Chris Maka

Veteran game designer with a focus on game writing and designing narratives, events, and quests.

Experience designing and writing for two of the highest-profile IPs in the world and meeting their standards through their strict approval processes.

Experience in multiple game development roles: game design, game writing, event implementation, systems design, UX design, project management, product development, product strategy, and quality assurance. Art school training and professional experience using graphics software for design and illustration, especially Adobe Creative Cloud applications.

Narrative Designer & Game Writer: Star Wars: The Old Republic MMORPG at Broadsword Online Games (2024-01 – Present)

Worked to the high standards of Lucasfilm Limited to help produce live service updates focused on epic space fantasy storytelling.

• Helped plan and outline new story events and break them down into scenes
• Wrote scripts and barks for voice actor performance
• Wrote game bible entries, in-game email correspondence from NPCs, and related narrative support text

Event Designer & Game Writer: The Simpsons: Tapped Out Mobile Game at Red Crow – Electronic Arts and Broadsword Online Games (2019-01 – 2024-12)

Worked to the high standards of Gracie Films to help produce live service updates focused on absurdist humor.

• Pitched and designed new live events, including in-game content
• Implemented live events through XML scripting
• Wrote scripts for in-game character dialogue
• Pitched and designed new game systems to increase player engagement

Quality Analyst II: The Simpsons: Tapped Out Mobile Game at Red Crow – Electronic Arts (2018-01 – 2019-12)

• Analyst responsible for testing software engineering and event implementation
• Tester engaged in ad hoc testing and bug regressions
• Analyst writing TFCs and managing test plans and TestRail

Product Development Manager at Booxie, LLC (2015-01 – 2017-12)

Booxie was a social media app for iOS that enabled the creation and printing of memory books.

• Producer overseeing the development, launch, and post-launch improvement of Booxie
• Manager in charge of hiring and directing American-side production team. Initial manager of Indian development team
• Supplemental features and UX designer

Lead Game Designer/Development Manager: People Power at York-Zimmerman, Inc. (2008-01 – 2015-12)

• Designed gameplay, UX, and scenarios, and wrote supporting narrative text
• Acting producer overseeing the hiring and management of associate producer and quality assurance staff while managing overall development schedule

Lead Game Designer and Development Coordinator at Critical Mass Interactive, Inc. (2007-01 – 2008-12)

• Project coordinator and lead designer on several contract entertainment and serious games projects, including DARPA military training
• Pitch developer helping clients build effective funding pitch decks for serious games projects

Director of Business Development at Steve Jackson Games (2004-01 – 2006-12)

• Business development director creating licensing opportunities with video game publishers, development studios, and Hollywood producers
• Producer overseeing development of digital tools for tabletop games
• Designer writing game proposals and design treatments for potential digital games projects

QA Tester at NCsoft Corp. (2003-01 – 2004-12)

• QA tester on City of Heroes, Lineage II, Auto Assault, Guild Wars, and Tabula Rasa
• Extensive experience testing and using the 3D world building, animation, and particle tools for Tabula Rasa

Graphic Designer/Project Coordinator at Peak Business Media (2001-01 – 2002-12)

• Graphic designer and content writer for print, multimedia, and web-based projects
• Project coordinator working with customers to use multiple media platforms to address strategic business needs and manage their development schedules

B.A. in Honors Program in English and Anthropology – Texas State University (1993-01 – 1993-12)

Illustration and Design – Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (2000-01 – 2001-12)