Context:
I am working on the report of my personal project which consist on my Interactive Game Resume. 
The given <assignment> and <criteria> looks like this:
<Assignment>:
Objectives
− Develop and execute a personal creative project in a field outside of your engineering discipline.
− Be able to explain where the idea came from (the connection between different elements/ideas/domains) and why and how it is creative (in itself and within its environment). Why is the proposed idea considered creative?
− Reflect on your creative process and the factors that influence it (metacognition).
Explanations
− Doing a project "on your own" is not automatically creative. You need to ensure that you can justify why it is unique, original, and combines elements from "distant" fields. This ensures a creative potential.
− The topic must (or could/should) be proposed and accepted by the professor.
− The project is carried out as homework (outside of class).
− A presentation must be made to showcase the project to others, in the format of an exhibition (not an official oral presentation).
− A final report must be submitted, but the informal presentation does not need to be handed in.
Report
− The format of the report is left to the student's discretion.
− The report must explain the creative process followed by the student, step by step (where the ideas came from, what the connections are).
− The report should highlight what was learned (about oneself) during the creative process, appreciation of the experience, and what you understand about your creative approach (metacognitive process).
− It can take the form of a portfolio, Word document, PPT presentation, videos, images, texts, or a combination of all these.
Evaluation Criteria (see the rubric on Moodle)
− Depth of reflection (self-criticism, learning, appreciation) o Metacognitive process on the project itself o Retrospective insights, what was learned
− Clarity and analysis of the approach o Explanation of the evolution of ideas and factors that influence the process
− Effort put into constructing the report
---------------------------
<Criteria>:
Depth of Reflection, Introspection, and Self-Criticism:
- Exceeds Expectations: The student demonstrates an in-depth ability for reflection, introspection, and self-criticism. They explore and critique the identified elements.
Description of the Situation and Reflective Elements (✓ Link with Course Material):
- Exceeds Expectations: The situation is described in-depth. All reflective elements are thoroughly described and coherent with the situation. The links with the course material are clearly described and analyzed.
Analysis of the Situation:
- Exceeds Expectations: The analysis is in-depth and coherent with the description of the situation and reflective elements.
Quality of the Presentation:
- Exceeds Expectations: The presentation stands out. Special attention has been given.---------------------------
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What I wrote so far (do not change or provide)
## Introduction

*"In a world where everyone is trying to stand out, why do our résumés all look the same?"*

As a Computer Science student, I have always felt that coding is a deeply creative endeavor—not only in crafting solutions to specific problems but also in the mediums we use to showcase these solutions. These mediums can be static or dynamic, incorporating music, videos, and interactive elements. So why, when it comes to résumés, do we constrain ourselves to a simple sheet of paper with no color or personal flair?

For this project, I decided to reimagine my résumé by incorporating playful elements that reflect my personality and demonstrate my skills as a developer. My goal was to create a personal and engaging résumé that showcases my journey in a non-traditional way, all while having fun in the process.

## Phase One: The Idea

The inspiration for my project began last year during my summer internship. My mentor, who had worked at the company for over ten years, was suddenly laid off. This wasn't unusual at the time; many big tech companies were conducting mass layoffs. The software engineering and computer science fields, once so vibrant and where we as employees had leverage, shifted dramatically, and employers regained the upper hand.

Fast forward a year, my younger brother had just completed his Computer Science degree and was actively job hunting. Despite applying to around **150 positions**, he only received **two interview invitations** and **no job offers**. Observing his struggle, I advised him to work on his portfolio while waiting for the right opportunity. I suggested that he create a website résumé to accompany his traditional résumé, allowing him to infuse more of his personality into his application materials. After all, who wouldn't want to hire someone they find engaging and personable?

At that time, I was already disillusioned with traditional résumés. They all look the same, primarily because companies use AI to scan them before a human ever reads them. It's only during networking events that you can meet recruiters and hand them that bland piece of paper that's supposed to sell you as a candidate. Encouraging my brother to think outside the box planted a seed in my mind: why not create my own résumé in a non-conventional way?

When my creativity course instructor mentioned the personal project, that seed sprouted. It was the perfect opportunity to explore this idea further. I had other ideas as well; since I struggle with ADHD, I often find it challenging to start tasks and prioritize effectively. Another project I considered was developing an app to help me (and others) prioritize and organize tasks. However, I ultimately chose the Résumé Game idea because my teacher was enthusiastic about it. Positive feedback can significantly boost motivation, and her encouragement was exactly what I needed to commit to this project fully.

