ABOUT ME
How It All Started
Hello, I’m Ron. I grew up in a small town in Southwest Michigan and it has forever been a part of my life. We lived in the rural area outside of town so we didn’t have cable and my friends didn’t live two minutes up the street from me. We never even had internet at my house!
But I was in love with it. I would spend the cool spring days climbed high into a large oak or maple tree and read the most recent book that captured my attention. Often I retreated there just to be alone and think. I often preferred my solitude, not that I was lonely or didn’t have any friends. I just preferred to be alone most days.
One Christmas everything changed for me. I got a PlayStation 2 and the Legend of Dragoon. I spent endless nights, staying up well past my bedtime, trying to master and beat the game. Eventually, after roughly 100 hours of game play I beat the game for the first time. This is where my love of games comes from.
Around this time (it was 2004 and I was in the 7th grade) I met a friend who was also a Role Playing Game fanatic. He had heard of a program we could get online that would allow us to build our own RPG’s without the need for major coding. I was eager to get started but there was one major problem. The entire program was in Japanese! This did not stop me from struggling, for months with much trial and error, and finally making a simple RPG. I was never able to publish it but it was a significant personal achievement.
At this point I was a young high school student. I began gearing my education towards the necessary skills I would need. I studied computer programming (JavaScript), extra history classes, and even world religion to provide extra insight and inspiration. Graduation was fast approaching and I was focusing on what university I would be studying at.
The Delay in the Dream
I always joked that my parents raised me old-school and that I was born two generations late. The truth is that I always felt that I needed to do something meaningful with my life and that while video games was a great passion it wasn’t my true calling. Besides there was a war on and I was taught to always help and look out for those who couldn’t. One month and one day after graduating from High School, I left my home for the first time and arrived at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego CA.
I spent the next four years away from home learning who I was in a world larger than my small town in the countryside. I trained hard and truly enjoyed being a Marine. I was dedicated, knowledgeable in my field, and committed to my course. My superiors recognized the leader buried within me and pushed me. The results turned me into a better Marine and a greater individual.
In 2012 I deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Our mission was primary anti-piracy operations and joint training with foreign military's. We spent time in Morocco, Spain, Jordan, Kuwait, and Djibouti. At this point I was a Corporal and a well-respected leader of my Platoon and peers. I had experienced and seen much of the world that few others ever do.
After returning from deployment, I was transferred to another unit. Here I was placed in charge of a Platoon of 30 Marines and a fleet of 100 vehicles. As a primary leader and mentor, I took this time to grow my leadership skills. I learned to truly listen to those who followed me and strove to guide them into better Marines and individuals. Eventually it came time for my Re-Enlistment. I declined to renew my contract and separated from Active Duty in June of 2014.
As with Michigan, the Marines will forever be a part of me. I owe much of my skills and personal development to the men and women who led, molded, and believed in me. Now, I was on my own. Faced with a blank horizon and no real purpose. Separation from Active Duty is a struggle that many service members fail but I was determined to prove to myself that I could do anything.
The Dream Rekindled
I had started taking some basic classes at the local community college before my separation but I was unsure of what direction I wanted to go. As I discussed my fear and indecision with my girlfriend (now my wife), she encouraged me to find something that I was passionate about. She told me that I shouldn’t worry about how lucrative my field would be but that I would be happy doing it. She also reminded me of all of the challenges that I had overcome throughout the years.
So I started to research Computer Science programs that focused in computer coding. Along with this, I researched what kind of jobs I could expect to find. I enjoyed my programming classes in high school and liked the idea of bringing fantasy worlds to life for others to enjoy. Ultimately my research brought me across Full Sail University.
As I looked into their offered programs, I realized that I didn’t want to bring someone else’s ideas to life but wanted to see my own world brought to life. I changed my direction to Game Design rather than Programming. In August of 2014 I started my first class of Full Sail’s Game Design Bachelor of Science Program.
Living the Dream
Throughout my studies, I have continued to develop myself as an individual and leader. Working with fellow students I have created an analog game entitled Encleadus Rising, and created, as well as conducted, a Usability Test on the Final Project for another team of soon to be graduates. I have even expressed my creativity and developed an innovative controller for individuals with the use of only one hand. Most recently, I was challenged with the recreation of the original Donkey Kong arcade game and then asked to turn in into something new and unique. See the results HERE.
As an individual I have strived to learn the different tools I will need to develop and create games. I have a basic understanding of the functionality of the Unreal Engine. I have continued my development of C# by constantly creating content in Unity. I also practice JavaScript by working with Perlenspiel. I consider myself an intermediate user in these fields.
Current Projects
Currently, my final project for school has all of my attention. We are developing a 2D action platformer that utilizes two tethered characters. The game will have simplistic physics based puzzles that will require the use of both character to complete. The player will also have to contend with environmental hazards and enemies as they traverse the levels. The biggest novelty that our design brings to the genre is the way our linked characters will function and their shared life pool. While the player can only control one character at a time, the other will still be available to help them in combat and can be activated at any time.
The last thing that I am actively working on is more of research project rather than a game development. I have a great interest in history, especially the Medieval Era. My current interests focus on the Knights Templar and the Crusades for the Holy Lands. One day, when my skills are honed and I have the support of my peers (or my own studio) I want to create a game that sheds light on this tragic time in history.
What to Expect
Above all else, I am a professional in the work place. I am a strong and confident leader who know that sometimes it is best to lead from within the ranks rather than out in front. I will never ask anyone to do something that I would not. I can adapt to any situation and quickly learn any necessary skills.
I am quick to pick up on how things are done and why. I am always looking for ways to improve myself as well as those around me. I am not afraid to speak my mind but understand when it is time to support my leaders.
My peers can expect me to support them and their ideas, provide constructive criticism, and push them beyond their limits. I will strive to share my knowledge and experience to better them as individuals. Ultimately, I will attempt to make any team that I am part of complete, efficient, and successful.
How Can I Help
If you are looking for a dedicated team member with a diverse skill set and world experiences combined with a natural leader that has the ability to inspire a team, I am a perfect match. I will push your current members to grow and enhance their skills, while bringing a fresh perspective and insight to any project. I possess a great sense of accountability, time management, and attention to detail that will help to ensure that projects are met on time and within budget.
Currently
Currently I am living in Jacksonville North Carolina with my wife and two children. I am dedicated to my studies and am on track to graduate the Spring of 2017. For now, I am working in a retail position with Advance Auto Part. While it is not glamorous or what I truly want to do, it does pay the bills. With the small amount of time I have between being a father, a student, and a full time employee I strive to develop my skills and work on my various projects.
