British remote working J2ME freelancer specialising in the development and design of applications, tools and computer games. Vast experience of all areas of Java development, ranging from high level commercial Swing applications to mobile game/application development in J2ME. Masters degree in Technology & Innovation Management, excellent technical skills.

A number of titles (games and applications) in development which will be available for publishers who have a proven track record of good sales and distribution. Prototypes can be requested, and will be delivered after an NDA has been signed.

Currently based in Taipei City, Taiwan with a successful J2ME freelance career for over 5 years. Currently seeking remote J2ME freelance or contract work on projects of any size. Email me if you have any queries

Extensive portfolio and experience including :

• Winner of ‘Young Software Engineer Of The Year’ award in 2002 for undergraduate Honours Project
• Worked on many big commercial games titles and licenses (including Grand Theft Auto Vice City & Ice Age) as well as world leading mobile phone applications (including Visto Mobile)
• Developed leading Bluetooth solutions for the worlds largest mall in Dubai, in car prototypes for Seattle Police and mobile trading tools for the London Stock Exchange.
• Experience of working as Designer, Programmer, Lead Programmer, Producer, Project Manager and Technical Director for various companies in the software/games industry.

Softography

• Commercial Video Games
  • Designer & Lead Programmer :
    • 1997 : Ultimate Gloom - Amiga, Alpha Software
    • 1998 : Zombie Massacre - Amiga, Alpha Software
    • Release due soon : Super Wah Wah Ball - Mobile phone, DC Studios
  • Lead Programmer:
    • 2003 : Sprintz - Embedded bar game, BoyStuff.co.uk
    • 2005 : Be The Boss - Mobile Phone, Beyond Capture
  • Programmer :
    • 2002 : Grand Theft Auto : Vice City - Playstation2, Rockstar North
    • 2004 : Ice Age Skater - Mobile Phone, DC Studios
    • 2004 : Planet Sagem Racer 3D - Mobile Phone, DC Studios
    • 2005 : NHRA Championship Racing - Mobile Phone, Firebrand games
  • Producer :
    • 2006 : Bad Lads Army - Mobile Phone, ITV television

• Commercial Applications
  • Designer & Lead Programmer :
    • 2006 : AirBlue - The complete Bluetooth advertising/networking package (Server PC) - details on request (This package is available to buy and is designed for marketing companies, request information)
    • 2007 : MobyGooey - mobile phone GUI/build/porting engine (Desktop PC)- details on request.
  • Lead Programmer :
    • 2003 : Seattle Police department prototype rostering system (Desktop/Mobile PC) - details on request.
    • 2006 : Bluetooth Proximity Marketing System using OBEX (PC) - details on request.
    • 2007 : Oil/commodities Live trading tool (mobile phone) - details on request.
    • 2007 : Online Communities client - (mobile phone) - details on request.
  • Programmer :
    • 2008 : Visto Mobile - Mobile Phone, Visto Corporation

Programming languages

I specialise in J2ME, particularly in the area of mobile phone development. I currently have experience of the following mobile specific technologies:

• JSR 184: Mobile 3D Graphics API for J2ME
• JSR 120, JSR 205: Wireless Messaging API (WMA)
• JSR 135: Mobile Media API (MMAPI)
• JSR 75: FileConnection APIs & PIM
• JSR 82: Bluetooth API (read more about JSRs, I can do more.)
• Mobile phone build systems
• Porting (+Device database knowledge of): LG, Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Panasonic, SonyEricsson, Samsung, Sharp, Siemens + more.
• Signing midlets.

Other programming languages:

Java, Swing, Java3D, all areas of J2ME, HTML, PHP, JavaScript, WML, WMLScript, UML, PL/SQL, SQL, C/C++, C#, XML, COBOL, LUA, Prolog, Assembly, VRML, Perl, OPL/16, Z, Arexx, Blitz Basic, Flash Lite / ActionScript, Processing (see processing.org).