## Phase Two: Research and Inspiration

With my idea solidified, I needed to figure out how to turn my résumé into a game and what that would entail. Naturally, my first step was to research existing examples. I wanted to see what had already been done, what worked well, and what didn't. I stumbled upon several interesting interactive résumés and decided to apply the **inverse brainstorming** technique—a creativity method where you identify ways to achieve the opposite of what you want, helping to highlight potential pitfalls to avoid. Simultaneously, I kept notes on elements I particularly loved.

### Interactive Résumés Explored

1. [**Robby Leonardi's Interactive Résumé**](http://www.rleonardi.com/interactive-resume/)
    
    This résumé presents the user's information as a side-scrolling game where you can move forward or backward, and as you progress, various elements appear showcasing strengths and experiences.
    
    - **What I Loved:**
        - **Stunning Design and Assets:** It's clear the creator has a background in design and invested time in crafting a beautiful website.
        - **Dynamic Elements:** The experience is engaging, with animations and interactive components.
        - **Effective Use of Banners and Titles:** Information is conveyed clearly through well-designed graphics.
    - **What I Disliked:**
        - **Buggy Navigation Controls:** The controls to move left and right can be unresponsive at times.
        - **Limited Interactivity:** Beyond movement, there's little for the user to interact with; it's primarily reading content.
2. [**Bruno Simon's 3D Résumé**](https://bruno-simon.com/)
    
    In this résumé, users navigate a car through a 3D world representing the creator's achievements and projects, implemented using Blender, a 3D modeling tool.
    
    - **What I Loved:**
        - **Interactive Elements:** Features like making the creator's name fall add a playful touch.
        - **Innovative Use of 3D Space:** The idea of exploring a résumé in three dimensions is unique.
    - **What I Disliked:**
        - **Lack of Personalization:** The map feels generic and doesn't reflect much personality.
        - **Difficult Controls:** Navigating the car can be challenging and may frustrate users.
        - **Overwhelming Layout:** It's hard to grasp the overall content while focusing on driving.
3. [**Ashley's Nostalgic Résumé**](https://ash.ms/)
    
    This is my favorite among the ones I found. The résumé emulates an old Windows operating system, allowing users to explore different "programs" that showcase the developer's work.
    
    - **What I Loved:**
        - **Clever Use of Familiar Interface:** Emulating a classic OS creates a sense of nostalgia and familiarity.
        - **Engaging Exploration:** Users can click through folders and files, mimicking a real desktop experience.
    - **What I Disliked:**
        - **Technical Jargon:** Non-technical users might not understand terms like "README" or other developer-specific language.
        - **Potential Confusion:** The interface might be less intuitive for those unfamiliar with older operating systems.

### Summary of Findings

To organize my thoughts and guide my project, I created the following table:

### Table 1: Summary of Findings from Interactive Résumé Research

| **Résumé** | **What I Loved** | **What I Disliked** | **Takeaways for My Project** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Robby Leonardi** | - Stunning design and assets- Dynamic elements- Effective use of banners and titles | - Buggy navigation controls- Limited interactivity | - Invest in visual design- Ensure smooth navigation- Incorporate dynamic content |
| **Bruno Simon** | - Interactive elements (e.g., making the name fall)- Innovative 3D approach | - Lacks personalization- Difficult controls- Overwhelming layout | - Enhance user interaction- Simplify controls- Create a cohesive, engaging environment |
| **Ashley's Résumé** | - Familiar, nostalgic interface- Engaging exploration | - Uses technical jargon- Potentially confusing for non-technical users | - Use familiar metaphors- Ensure accessibility for all audiences- Simplify language |

This table helped me identify the key elements I want to incorporate into my own project, mainly a visually engaging and interactive résumé that reflects my personality, is user-friendly and accessible to both technical and non-technical audiences.

## Phase Three: Identifying the Problems

After immersing myself in the research and inspiration phase, I realized that to create a truly engaging and personal résumé, I needed to critically analyze my existing one. I applied the **problem-framing** technique from our creativity course, which involves identifying and articulating specific issues to guide the development of effective solutions.

