GREG ORLANDO
Profile
• Writer with 10-plus years of game-, feature-, news-, and opinion- writing experience.
• Head writer on two current-generation video games.
• Expert editor and copy-editor.
• Works well on deadlines and within the framework of a team.
Game writing experience
The Outsider (Frontier Developments, Ltd.; PlayStation 3, Xbox 360)
WRITER – 2008-2009
The as-yet unreleased The Outsider is a third-person, adult-themed action adventure.
• Evaluated game design documents to ensure story was of the highest quality.
• Wrote approximately 55,000 lines of dialogue.
• Contributed story elements, crafted missions, and gave feedback on in-game systems.
• Localized and edited text to ensure it conforms to “American” English.
Battle of the Bands (Planet Moon Studios/THQ; Nintendo Wii)
HEAD WRITER – 2007-2008
A rhythm-action game, Battle of the Bands let players take the role of a goofy band competing to crush a series of opposing musical groups.
• Wrote all in-game text, band descriptions, and dialogue chains.
• Worked with the developers to ensure all in-game content was fun, creative, and humorous.
Thrillville: Off the Rails (Frontier Developments, LTD., /LucasArts; PC, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS,
PlayStation 2, PSP)
HEAD WRITER – 2006-2007
Thrillville: Off the Rails is a third-person action adventure game developed by Frontier Developments LTD., and published by LucasArts.
• Wrote approximately 70,000 lines of in-game dialogue.
• Scripted in-game cut-scenes, directed voice acting sessions.
• Plotted in-game missions, created characters for the game, oversaw development of the game’s story.
•Worked in conjunction with a team of designers, artists, producers, animators, and public relations specialists for both the developer and publisher to ensure everyone’s vision was brought to life.
• Worked extensively on deadline; completed rewrites with very short turnaround.
Other professional experience
PlayStation: The Official Magazine
EXECUTIVE EDITOR — 2010-2011
PlayStation: The Official Magazine, published by Future Network USA, is a monthly print publication with a circulation of approximately 250,000. Its content is focused on all things Sony-related, including PlayStation, PSP, Vita, PlayStation Network, and PlayStation Home.
• Managed the efforts of a five-man staff and approximately 25 freelancers.
• Edited and copy-edited all text in the magazine.
• Generated stories, oversaw all assignments to freelancers, and wrote approximately 10 pages’ worth of news and feature stories; game previews; critical reviews; and long-form interviews.
Play Magazine
SENIOR EDITOR, 2005-2006
The now-defunct Play Magazine was published monthly by Fusion Media.
• Covered all aspects of the video game industry; attended industry events; interviewed game developers; and generated story ideas.
• Served as administrator and community manager for Play Magazine’s online portal, www.playmagazine.com. Oversaw a community of approximately 500 posters, and monitored content to ensure it met with the site’s terms of service guidelines.
Xbox Nation
SENIOR EDITOR, 2002-2005
Xbox Nation had a circulation of 150,000. Published by Ziff-Davis Media, it covered Microsoft’s Xbox.
• Wrote, edited, and secured original features, interviews, news stories, and exclusive content.
• Managed all facets of Xbox Nation’s 25-page reviews section; hired freelancers; assigned stories; and proofread pages before they were sent off to the printer.
• Worked in conjunction with a six-man staff to ensure all content was of the highest quality.
Secrets of Halo 2
CO-WRITER/MANAGING EDITOR, 2005
The book Secrets of Halo 2 offers insight into the Halo video game franchise. It was published by Rockett Media.
• Managed the efforts of two freelance writers who completed the book’s strategy section and took in-game screen shots and gathered appropriate artwork.
• Wrote half the book, conducted interviews with game designers, and copy- and final edited all text for grammar, punctuation, style, and clarity.
DailyRadar.com
EDITOR, 1999 -2001
Imagine Media’s Web site DailyRadar.com covered entertainment and video games. I worked as the editor for the site’s Sega Radar channel.
• Managed all facets of Sega Radar; oversaw the work of a junior editor; planned and edited content; directed the efforts of 15 freelance writers.
• Was responsible for posting four stories daily.
• Wrote game news stories, features, previews, and reviews.
• Conducted interviews with game developers and attended game industry events.
Wizard: The Comics Magazine
COPY EDITOR, 1996-1998
Wizard Magazine was published monthly and had a circulation of 200,000.
• Copy- and final-edited approximately 100 pages of magazine content per month.
• Wrote four monthly columns: “Picks,” “Casting Call,” “If You Missed…,” and “Video Stuff.”
Acclaim Entertainment
QUALITY ASSURANCE TESTER/ LEAD TESTER, 1995-1996
Acclaim Entertainment was a game developer and publisher.
• Experimented with game software; identified gameplay, sound, and graphics errors, and wrote up detailed bug reports.
• As lead tester, I supervised the efforts of a team of 10 testers on projects such as the PC version of Magic: The Gathering: BattleMage.
References
Aaron Loeb
General Manager, Playfish
San Francisco, CA
(650) 628-1500
Mike Fasolo
Writer, Robot Chicken
Stoopid Monkey Productions
Los Angeles, CA
(845) 216-2346
Frank O’Connor
Franchise Director, 343 Industries
Microsoft
Redmond, WA
(425) 538 -2314
