1811 Summit Ave. #B1, Seattle, WA 98122
Phone 206.265.9818, E-mail pscion@yahoo.com

Ron Newcomb

I am a former software creator migrating to writing: technical writing, proofreading, and the creation of interactive narrative.

Relevant Work Experience

General Operations, CompuVest, May 2005 - July 2011

I was hand-picked to resolve credit card, Paypal, and BBB disputes because of my ability with written communications.
I communicated daily with the Returns, Sales, Shipping, and Purchasing departments regarding shipping claims and fire & safety inspection laws.
I verified and processed sales orders, with light data entry.
I used Dreamweaver to update an internal company website.

Programmer / Game Designer, TextFyre.com, February 2010 - October 2010

I wrote Inform 7 code for the interactive fiction (text adventure game) startup TextFyre.
I consulted regularly with the writer and game designer on questionable issues regarding plot holes, consistency, etc.
I wrote some lines of fiction to cover unusual cases of player input.
I had proofreading tasks.

Assistant Network Engineer, Mid-USA Motorcycle Parts, October 2003 - January 2004

I used Excel and Word for various tasks.
I did ad-hoc data entry, frequent supply tracking, help desk, workstation troubleshooting, order review, and general office support.

Software Engineer, Spectrum Brands, April 2001 - March 2002

Software Developer, CPI Corp., June 1999 - January 2001

I was given primary responsibility for remotely updating the software at our 1,200 North American retail locations, and I worked after-hours when necessary to ensure system availability.
I volunteered to temporarily join our testing department to better serve as a diplomat between our two departments.
I was in the rotation for fourth (top) level support, and instructed help-desk personnel on what to do in future similar cases.

Videogame Tool Programmer, Celeris, Summer 1998

I developed plug-ins for 3D Studio Max R2 and other in-house tools for our studio.

Billing, LDD, 1995 - 1997

I worked the third shift without supervision and under a daily deadline.
I was simultaneously attending college full-time, and still met my scholarship's GPA requirements.

Relevant Activities

I wrote The Inform 7 Programmer's Manual, which was received well and blogged about internationally. (See http://inform7.com/learn/learn/.)
I contribute regularly to Inform's forums and talk writers through software hiccups with their personal projects.
I wrote plug-in modules on request of our forum authors, including one for interactive poetry. (See http://inform7.com/extensions/authors/#Ron_Newcomb for the full list.)
I keep a well-regarded game implementation blog at http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/RonNewcomb/293/, the first post of which netted me a lifetime subscription to Game Developer magazine.
I contribute to the group blog Seattle Interactive Fiction at http://if.seattle.wa.us.

Education and Awards