Ryan  Shwayder

• Resume (PDF): Ryan Shwayder’s Resume
• LinkedIn Profile: www.linkedin.com/in/rshwayder
• Email Address:

Summary

Experienced game developer with strengths in the creative, technical, community, and managerial aspects of game design and development. Contributed to all phases of game creation, ranging from founding a company through post-launch.

Experience

Blizzard Entertainment, World of Warcraft – Irvine, CA (2012-Present)

Game Designer (2012-Present)

• Game Designer on Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft

38 Studios, “Project Copernicus” – Providence, RI (2006-2012)

Content Design Supervisor (2010-2012)

• Managed teams of content designers, writers, and artists in a collaborative environment
• Trained content designers of all experience levels in processes, tools, theories, and practices
• Acted as Scrum Master (both scheduling and stand-ups) for crews of game developers
• Consulted by members of all departments to assist with design-related issues and systems
• Authored content implementation guidelines and best practices, streamlining content creation
• Reviewed quests, dialogue, events, maps, and population created by content designers
• Implemented advanced game content in zones (scripting, events, quests, population, etc.)
• Actively took on additional projects to improve the game and frequently prototyped new ideas

Content Designer (2009-2010)

• Concepted zones and collaborated with environment artists to build out playable world spaces
• Implemented quests, dialogue, population, and scripted content in zones
• Lead efforts in the creation of tools, templates, and practices to improve design efficiency

Game Designer (2006-2009)

• Defined many of the core and differentiating features for Project Copernicus
• Helped create the world, setting, and lore for a new intellectual property (Amalur)

Sony Online Entertainment, EverQuest II – San Diego, CA (2004-2006)

Community Relations Manager (2005-2006)

• Served as the face of the EverQuest II development team for the player community as “Blackguard”
• Managed a community relations team with domestic and international representatives
• Represented the game and company in-person at major conventions, events, interviews, and Fan Faires
• Maintained regular contact with community leaders from fansites, forums, and in game
• Worked on projects to improve player retention, e.g. making in-game appearances and running contests

Apprentice Game Designer (2005)

• Reworked and implemented quests, dialogue, and population for EverQuest II
• Learned design principles and tools, including the implementation of scripted content using LUA

Community Relations Representative (2004-2005)

• Fostered a greater sense of community in our players through interactions on the forums
• Compiled feedback and issues for development and organized them based on player perception
• Produced content for the official website, including news and featured articles

Quality Assurance Analyst (2004)

• Tested and regressed bugs for EverQuest II during its pre-Beta and Beta phases
• Compiled important issues reported by the community for development lead meetings
• Acted as the official beta forum representative for the quality assurance team

Maximum Charisma Studios – Arvada, CO (2001-2002)

Customer Relations Intern (2001-2002)

• Interacted with customers via forums, email, and in game
• Created content for the official game website
• Quality assurance tested the Fighting Legends MMORTS