By reviewing my current résumé (refer to Appendix A), I articulated the following problem statements:

1. **Lack of Progression:** My résumé lacks any sense of progression; it doesn't convey how my skills and experiences have evolved over time. It presents my journey in a static, linear fashion, which doesn't reflect my growth as a developer.
2. **Generic Format:** It resembles most tech résumés, blending into a sea of similar formats. There's nothing distinctive that sets it apart or captures the reader's attention.
3. **Absence of Personal Narrative:** My résumé fails to tell my story. It doesn't capture the essence of who I am, the challenges I've overcome, or the unique path I've taken in my career.
4. **No User Engagement:** There's no room for engagement. The résumé doesn't invite interaction or exploration, making it a passive experience for the reader.
5. **Static Presentation:** It lacks dynamism. Users can't learn about my accomplishments by interacting with different elements or by following a narrative; it's purely informational.
6. **Impersonal Feel:** The résumé doesn't feel personal. It lacks creative elements that reflect my personality while remaining professional and relevant to the field.
7. **Weak Emotional Connection:** It doesn't create an experience where users feel a connection to my journey, making it less memorable and impactful.

By articulating these problems, I gained clarity on what I wanted to achieve with my creative project. This reflective process was crucial in setting a direction that would address these issues and transform my résumé into an engaging, personal, and interactive experience.
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What I need you to refactor (some of the ideas are doubled, because of different iteration, the main focus here is to have the most cohesive and clear chain of thoughts, with links and explanations):
## Phase Four: Brainstorming and Ideation

With a clear understanding of the problems in my traditional résumé, I proceeded to the brainstorming phase, aiming to develop a creative and cohesive solution. I employed several techniques from our creativity course, including **mind mapping**, **persona development**, **SCAMPER**, and **divergent thinking**, to systematically explore ideas and establish meaningful connections between game elements and résumé content.

### Mind Mapping: Linking Game Elements to Résumé Components

To generate a cohesive and purpose-driven solution, I began by creating a mind map that directly links game mechanics and structures to the various elements of my résumé. This exercise was crucial in visualizing how each aspect of my professional profile could be represented through interactive game components, thereby addressing the shortcomings of my traditional résumé.

### **Interactive Game Résumé Mind Map**

- **Central Node:** Interactive Game Résumé
    - **Résumé Elements:**
        - **Personal Background**
        - **Education**
        - **Work Experience**
        - **Skills and Abilities**
        - **Projects**
        - **Achievements and Awards**
        - **Interests and Hobbies**
    - **Linked Game Elements:**
        - **Character Creation and Backstory**
        - **Tutorial Levels**
        - **Game Levels and Quests**
        - **Skill Trees and Abilities**
        - **Mini-Games and Boss Battles**
        - **Collectibles and Badges**
        - **Side Quests and Easter Eggs**
    - **Game Genres and Styles:**
        - **Platformer**
        - **RPG (Role-Playing Game)**
        - **Puzzle Adventure**
        - **Interactive Storybook**
        - **CTF (Capture The Flag) Style**
    - **Interaction Types:**
        - **Keyboard Controls**
        - **Point-and-Click**
        - **Text-Based Interaction**
    - **Aesthetics:**
        - **Cute**
        - **Minimalist**
        - **Retro**
        - **Fantasy**
        - **Modern**

**Explanation of the Mind Map and Links:**

1. **Personal Background → Character Creation and Backstory**
    - **Connection:** The player's avatar in the game represents me, with a backstory that reflects my personal history, cultural heritage, and journey.
    - **Implementation:** At the beginning of the game, users can explore a character profile or an introductory level that introduces my background, similar to how RPGs establish a protagonist's origin story.
2. **Education → Tutorial Levels**
    - **Connection:** Education serves as the foundation of my professional skills, akin to tutorial levels that teach players the basics.
    - **Implementation:** Early levels in the game could represent my academic journey, with challenges that reflect key learning milestones, such as completing a degree or mastering a subject.
3. **Work Experience → Game Levels and Quests**
    - **Connection:** Each job or internship translates to a level or quest, showcasing the challenges faced and accomplishments achieved.
    - **Implementation:** Users navigate through levels designed around specific roles I've held, engaging in tasks or missions that mirror my responsibilities and projects.
4. **Skills and Abilities → Skill Trees and Abilities**
    - **Connection:** My professional skills are represented as abilities or stats that the character possesses or develops.
    - **Implementation:** Incorporate a skill tree where users can view and unlock skills, demonstrating growth and proficiency in areas like programming languages or tools.
5. **Projects → Mini-Games and Boss Battles**
    - **Connection:** Significant projects are featured as mini-games or boss battles, highlighting problem-solving and technical expertise.
    - **Implementation:** For example, a mini-game could simulate debugging code, representing a project where I developed a critical software solution.
6. **Achievements and Awards → Collectibles and Badges**
    - **Connection:** Awards and recognitions are depicted as collectibles, badges, or trophies within the game.
    - **Implementation:** Players can earn or discover these items, symbolizing my achievements like certifications or competition wins.
7. **Interests and Hobbies → Side Quests and Easter Eggs**
    - **Connection:** Personal interests are optional side quests or hidden elements that add depth to the game and my character.
    - **Implementation:** Side quests could involve photography challenges or baking puzzles, reflecting my hobbies and adding personal flair.
8. **Résumé Content Navigation → In-Game Menu and Journal**
    - **Connection:** Traditional résumé sections are accessible through an in-game menu or journal, allowing users to view detailed information at their convenience.
    - **Implementation:** The menu includes tabs like 'Profile,' 'Skills,' 'Experience,' and 'Inventory,' providing structured access to résumé content.

