Chris Keeling

Current

• Game Reviewer at GamersInfo.net
• Documentation Manager at E*TRADE Financial
• Sergeant First Class at United States Army Reserve

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Past

• Game Writer / Designer at Wargaming.Net
• Senior Information Developer at Computershare Inc.
• Designer / Community Manager at Smiling Gator Productions, Inc.

• Game Designer / Writer at Army Game Project
• Game Writer / Researcher at Psygnosis / Wings Simulations
• Game Reviewer at Wargamer.com

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3 more...

Education

• National University
• Charter Oak State College

Recommended

8 people have recommended Chris

Connections

200 connections

Industry

Computer Games

Websites

• GamersInfo.net

Chris Keeling’s Summary

Experienced game designer, writer, and product manager with a solid understanding of meeting real-world requirements and challenges while providing balance, challenge, and fun. Proficient in developing game and project documentation from budgets and schedules to design documents, stories, and pitches. Highly organized and efficient with project management and leadership skills learned in the commercial software industry and active military service.

DESIGN
• Systems and interactive gameplay design
• Writing game design documents, treatments, proposals, and pitches
• Pen-and-paper prototype and tabletop game design
• Community management and playtesting
• Narrative design and story arc development

WRITING
• Dialogue, cutscenes, quests, barks, and general scriptwriting
• Developing characters, worlds, and stories
• Creating web content, online training, and marketing materials
• Research, layout, and publishing experience
• Technical writing and user manual development

PRODUCTION
• Managing teams, including freelance consultants
• Scheduling and budgeting software projects
• Product and workflow management
• Community and public relations and marketing
• Developing technical documentation and project plans

Chris Keeling’s Specialties:

Game Writing, Design, and Production; Content Development;
Community Management; Technical Documentation

Chris Keeling’s Experience

• Game Reviewer

  GamersInfo.net

  (Privately Held; Online Media industry)

  December 2008 — Present (1 year )

  I occasionally give my opinion about games for this excellent game review site, which caters not only to hardcore power-gamers, but also to casual gamers and families. I also blog about my experiences playing the Runewaker/Frogster MMORPG Runes of Magic.
  
  http://www.gamersinfo.net/authors/205-severian

• Documentation Manager

  E*TRADE Financial

  (Public Company; ETFC; Financial Services industry)

  April 2008 — Present (1 year 8 months)

  • Plan and manage the writing, editing, revision, and approval process for all product documentation for major international financial software company.
  • Built and supervise team responsible for writing, producing and maintaining online documentation for multiple product lines on several platforms.
  • Work collaboratively within a cross-functional team to support deadlines and adjust quickly to changes in company and product plans.
  • Lead the way on Web 2.0 implementation and design for customer-facing applications and websites.

• Sergeant First Class

  United States Army Reserve

  (Government Agency; Military industry)

  March 1989 — Present (20 years 9 months)

  • Led Tactical Human Intelligence Team 701 in combat in northern Iraq and Kurdistan from 2005 through 2006 conducting source operations, interrogations, and debriefings, writing and editing intelligence reports, managing and evaluating subordinates and interpreters, and maintaining security and control of classified information and computer systems.
  • Supervised, led, and trained up to 200 soldiers at a time as Senior Drill Sergeant in 2/417th Regiment, 98th Division, U.S. Army Reserve.
  • Runner-up Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for the U.S. Army Reserve in 2003.
  • Represented the United States Army Special Operations Command at the International Special Forces Competition held in Zilina, Slovakia.
  • Developed online training manuals for defense intelligence systems, participated in Special Operations intelligence activities, and wrote classified reports.
  • Attended numerous foreign and domestic military schools, earning airborne wings from France, Greece, Israel, and Slovakia and Honor Graduate award from the International Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrol School’s Specialist Reconnaissance course.

• Game Writer / Designer

  Wargaming.Net

  (Privately Held; Computer Games industry)

  January 2009 — August 2009 (8 months)

  • Organized and wrote all of the text in the World War II real-time strategy game Order of War (published by Square Enix), from the user interface to dialogue to unit barks.
  • Assisted in the design and implementation of cutscenes, wrote all video dialogue, and worked with rights holders to select and provide appropriate wartime video footage.
  • Managed the selection of voiceover candidates, gave voice direction, approved take selection, and coordinated with FIGS localization teams.
  • Reviewed missions and equipment for balance, authenticity, and playability as well as holding responsibility for accuracy and appeal to American audience.