OOP/OOD and the software engineering lifecycle for application and computer game development: Multi-platform, PC, Console (PS2, Nintendo DS, PSP, GBA, CD32, XBOX360), Mobile, Embedded etc. Knowledge of many industry standard development tools including: Together, Rational Rose, MS Visual C++, RealJ, Kawa, LAMP, Codewarrior, NetBeans (+Matisse), Eclipse, Carbide.J, Sun WTK, Ant, CVS, JSP, Servlets, Antenna, Dreamweaver, Linux, AmigaOS etc.

I am now developing applications for Blackberry, iPhone, XBOX360 (XNA) as well as mobile and desktop.

Previous Employment

In-house work (based on site)

• 2000 : British Telecom, Java/C++ Software Engineer (Tools / Applications)
• 2001 : Stirling University, Java teacher
• 2002 : Rockstar Studios, C++ Programmer (PS2 Games)
• 2003 : DC Studios, J2ME Programmer (Mobile Games)
• 2005 : Firebrand Games, J2ME Programmer (Mobile Games)
• 2008 : Visto Corporation, J2ME programmer (Mobile applications)

Freelance work (work from home)

• 1996 : Alpha Software, Web developer *
• 1997 : Alpha Software, Designer/programmer (Amiga Games) *
• 2003 : BoysStuff.co.uk, Java Programmer (Embedded Games)
• 2003 : ABM UK, Java Programer (Applications)
• 2004 : DC Studios, Lead J2ME Programmer / Designer (Mobile Games) *
• 2006 : Dreamsite Design, Java Programmer (Bluetooth solutions)
• 2006 : Big Picture Interactive, J2ME Programmer (Mobile Games)
• 2006 : Beyond Capture, Technical Producer / Lead J2ME Programmer (Mobile Games) *
• 2007 : Globaldrum UK, Technical Director / Lead J2ME Programmer / Designer (Mobile Applications / Solutions) *

* indicates employment over a period of time rather than one project

Education & Qualifications

• 1998-2002 : Stirling University, Stirling, Central Scotland (Bachelor of Science Degree).
• 2002-2003 : Stirling University, Stirling, Central Scotland (Master of Science Degree).

11 GCSEs (8 As, 3 Bs) and 4 A-Levels (Physics, German, Biology), basic abilities in French and German - currently learning Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan, Republic Of China.

Bachelor of Science Degree

Bachelor of Science with Honours in Computing Science (2.1) - University of Stirling, Scotland 1998-2002 (Minor Subjects Physics and Mathematics) - Degree officially accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS)

Computing Science Honours Project (coded entirely in Java) :

• Virtual Alumni Reunion Software (VARS) - An isometric online MMORPG to enable virtual reunions
• Grade : 1A (highest possible grade)
• Awards :
  • "Best Software Engineering Final Year Project" from Spektra (Sun Authorised Java Centre in Scotland)
  • "Young Software Engineer Of The Year Award" at ScotSoft 2002 entitled "The Real Time Award" presented for a disciplined approach to all aspects of the lifecycle, from requirements analysis to testing and rollout.

Master of Science Degree

Master of Science in Technology & Innovation Management (A + Distinction) - University of Stirling, Scotland 2002-2003

• Awards :
  • Business plan for "New Venture Management" received 77% was entered into the Scottish Business plan competition.

MSc research project :

• "Evaluating Java for commercial game development" (See more)
• Grade : 80% (A)
• Available to buy for games studios

Personal Details

References : (on request)

Date of birth - 10th June 1980 (Ashington, Northumberland)
Interests - Amiga Computers, computer games, electronics, football, films, dance music, videography / timelapse photography / video jockeying (using custom built programs I develop in the "processing" language - I am the author of "Ferox Neutrino") graphic art, travelling, languages

Current Mobile Number : +886987244506 (TAIWAN)
(Apologies if you called my UK number and got an answer service, I can NOT check those messages from here)

E-mail: gareth.murfin@gmail.com

Recent photo (2006)

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The latest version of this CV can always be found here at http://www.garethmurfin.co.uk/