Michael J. Carpenter Email & Phone Number

San Francisco, California, Us

In my role as a principal software engineer on Zynga's prototyping team, I thrive in a dynamic environment where creativity and innovation are paramount. Our team is like a startup within the company, focused on turning fresh, fun ideas into the next generation of mobile games. From brainstorming sessions filled with wild, imaginative concepts to the thrill of seeing a prototype come to life, every day is an adventure. We use the latest technology to build engaging gameplay experiences and iterate quickly based on feedback, ensuring that every prototype has the potential to captivate players worldwide.

Transformed a lifelong passion for vintage video games into a successful business. Specialize in buying, selling, and trading classic video game merchandise at the San Jose Flea Market on Berryessa every weekend.Key Responsibilities and Achievements:- Business Development: Established and managed all aspects of a retail venture, including sourcing rare and in-demand vintage games, setting competitive pricing, and expanding product offerings.- Customer Engagement: Built a loyal customer base by providing exceptional service, knowledgeable recommendations, and fostering a community around classic gaming.- Inventory Management: Maintained an organized and updated inventory system to track stock levels, sales trends, and customer preferences.- Financial Oversight: Handled budgeting, bookkeeping, and financial planning to ensure profitability and sustainable growth.- Storefront Presentation: Designed an inviting and interactive storefront experience that attracts customers and enhances their shopping experience.

Los Angeles, California, Us

At TikTok, I was at the cutting edge of developing groundbreaking camera effects that empowered creators to craft compelling content. Collaborating closely with designers, I oversaw several high-complexity projects and managed small teams of developers, bringing imaginative ideas to life as interactive, high-performance effects. This included a diverse range of creations, from playful game effects to sophisticated rendering effects and branded experiences. Leveraging advanced AI systems for object and person detection, our work set new standards for camera technology, making effects not only visually stunning but also highly intuitive and engaging.

Anywhere Usa, Us

Built key UI features for Five Nights at Freddy's AR: Special Delivery, an augmented reality game where players interact with animatronic characters in the real world. Developed the animatronic customization workshop, inbox, settings, and profile systems, using expertise in UI architecture, user experience design, and Unity to create an immersive and intuitive interface.Shipped: Five Nights at Freddy's AR - Special Delivery

Anywhere Usa, Us

Worked on gameplay mechanics like player and NPC logic for Five Nights at Freddy's AR: Special Delivery, ensuring the game’s AR interactions were smooth and responsive. Leveraged skills in 3D math, AR development, and AI programming to bring the game’s core features to life, creating a seamless blend of real-world and virtual gameplay.

Malibu & Corte Madera, Ca, Us

Led a small team of content programmers on the unreleased The Wolf Among Us sequel ("Snow Fall"), working on gameplay features and helping transition from the Telltale Engine to Unity. Focused on prototyping gameplay elements and ensuring a smooth engine migration using Unity and C#.

Malibu & Corte Madera, Ca, Us

Designed and developed gameplay features for titles like Minecraft: Story Mode, Guardians of the Galaxy, and The Walking Dead: The Final Season. Highlights include Free Build mode, third-person cameras, and combat systems. Utilized skills in 3D math, data structures, and gameplay programming.Credited:Batman: A Telltale Series - Episode 4 (Lead)Batman: A Telltale Series - Episode 5Guardians of the Galaxy: A Telltale Series - Episode 1Guardians of the Galaxy: A Telltale Series - Episode 2 (Lead)Guardians of the Galaxy: A Telltale Series - Episode 3Guardians of the Galaxy: A Telltale Series - Episode 4 (Lead)Guardians of the Galaxy: A Telltale Series - Episode 5The Walking Dead: The Final Season - Episode 1The Walking Dead: The Final Season - Episode 2

Malibu & Corte Madera, Ca, Us

Developed mini-games and content for Tales From the Borderlands and Batman: A Telltale Series. Contributed to episodic releases, focusing on content programming and scripting.Credited:Tales From the Borderlands - Episode 4Tales From the Borderlands - Episode 5Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 2Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 4Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 5Walking Dead: Michonne - Episode 1Walking Dead: Michonne - Episode 2Batman: A Telltale Series - Episode 1Batman: A Telltale Series - Episode 2Batman: A Telltale Series - Episode 3

Norfolk, Va, Us

Active and Reserve● Primary: Psychiatric Specialist (8485)Perform assessments, crisis triage, and management, facilitation of therapy groups, short-term counseling, training and education classes, and psychological testing● Secondary: Combat Medicine Specialist (8404)Perform tactical triage, extractions, and emergency medical care in combat environments

Santa Clara, California, Us

• Designed and executed GPU validation plans for Broadwell, Skylake, and Cannonlake processors, ensuring performance and feature stability.• Created stress-testing programs and automated validation tools in C/C++ and Ruby to uncover and debug GPU silicon issues.• Validated GPU-media-display interactions and optimized post-silicon workflows with advanced debugging tools.• Published reports and collaborated across teams to enhance GPU architecture and validation methodologies.

Fremont, Ca, Us

Worked together with a classmate of mine to develop and release an Android gameLaunched Tribal Guardian for Android - 5K+ Downloads with a 4.8 Rating

Bachelor Of Science, Game And Simulation Programming

Psychology

Care Under Fire, Combat Medicine

Certificate, Urgent Care And Nursing

Us Navy Basic Training