**Purpose and Cohesion:**

This mind map not only identifies the elements of both a game and a résumé but also establishes direct connections between them. By mapping résumé components to specific game mechanics, I ensured that each aspect of my professional profile is represented interactively and meaningfully within the game environment. This approach addresses the problems identified earlier by:

- **Creating Progression:** Game levels mirror my career progression, showing growth and development.
- **Enhancing Engagement:** Interactive elements and challenges keep users actively involved.
- **Personalizing the Experience:** Aesthetics and side quests reflect my personality and interests.
- **Facilitating Accessibility:** An in-game menu allows users to access detailed information easily, catering to different user preferences.

### SCAMPER Technique

Applying the SCAMPER technique with the mind map in mind, I refined how each game element can enhance the résumé content.

- **Substitute:**
    - *Replace static text with interactive gameplay.* For example, substitute a bullet list of skills with an interactive skill tree that users can explore.
- **Combine:**
    - *Merge résumé sections with game mechanics.* Combine work experience with game levels to create an engaging narrative.
- **Adapt:**
    - *Use familiar game structures to present information.* Adapt the concept of collectibles for achievements and awards.
- **Modify:**
    - *Alter the presentation style to suit my personality.* Modify the game's aesthetic to a cute, minimalist design that reflects who I am.
- **Put to Another Use:**
    - *Use gameplay to demonstrate skills.* Employ mini-games to showcase technical abilities rather than just listing them.
- **Eliminate:**
    - *Remove unnecessary complexity.* Streamline the game to focus on key experiences and skills, avoiding overwhelming the user.
- **Reverse/Rearrange:**
    - *Allow non-linear exploration.* Users can choose which levels (experiences) to explore based on their interests.

**Cohesion and Purpose:**

The SCAMPER analysis, when applied alongside the mind map, ensures that each game element serves a clear purpose in presenting résumé content effectively. It promotes innovation while maintaining focus on the goals identified through persona development.

### Idea Generation and Selection

With the mind map and SCAMPER insights, I brainstormed specific game concepts that integrate résumé elements seamlessly.

### **1. 2D Platformer Game with Integrated Résumé Elements**

- **Concept:**
    - A side-scrolling platformer where users control a character representing me, navigating through levels that correspond to different stages of my career.
- **Integration:**
    - **Levels as Work Experience:** Each level represents a job or internship, with challenges reflecting the role's responsibilities.
    - **Skill Trees:** Accessible in the menu, showing technical skills and allowing users to explore my competencies.
    - **Collectibles:** Achievements and awards are found throughout levels as collectibles.
    - **Side Quests:** Optional challenges represent my interests and hobbies.
- **Aesthetics:**
    - Cute, minimalist design to reflect my personal style.

### **2. RPG Game with Character Sheet and Quests**

- **Concept:**
    - An RPG where users embark on quests that represent challenges I've faced, with a detailed character sheet providing in-depth information.
- **Integration:**
    - **Character Sheet:** Functions as an interactive résumé, displaying stats, skills, and background.
    - **Quests:** Each quest mirrors a significant project or experience.
    - **Skill Development:** Users 'level up' skills by completing quests, illustrating my professional growth.
- **Aesthetics:**
    - Blend of fantasy and modern elements to create an engaging environment.

### **3. Puzzle Adventure with Résumé Content Unlocked Through Challenges**

- **Concept:**
    - Users solve puzzles related to my skills to unlock résumé sections.
- **Integration:**
    - **Puzzles:** Reflect technical challenges I've overcome.
    - **Unlocked Content:** Successfully solving puzzles reveals detailed information about projects and skills.
- **Aesthetics:**
    - Minimalist design to keep focus on the puzzles and content.

