just obstacles
It's either that or feel like the world is against me which is never a good attitude to have. I try to look at these kind of hardships as the world's way of testing me; to reveal to me what I am capable of enduring. It's taught me that pushing through some of the hardest things in life are also the most rewarding in the end.
It's either that or feel like the world is against me which is never a good attitude to have. As much as I don't enjoy it, I look at hardships as the world's way of testing me; to let me know what I am capable and how much I can take. I've come to learn that some of the hardest things you have to push through in life can also be the most rewarding.
[[(set: $Points to 0)
Points: $Points
(if: $MainHub is 0)[(set: $name to (prompt: "By the way, what's your name?", ""))Awesome, it's nice to meet you, (print: $name).](if: $name is "Byron")[(set: $Points to $Points + 1)
Wait your name is Byron too?
It's so great to meet another Byron.
Or...were you just checking to see what would happen if you typed in my name?
Well your curiosity has paid off because you just found my easter egg!
In case the self satisfaction of finding this easter egg isn't enough, I'm also going to throw a sweet point your way.
If your name is actually Byron then consider this a Byron hookup.
You'll see it applied on the next page.
Anyways, moving on...]
You find yourself in a narrow hallway with an Orc blocking your way. He has a look of disdain as he approaches you with his sword drawn. What will you do?
[[I'm where with a who about to do what now?->Confused]]
[[Pikachu, use thunderbolt.->Thunderbolt]]
[[I roll for initiative.->Roll]](set: $Confused to 1)Points: $Points
Just a little tabletop RPG humor to break the ice.
Alright, let's move on to the real game.
[[What have I got myself into?->MainHub]](set: $Roll to 1)Points: $Points
Well played. I see you're familiar with tabletop RPGs.
Alright, enough messing around, let's get the real game started.
[[What did I roll?->MainHub]](set: $Thunderbolt to 1)Points: $Points
O-okay. Wrong kind of game but I admire the creativity.
Let's just move on to the real game.
[[Did my thunderbolt hit or not?->MainHub]](set: $Points to $Points + 1)
Points: $Points
If you liked that, I'm more than happy to contribute to material like that on a daily basis once I'm hired. Eh? Eh?
Okay okay I'll back off. I know hamfisted jokes and visual puns aren't going to justify such a **bold** statement. At least not until you've seen the rest of my resume.
[[Yeah, let's head back to the main page.->MainHub]]Points: $Points
Yeesh no pulling punches. Well that's good. I appreciate honest criticism. It gives me a clearer picture on how to improve.
I'll process this bitter pill later, let's head back to the main page.
[[You're...welcome? I think?->MainHub]]...incredibly sad ending.
`*lets confetti slip through fingers*`
Ouch. Really? I guess my resume wasn't even interesting enough to get even 4 points.
Well thanks for at least taking the time to check my interactive resume out. Looks like I have a lot more I need to improve on.
(set: $StopCycle to 3)(live: 1s)[(if: $StopCycle is 0)[(transition: "pulse")+(transition-time: 2s)[
If this was just to see what would happen if you jumped straight to the end but actually want to learn more about me while grabbing a few points along the way, just refresh this game. You can get points by exploring every part of my resume.(stop:)]](else:)[(set: $StopCycle to it -1)]]
12/08/2019 Update Notes:
Oh but before we dive in, I'd like to bring up some updates I made since I first made this resume.
Like how a game provides a list of changes, improvements, and new features included in an update, I want to bring to light some of the things that have been changed and added since when I first made this fun little interactive resume.
12/08/2019 Resume Update
General:
Optimized some of the writing to better present my voice and style of writing.
Work Experience:
Added information about when I worked as a Contract Writer and Narrative Designer for Daily Magic Productions.
Added information about my current work as a Quality Assurance Tester for Amazon Game Studios
Writing Samples:
Changed the title from "Writing Samples" to "Game and Writing Samples". I wanted to clarify the samples I want to showcase aren't JUST for writing.
Updated my description of Wayfarers from "game demo I made" to "game I am working on"
Added "Untitled Fantasy Story" to my writing samples. It's a short/pilot I recently finished.
Removed "Jungle Encounter" from my writing samples. I'm limiting myself to only showing 3 samples in my interactive resume because I don't want to give this "wall of links" feeling. If you're curious about my "Jungle Encounter" short, you can still access it on my website.[(set: $Points to $Points + 1)]Points: $Points
So this is the first job I had as a Writer and Narrative Designer. I was contracted to create a story for their upcoming interactive fiction game.
Aside from the theme and characters they had in mind, I was responsible for writing everything.
