Award winning Game Designer, live service and Google Games QA previous digital media teacher.

Michael Manson

Award winning Game Designer, live service and Google Games QA previous digital media teacher.

Available to hire

Award winning Game Designer, live service and Google Games QA previous digital media teacher.

Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Senior QA Analyst/Lead at Mighty Kingdom
January 1, 2025 - September 11, 2025
Created and improved QA test plans; increased QA ticket reports by 400%; conducted functional and release testing; led QA for a Google project across seven simultaneous projects; collaborated with cross-functional teams using Jira, Confluence, Slack, Google Meet and Teams; worked on international IPs Miraculous: Ladybug and Gabby's Dollhouse; pitched to Google.
Digital Media and Creative Arts Teacher at Department for Education
January 1, 2019 - September 11, 2025
Full teaching load while holding Leadership/Coordinator positions in IT, Digital Media, Creative Arts, Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden, PE, Active After Schools, Acting Principal
Dungeon Master at Various
January 1, 1999 - Present
Design and run narrative experiences, privately and at conventions, in paid and volunteer capacities. Including PAX Aus, ConCentric, SA Gallery of Art, Street Geek.
Creative Director, Game Designer / Developer / Tester at Stout Heart Games Pty Ltd
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2026
Managed, designed, and programmed Tumbles; winner of Best Prototype Game 2025 GameXcellence Awards (MIGW). Designed Pick-A-Pocket, winner of Best Game & Best Visual Design 2023 GameXcellence Awards (MIGW). Solo-developed and published 4 mobile games on Google Play in 2022. QA, testing and road-mapping for Think.Digital XR projects. Created levels and narrative content for Foxie Games. World building, game design and project management for Amythica. Organized and designed D&D adventures for The Adelaide Biennial: Divided Worlds. Beta tested indie through AAA games by reporting in-game/forum issues, proofreading, DPS calculations, class mechanics issues.
Senior QA Analyst/Lead at Mighty Kingdom
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2025
Created and improved QA Test Plans; increased QA ticket reports by 400%. Built prioritised, descriptive bug reports used as templates by Google. Worked on international IPs Miraculous: Ladybug and Gabby's Dollhouse, Power Rangers, Star Trek. Collaborated across Jira, Confluence, Slack, Google Meet and Teams. Led QA for Google Project on 9 simultaneous projects from ideation to live support, rated as Google's Best on Device.
Digital Media and Creative Arts Teacher at Department for Education
January 1, 2008 - January 1, 2019
Full teaching load while holding Leadership/Coordinator positions in IT, Digital Media, Creative Arts, Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden, PE, Active After Schools, and Acting Principal.
Dungeon Master at Various (Self-employed / Conventions)
January 1, 1999 - Present
Design and run narrative experiences privately and at conventions (PAX Aus, ConCentric, SA Gallery of Art, Street Geek); multiple paid and volunteer capacities.

Education

Diploma of Information Technology (Network Administration) at TAFE SA – Adelaide Campus
January 1, 2001 - January 1, 2001
Bachelor of Teaching (Junior Primary / Primary) & Bachelor of Arts (Digital Media / Linguistics) at Flinders University – Sturt & Flinders Campus
January 1, 2007 - January 1, 2007
Advanced Diploma of Professional Game Development at AIE – Online & Adelaide
January 1, 2021 - January 1, 2021
Advanced Diploma of Professional Game Development at AIE – ONLINE & ADELAIDE
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2021
Bachelor of Teaching (Junior Primary/Primary) & Bachelor of Arts (Digital Media/Linguistics) at Flinders University – Sturt & Flinders Campus
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2007
Diploma of Information Technology (Network Administration) at TAFE SA – Adelaide Campus
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2001
Advanced Diploma of Professional Game Development at AIE – ONLINE & ADELAIDE
January 1, 2021 - April 16, 2026
Bachelor of Teaching (Junior Primary/Primary) & Bachelor of Arts (Digital Media/Linguistics) at Flinders University – Sturt & Flinders Campus
January 1, 2007 - April 16, 2026
Diploma of Information Technology (Network Administration) at TAFE SA – Adelaide Campus
January 1, 2001 - April 16, 2026

Qualifications

Advanced Diploma of Professional Game Development
January 1, 2021 - September 11, 2025
Outstanding Game Designer Award
January 1, 2021 - September 11, 2025
Diploma of Information Technology (Network Administration)
January 1, 2001 - September 11, 2025
Bachelor of Teaching (Junior Primary / Primary) & Bachelor of Arts (Digital Media / Linguistics)
January 1, 2007 - September 11, 2025
Advanced Diploma of Professional Game Development
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2021
Bachelor of Teaching (Junior Primary/Primary) & Bachelor of Arts (Digital Media/Linguistics)
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2007
Diploma of Information Technology (Network Administration)
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2001
Outstanding Game Designer Award
January 1, 2021 - April 16, 2026

Industry Experience

Gaming, Software & Internet, Media & Entertainment, Education, Professional Services