• Senior Information Developer

  Computershare Inc.

  (Public Company; Financial Services industry)

  July 2000 — January 2008 (7 years 7 months)

  • Worked directly with developers to ensure the production of a timely and useful product with an efficient and user-friendly help system and concise and accurate documentation.
  • Led the team’s internal technology assessment program and created and managed internal websites and Microsoft Sharepoint Server site for the entire facility.
  • Won 2003 and 2004 Society for Technical Communication Award for Excellence.

• Designer / Community Manager

  Smiling Gator Productions, Inc.

  (Privately Held; Computer Games industry)

  February 2004 — April 2005 (1 year 3 months)

  • Developed system and design documents covering combat, weapons, and armor for Twilight War: After the Fall post-apocalyptic massive multiplayer online roleplaying game.
  • Wrote web content and public relations material and provided editing and layout support for website documentation and design materials.
  • Developed customer support plan, in-game communication plan, and system for administering client support issues.
  • Managed website support staff, web content and pre-release user community public relations for Twilight War.

• Game Designer / Writer

  Army Game Project

  (Computer Games industry)

  October 2002 — April 2003 (7 months)

  • Designed and wrote interactive values-based scenarios using full-motion video for America's Army: Soldiers roleplaying game and created game information database.
  • Developed user manual and online help system for America's Army: Operations modern military first-person shooter.
  • Validated authenticity of game details including weapons, equipment, vehicles, and uniforms, and made recommendations on design, structure, interface, and scenarios.
  • Managed online community of several hundred thousand registered users and assisted in the beta testing program for both games.

• Game Writer / Researcher

  Psygnosis / Wings Simulations

  (Computer Games industry)

  September 1998 — June 1999 (10 months)

  • Wrote gameplay manuals for Panzer Elite World War II armored combat simulation, including 70,000+ word historical guide to tank warfare.
  • Conducted research to improve game accuracy and ran the North American portion of the beta testing program.

• Game Reviewer

  Wargamer.com

  (Computer Games industry)

  1998 — 1999 (1 year )

  Wrote reviews of computer wargames for leading independent game review site.
  
  http://www.wargamer.com/articles/search.asp?search=&atype=0&orderby=0&Author=chris+keeling&from=&to=&results=50

Chris Keeling’s Education

• National University

  MFA , Videogame Production and Design , 2008 — 2009

  Currently attending.

• Charter Oak State College

  BA , Russian , 2001

Additional Information

Chris Keeling’s Websites:

• GamersInfo.net

Chris Keeling’s Interests:

Video games (MMO/FPS/RPG), wargames, boardgames, online communities, military history, shooting sports, reading and writing science fiction, fantasy, and horror

Chris Keeling’s Groups:

International Game Developers Association
IGDA Writing SIG (Committee Member)
Veterans of Foreign Wars
National Rifle Association
High Rock Shooting Association
Solomon Lodge 822 (AF & AM)

•    Freemason@LI
•    Society for Technical Communication
•    International Game Developers Association
•    Gaming People - The Gaming People Expert Network (+9.500)
•    LDS Professionals
•    GamesProducers
•    Game Developers
•    Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) [over 1000 members!]
•    Indie RPG Design
•    Game Writing
•    Game Creator's Network
•    Electronic Entertainment Industry Network
•    Role Playing Game Designers
•    Gaming: Passion and Profession
•    Video Gaming Industry Executives
•    Technical Writer Forum
•    VideoGame Professionals
•    Virtual Worlds and Gaming Professionals
•    MASSIVE ONLINE GAMER Group
•    Mary-Margaret Network
•    Level Design
•    MMO Players
•    Board games and game design
•    Video Game Research
•    Level Up! Opportunities for games people.
•    Jobs In Games
•    Social Entertainment Professionals
•    Social Game Developers

Chris Keeling’s Honors:

Award of Excellence, Society for Technical Communications, Connecticut Chapter, Online Communications Competition, 2003 and 2004

Runner-Up Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, United States Army Reserve Command, 2003

Honor Graduate, United States Army Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, 2003

Member of team representing the United States at International Special Forces Competition, 1996

Honor Graduate, International Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrol School, 1996

Awarded Greek, Israeli, Slovak, and French Parachutist badges, Norwegian Civil and Military Ski Badges, and Norwegian Shooting Badge as well as numerous U.S. Army awards and special skill badges.

Chris Keeling’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• consulting offers
• new ventures
• expertise requests
• reference requests
• getting back in touch