I’m a game-focused software developer who enjoys building fun, reliable gameplay experiences from design through implementation. I’ve worked across QA, development, and independent game creation, including contributing to systems and gameplay logic while collaborating with small teams to ship polished results. I also bring a strong passion for gaming and long-term motivation to learn, iterate, and improve what players experience. In addition to development, I’ve contributed substantial value through quality assurance on PC and consoles—logging and tracking issues, running black-box and localization testing, and helping teams resolve problems efficiently. I’m comfortable working solo or in cross-functional groups, and I aim to create immersive, enjoyable games using the tools and skills I’ve built over time, including C++ and C# with engine workflows like Unreal and Godot.

Derrick Alden

I’m a game-focused software developer who enjoys building fun, reliable gameplay experiences from design through implementation. I’ve worked across QA, development, and independent game creation, including contributing to systems and gameplay logic while collaborating with small teams to ship polished results. I also bring a strong passion for gaming and long-term motivation to learn, iterate, and improve what players experience. In addition to development, I’ve contributed substantial value through quality assurance on PC and consoles—logging and tracking issues, running black-box and localization testing, and helping teams resolve problems efficiently. I’m comfortable working solo or in cross-functional groups, and I aim to create immersive, enjoyable games using the tools and skills I’ve built over time, including C++ and C# with engine workflows like Unreal and Godot.

Available to hire

I’m a game-focused software developer who enjoys building fun, reliable gameplay experiences from design through implementation. I’ve worked across QA, development, and independent game creation, including contributing to systems and gameplay logic while collaborating with small teams to ship polished results. I also bring a strong passion for gaming and long-term motivation to learn, iterate, and improve what players experience.

In addition to development, I’ve contributed substantial value through quality assurance on PC and consoles—logging and tracking issues, running black-box and localization testing, and helping teams resolve problems efficiently. I’m comfortable working solo or in cross-functional groups, and I aim to create immersive, enjoyable games using the tools and skills I’ve built over time, including C++ and C# with engine workflows like Unreal and Godot.

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Experience Level

Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
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Work Experience

Annotation Expert at Mercor
September 8, 2025 - January 2, 2026
Applied systematic comparative judgment techniques to evaluate the relevance, quality, and coherence of generative model outputs, ensuring consistent evaluation across diverse modalities. Collaborated with cross-functional AI teams to identify quality trends and provide actionable feedback to improve multimodal generative capabilities.
Solo Indie Game Developer
April 1, 2023 - Present
Develop indie games with a background spanning AAA-quality assurance and independent development. Shipped games on Itch.io, Nutaku, and Steam, exceeding 600 copies sold across released titles.
Developer (Solo Indie Game Developer) at Freelance
April 1, 2023 - Present
Passionate indie game developer with a strong background in AAA quality assurance and independent game development. Successfully sold over 500 copies of indie games on Itch.io and Nutaku. Seeking opportunities to collaborate on innovative and immersive game projects.
Quality Assurance at Sega of America, Inc.
March 17, 2023 - August 9, 2025
Reported bugs in JIRA. Performed black-box testing for consoles and PC. Localization testing ensuring high-quality regional adaptations. Collaborated closely with development teams to resolve issues contributing to smooth releases of several AAA titles.
Quality Assurance at Sega of America, Inc.
February 7, 2022 - March 17, 2023
Reported bugs in Jira and performed black-box testing for consoles and PC, including localization testing. Worked closely with development teams to resolve issues and support smooth releases. Conducted localization testing for international markets to help ensure high-quality regional adaptations.
Freelance Technician at Local PC Repair
December 31, 2021 - August 9, 2025
Provided freelance computer repair services between 2008 and 2021.
Quality Assurance at Activision Blizzard, Inc.
October 1, 2021 - August 9, 2025
Performed black-box testing, both exploratory and based on user reports. Reported bugs in JIRA. Utilized proprietary development and testing tools. Tested live service games ensuring quality and stability.
Software Engineer Intern at Reworld, Inc.
June 11, 2021 - August 9, 2025
Designed game mechanisms, gameplay, levels, and game systems using the Reworld engine. Developed game features and implemented testing functions to support game quality and functionality.
Frontend and Backend Programmer at Royalpets.online
May 1, 2019 - August 9, 2025
Managed data security protocols ensuring user info was encrypted and anti-cheat systems were in place. Successfully incorporated Agile methodology to deliver features in short sprints improving team efficiency.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a Concentration in Computer Information Systems at California State University, Bakersfield
March 1, 2015 - May 1, 2020
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (concentration in Computer Information Systems) at California State University, Bakersfield
March 1, 2015 - May 1, 2020

Qualifications

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Industry Experience

Gaming, Software & Internet, Computers & Electronics