**Selection Criteria:**

- **Alignment with Personas:** Must cater to both the HR Manager and Technical Manager.
- **Feasibility:** Achievable with available resources and time.
- **Effectiveness:** Addresses the identified problems and leverages the mind map connections.

**Chosen Concept:**

I selected the **2D Platformer Game with Integrated Résumé Elements** as it best aligns with the criteria:

- **For HR Managers:**
    - Easy to navigate with optional in-depth exploration.
    - Memorable due to its unique presentation.
- **For Technical Managers:**
    - Interactive demonstrations of skills.
    - Detailed information accessible through the in-game menu.

### Integrating the Character Sheet and Menu System

Inspired by role-playing games like **Persona**, I decided to incorporate a comprehensive menu system and character sheet to centralize résumé information.

**Features:**

- **Character Sheet:**
    - **Profile:** Personal background and description.
    - **Stats:** Visual representation of skills and competencies, possibly using a radar chart.
    - **Level and Experience Points (XP):** Education and professional development milestones.
    - **Skills:** Technical skills categorized and displayed interactively.
    - **Inventory:** Awards, certifications, and notable achievements.
    - **Quests:** List of completed and available levels (experiences), allowing users to choose which ones to explore.
- **Menu Design:**
    - **Accessible Anytime:** Users can open the menu at any point to view information.
    - **Interactive Elements:** Clickable sections leading to detailed content.
    - **Aesthetics:** Styled to match the game's overall design, ensuring a cohesive experience.

**Purpose and Cohesion:**

- **Centralized Information:** Provides quick access to key résumé elements, meeting the needs of both personas.
- **Enhanced Engagement:** Interactive menu encourages exploration.
- **Personalization:** Reflects my personality through design and content presentation.

### Finalizing the Concept and Next Steps

By thoroughly mapping the connections between game elements and résumé content, and considering the needs of my target audience, I developed a cohesive and purpose-driven solution. The final concept effectively transforms my résumé into an engaging, interactive experience that addresses the initial problems and showcases my skills and personality.

**Implementation Plan:**

- **Design Assets:**
    - Create character sprites, backgrounds, and UI elements that reflect the desired aesthetics.
- **Develop Game Mechanics:**
    - Program character controls, level progression, and interactive elements.
- **Integrate Menu and Character Sheet:**
    - Design the menu interface and link it to in-game elements.
- **Create Levels and Content:**
    - Develop levels that represent each work experience, including challenges and mini-games.
- **Test and Refine:**
    - Ensure the game is accessible, user-friendly, and effectively communicates résumé content.

**Conclusion:**

Through the deliberate application of mind mapping to link game and résumé elements, alongside other creativity techniques, I arrived at a well-structured and innovative solution. This process ensured that every aspect of the game serves a clear purpose in representing my professional profile, making the interactive résumé not only a creative project but also a practical tool for engaging potential employers.

## Phase Four: Brainstorming and Ideation

With a clear understanding of the problems, I moved on to the brainstorming phase. I employed several creativity techniques from our course, including **mind mapping**, **SCAMPER**, and **divergent thinking**, to generate a wide array of ideas.

### Mind Mapping

I began by creating a mind map to explore the different types of games and how they could serve as mediums for my résumé. This visual tool helped me organize my thoughts and see connections between various game genres, models, interactions, and aesthetics.

![mindmap-1.png](https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/9fdb1af5-e5aa-40b1-8d44-0e5fe399b82b/1e1a8a03-be59-4b2f-a5ce-92db99719c3b/mindmap-1.png)

**Text Representation of My Mind Map:**

- **Game Genres:**
    - Puzzle
    - Adventure
    - Platformer
    - VR
    - RPG
    - Arcade
    - Strategy
- **Models:**
    - 2D
    - 3D
- **Interaction Types:**
    - Text-Based
    - Point-and-Click
    - Scrolling
    - Drag-and-Drop
    - Arrow Keyboard Controls
- **Aesthetics:**
    - Retro
    - Cute
    - Minimalist
    - Fantasy

This mind map illuminated the vast possibilities available and allowed me to consider how different game elements could address the problems I identified with my current résumé.

I also thought of the different personas that could use my resume, I identified 2:

(HR persona)

(Technical manager personna)

### SCAMPER Technique

Next, I applied the **SCAMPER** technique to push my creative boundaries:

- **Substitute:** Replace traditional résumé sections with interactive game levels.
- **Combine:** Merge storytelling with gameplay to create an engaging narrative.
- **Adapt:** Adapt popular game mechanics to showcase my skills and experiences.
- **Modify:** Change the aesthetic to better reflect my personality.
- **Put to Another Use:** Use a game as a medium to present professional qualifications.
- **Eliminate:** Remove unnecessary information to focus on engaging content.
- **Reverse/Rearrange:** Allow users to choose their own path, making the experience non-linear.