I feel the need to give you a sidenote that this "writing everything" part of my job was incredibly exciting for me. Within a year I went from a QA Tester to a Writer/Narrative Designer and that transition in my life felt surreal.
Wait, why do I feel so sticky all of a sudden? Oh yeah, it's because I'm being really sappy right now. Well call me "Maple" and slather me on some pancakes (or waffles if that's your preference) because I'm not ashamed of my occasional sappiness.
[[We could all use a little sappiness now and then.->DailyMagicHeartfelt]]
[[So what did you actually write for Daily Magic Productions?->DailyMagicToThePoint]][(set: $Points to $Points + 1)]Points: $Points
They sure are. Really, what DOESN'T Amazon do at this point?
For NDA reasons, I can't go too much into detail about the game itself. But I can at least tell you it's called (link-repeat: "Crucible")[(open-url: "https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Game-Studios-Crucible-Download/dp/B01LYWC8R9")].
(if: $Mention is 0)[I look at being a tester as a kind of work-study opportunity to better understand how narrative design works. Testing a game that is still being developed is giving me an even clearer picture on how different elements of the game are intertwined with narrative design. I really wish I could better explain this but I really don't want to risk breaking my NDA. (At least that shows you how trustworthy and loyal I am. Right?). The gist of what I want you to take away from this section is that I'm using my resources as a tester to squeeze out as much knowledge as I can about narrative design from this game.(set: $Mention to $Mention + 1)](else:)[As I mentioned in my section about Big Fish Games, I look at being a tester as a kind of work-study opportunity to better understand how narrative design works. Testing a game that is still being developed is giving me an even clearer picture on how different elements of the game are intertwined with narrative design. I really wish I could better explain this but I really don't want to risk breaking this NDA. The gist of what I want you to take away from this section is that I'm using my resources as a tester to squeeze out as much knowledge as I can about narrative design from this game.]
[[I appreciate you taking your NDA seriously.->NDA]]
[[C'mon, you can tell me, I promise I won't tell anyone.->NoNDA]][(set: $Points to $Points + 1)]Points: $Points
Glad you feel that way! That's a good sign that we would work well together. *Hint hint*
Probably best I clarify what "everything" involves with this job. I created the world, characters, collectibles, and equipment for the story. I also wrote all of the scenes, dialogues, choices, branching paths, and descriptions for all of the items.
[[Wow, that sounds like a lot of stuff to write.->DailyMagicND1]]
[[It's great that you did a lot of writing but narrative design isn't just about being a good writer.->DailyMagicND2]]Points: $Points
*Ahem* Right. Let's get down to brass tacks.
When I said I wrote "everything", I meant I created the world, characters, collectibles, and equipment for the story. I also wrote all of the scenes, dialogues, choices, branching paths, and descriptions for all of the items.
[[Wow, that sounds like a lot of stuff to write.->DailyMagicND1]]
[[It's great that you did a lot of writing but narrative design isn't just about being a good writer.->DailyMagicND2]][(set: $Points to $Points + 1)]Points: $Points
And I loved every minute of it. I also loved gamifying my story, like any self respecting narrative designer would.
Not only was I making sure I made a compelling story for people to want to read, but also to play. This was especially important since the game was free-to-play.
I worked with the lead narrative designer and gameplay designer to make sure players felt like they had agency in the game. This included things like the main character having dialogue choices that players found relatable and making items intriguing enough for players to be willing to go out of their way to get. I also made sure the game had high replayability by including romance options, branching paths, and multiple endings.
I even made sure the story had potential for a sequel by foreshadowing how much bigger and complex the world within the story was and leaving a few small loose ends.
[[Let's see what other work experience you have.->WorkExperience]][(set: $Points to $Points + 1)]Points: $Points
I'm glad you brought up such a specific point. I totally agree with you.
Not only was I making sure I made a compelling story for people to want to read, but also to play. This was especially important since the game was free-to-play.
I worked with the lead narrative designer and gameplay designer to make sure players felt like they had agency in the game. This included things like the main character having dialogue choices that players found relatable and making items intriguing enough for players to be willing to go out of their way to get. I also had to make sure the game had high replayability by having romance options, branching paths, and multiple endings.
I even made sure the story had potential for a sequel by foreshadowing how much bigger and complex the world within the story was and leaving a few small loose ends.
[[Let's see what other work experience you have.->WorkExperience]]Thanks for understanding. If anything, this shows we have a mutual concern for trustworthiness and loyalty.
Just imagine what we could achieve if we joined forces!
[[Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. How about I check out your other work experiences?->WorkExperience]]Sorry but being a snitch is the last thing I want to be in the game industry.
[[Of course...that was a test...good job. Let's check out your other work experiences then.->WorkExperience]]