### Idea Generation

Employing these techniques, I brainstormed several ideas:

1. **VR Game (3D, Point-and-Click, Minimalist):** A virtual reality experience where users navigate through different rooms representing my résumé sections.
2. **Platform Game (2D, Arrow Keyboard, Cute):** A side-scrolling game where the main character progresses through levels that parallel my career journey.
3. A CTF like Game, where you have access to a computer and you need to search for information. because I loved my security class where we were intorduced to CTF like labs!
4. **Puzzle Adventure:** A game where users solve puzzles related to my skills to unlock new areas of my résumé.
5. **Interactive Storybook:** A narrative-driven game where choices made by the user reveal different aspects of my professional life.
6. **Retro Arcade Game:** An old-school arcade-style game that incorporates elements of my experiences and achievements.
7. **Strategy Game:** Users manage resources or tasks that mirror my project management skills.
8. **RPG Game:** Players embark on quests that represent challenges I've overcome in my career.

### Selecting the Final Ideas

To narrow down my options, I used a **weighted decision matrix**, evaluating each idea based on criteria such as feasibility, engagement level, ability to showcase my skills, and alignment with my personal brand.

I ultimately settled on two main concepts:

1. **A VR Museum Experience**
    
    **Concept:**
    
    Create a virtual reality museum where users explore different exhibits representing various facets of my résumé.
    
    **Inspiration:**
    
    This idea was heavily influenced by my visits to several museums in New York City over the summer, such as the MET, MoMA, and the Guggenheim. The diverse mediums of art showcased in these spaces inspired me to think about presenting my experiences as curated exhibitions.
    
    **Details:**
    
    - **Lobby and Map:**
        
        Users start in a lobby with access to a map highlighting different sections of the museum.
        
    - **Sections:**
        - **"Sara Beddouch: The Person":**
            
            A history museum-style exhibit featuring artifacts that represent my heritage and personal journey. For instance, a **tajine** to symbolize my Moroccan roots and images of **Mecca** to represent my birthplace in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This section would also chronicle my educational background, from my first degree in chemical engineering to my current master's in cybersecurity.
            
        - **"Sara Beddouch: The Developer":**
            
            An art exhibition showcasing my projects as paintings, sculptures representing internships, and multimedia installations for significant achievements. For example, a room dedicated to the **Flow Mobile App** I developed to aid oceanographers in sampling and analyzing microplastics.
            
        - **"Sara Beddouch: The Passionate":**
            
            A photography exhibit displaying my hobbies and interests, such as baking, nature, animals, and cityscapes—reflecting my love for photography.
            
    
    **Advantages:**
    
    - Highly immersive and interactive.
    - Allows for creative expression across various mediums.
    - Provides a unique and memorable user experience.
    
    **Challenges:**
    
    - Requires significant resources and technical expertise in VR development.
    - May not be accessible to all users due to hardware limitations.
2. **A 2D Platformer Game with Mini-Games**
    
    **Concept:**
    
    Develop a 2D platformer where the main character (me) navigates through levels representing different stages of my career, each featuring unique mini-games.
    
    **Details:**
    
    - **Level Design:**
        
        Each level corresponds to an internship or significant project, incorporating gameplay mechanics that reflect the skills and challenges of that experience.
        
    - **Mini-Games:**
        - **Level Ribbon:**
            
            Inspired by my internship at Ribbon, where I implemented a system to monitor and alert on failing routines. The mini-game would involve players using a visual interface (resembling binoculars) to scan for and identify error logs, emphasizing observability.
            
        - **Level Cisco:**
            
            Based on my DevOps role at Cisco, the game would be a puzzle where users construct a pipeline from start to finish, mirroring the creation of testing pipelines in a test environment.
            
        - **Level Microsoft:**
            
            Reflecting my project involving ChatGPT and Azure certifications, this level could feature an AI-driven interaction where users engage in a simulated interview or solve problems using AI tools.
            
        - **Level MongoDB:**
            
            Drawing from my work automating pipelines to generate Locust files, the mini-game would require players to arrange steps in the correct order to produce the desired outcome, such as populating a database with generated data.
            
    
    **Advantages:**
    
    - Accessible to a wider audience without the need for specialized equipment.
    - Engages users through diverse and interactive gameplay.
    - Effectively showcases my technical skills in a fun and memorable way.
    
    **Challenges:**
    
    - Ensuring a cohesive narrative across different mini-games.
    - Integrating personal information and achievements beyond work experience.

### Making the Final Decision

To decide between these two concepts, I reflected on my goals and constraints, and I discussed the ideas with my brother and partner. Their feedback provided valuable perspectives.

We collectively agreed that the **2D Platformer with Mini-Games** was the best fit for several reasons:

- **Accessibility:** It doesn't require VR equipment, making it accessible to a broader audience.
- **Personal Connection:** The platformer genre allows for storytelling and character development, enabling me to infuse my personality into the game.
- **Skill Showcase:** The mini-games offer a creative way to demonstrate specific skills and experiences.

However, I still faced the challenge of incorporating other résumé elements, such as personal background and achievements, into the game. Initially, I considered displaying this information in the background or through in-game dialogue, but it felt forced and cluttered.

That's when I recalled the concept of **character sheets** from role-playing games like **Dungeons & Dragons (DnD)**.

### Integrating the Character Sheet

**Inspiration:**

DnD character sheets provide detailed information about a character's attributes, background, skills, and equipment. They are comprehensive and interactive, which aligns well with my goal of presenting personal information in an engaging way.

**Implementation:**

- **Character Profile:**
    
    Create a character sheet for the main character (me) that users can access at any time. It would include personal details, stats (representing skills), and background information.
    
- **Skill Progression:**
    
    As users progress through the game, new skills and achievements would be added to the character sheet, reflecting the character's growth—mirroring my professional development.
    
- **Interactive Elements:**
    
    Users could click on different sections of the character sheet to learn more about specific experiences or qualifications.
    

**Benefits:**

- **Cohesive Integration:**
    
    The character sheet complements the gaming experience and provides a natural way to present personal information.
    
- **Engagement:**
    
    It adds another layer of interactivity, encouraging users to explore and engage with the content.
    
- **Storytelling:**
    
    It enhances the narrative by documenting the character's (and my) journey in a tangible way.
    

Feeling confident, I started implementing my game, I decided to allow my character to Jump and run, so I started by drawing the different assets

- Character strikes I found online:
    
    ![03 Jump.png](https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/9fdb1af5-e5aa-40b1-8d44-0e5fe399b82b/3bacce5d-9aed-480c-a656-25d605b85be1/03_Jump.png)
    
    ![01 Idle.png](https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/9fdb1af5-e5aa-40b1-8d44-0e5fe399b82b/2073c8e4-2e21-4163-bac4-f9ec435184b0/01_Idle.png)
    
    ![02 Run.png](https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/9fdb1af5-e5aa-40b1-8d44-0e5fe399b82b/8f1b8644-f22e-46b1-a15e-5d9aa7d970b7/02_Run.png)
    
    Using Pixelart, I made myself into a character, the most important aspect for me here, was my curly hair, since it is an important part of my outside appearance, I am proud of my curly hair, even thos it is difficult to manage, I also wanted a cute character, sice it ressembles my aesthetic the most, I love cute things.
    
    ![r_jump.png](https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/9fdb1af5-e5aa-40b1-8d44-0e5fe399b82b/3ee5e60b-59c5-4c58-8d9d-4a4e2b38e693/r_jump.png)
    
    ![r_still.png](https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/9fdb1af5-e5aa-40b1-8d44-0e5fe399b82b/6b351f0b-0b08-4a17-af21-b175b8697ca1/r_still.png)
    
    ![r_run.png](https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/9fdb1af5-e5aa-40b1-8d44-0e5fe399b82b/4dbcd9cd-3dbd-4d2a-ba66-21883051f822/r_run.png)
    
- Background:
    
    I wanted something happy and cheerful, so that it feels fun, to have the parallex effect, i had to draw each element of the background seperatly so that it looks like they are moving at different speed when we advance:
    
    ![1_sky.png](https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/9fdb1af5-e5aa-40b1-8d44-0e5fe399b82b/8d02ac36-da53-4e6e-a874-65865ceb0cea/1_sky.png)
    
    ![3_clouds.png](https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/9fdb1af5-e5aa-40b1-8d44-0e5fe399b82b/e9827147-714e-453d-be55-33a131630f78/3_clouds.png)
    
    ![5_ground.png](https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/9fdb1af5-e5aa-40b1-8d44-0e5fe399b82b/a44041ee-916b-423c-8fb2-0c7db9b06bd7/5_ground.png)
    
    ![tree_1.png](https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/9fdb1af5-e5aa-40b1-8d44-0e5fe399b82b/a0a26e43-b3a6-4f9d-b4a0-cf035bd50ad0/tree_1.png)
    

Then I worked on incorporating everything together:

*video*

Then I worked on the first mini-game (the ribbon one)

*video*

I was fairly confident at this point, I loved what I’ve made so far it looked decent, I was going to implement the character sheet next and call it a day, except I wasn’t feeling super confident about it and was procrastinating on it a little bit. That was untill I went to my friend’s house on the 27th of september and one of her roomates was playing the new Persona game. Right before leaving I sat behind her not thinking anything of it and then I saw the menu of the game specifically for the different characters and I fell in love, I loved how dynamic it looks, how you were able to see the whole infos in one centralised place and it hit me! I should add a menu to my game, actually the menu should be the resume! AHA! Why go through everything when obviously anyone who looks at my resume will need to find a way to really understand the whole vision, I can still keep my mini games, but it will be when the user decides to play the game, otherwise most of the inofs are here! Yay a new idea, buy ouch not so much time to implement it, now I had to pivot my focus on the design of the menu. I started by listing everything those menus usually have:

attack/damage

attack speed

movement speed

health

armor

Journal: logs of

HP

MP

EXP

Description

Power

skills: abilities (in slots)

stats/strength

level

School

data/quest

inventory

---

I then opened my resume and for each section or information:

- Contact infos
- School/education
- Work experience
- Hackathons, CTFs that I won

I decided to map it to one of these. It looked something like this:

about/info: description + extra curricular (passions)

stats: 

Level or rank: education I could say that I earn XP with each

Power: my strenght I could showcase it as a radar chart like this in persona:

![image.png](https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/9fdb1af5-e5aa-40b1-8d44-0e5fe399b82b/cdefb869-a779-4de4-8249-70b2e0ea7da8/image.png)

Skills:

Languge: Langages I use and know

Tool: tools I use and know

Quests: My experience as a format of missions, so essentially showcasing each internship as a mission

inventory: awards and hackathons, ctfs I participated in and what I did! 

Next I had to work on designing it all, which lef to those wireframes:

---

I still wanted to have the levels be played so that the user can play my role and in a fun way understand what I did. so we should have a play button that either starts the journey from the beginning or we can click on the mission we want to play in the quests option of the menu.

Last thing I did was do the personas of my potential game resume:

**HR Manager Persona**

- **Name:** Claire Thompson
- **Age:** 42
- **Occupation:** HR Manager at a mid-sized tech firm
- **Family Status:** Married with two children
- **Education:** Bachelor's degree in Human Resources
- **Background and Goals:** Claire is responsible for screening candidates quickly and efficiently to fill open positions. She prioritizes finding candidates who not only meet job qualifications but also meet the values of the company and a good cultural fit to the team. With a heavy workload, she seeks a résumé that stands out and delivers the necessary information in a concise, memorable way.
- **Frustrations:** Overwhelmed by generic résumés that all look the same and struggle to identify candidates that stand out in a sea of conventional applications.
- **Needs:** Claire needs a résumé that is easy to navigate, quickly highlights the candidate's key skills and experiences, and is presented in an engaging, unique format to leave a lasting impression.

**Technical Manager Persona**

- **Name:** James Richardson
- **Age:** 37
- **Occupation:** Lead Software Engineer and Hiring Manager
- **Family Status:** Single
- **Education:** Master's degree in Computer Science
- **Background and Goals:** James is primarily responsible for assessing the technical competencies of candidates. He looks for individuals who not only list skills but also demonstrate practical expertise in solving real-world problems. He prefers to evaluate candidates through interactive showcases that go beyond static résumés.
- **Frustrations:** Difficulty in evaluating candidates' problem-solving skills and practical experiences through traditional résumés, which often lack interactive demonstrations of their abilities.
- **Needs:** James seeks a résumé that includes interactive elements showcasing technical skills, projects, and problem-solving abilities. He values a clear presentation of complex information and appreciates detailed, practical demonstrations of expertise.

Refinement, based on the personas i drafted:

- I wanted to add the option to talk to my avatar in order to ask any question regarding the information or where to find it, I though it would be a very cool feature that not only helps the user navigate the resume, but also makes it even more personable, since I can chose to use my voice and you would essentially have a clone Sara to aks any wuestion regarding my experience!
- I want to have speed run option so that the user essentially sees the whole game being played really fast so if he doesn’t feel like doing it, he can still see it!