Work History
Dimensional Ink Austin, TX
Sr Game Designer 4/20 – present
- Sr Game Designer on DC Universe Online
- Titles:
- DC Universe Online
Electronic Arts Austin, TX
Sr Game Designer 10/17 – 3/20
- Sr Game Designer
- Titles:
- Star Wars Rise to Power (unreleased)
- Unannounced Maxis title (unreleased)
| Zombie Cat Studios, Inc | Austin, TX |
| Consultant | 2/13 – present |
- Consulting work with game companies.
Clients include but not limited to:
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| Schell Games | Austin, TX |
| Studio Design Director/Austin Studio Head | 12/08 – 2/13 |
- Oversaw all designer and designs on all products in production at Schell Games – including Educational games, Facebook/social games, mobile games, MMOs, and Location-based entertainment
- Developed original designs for all RFPs submitted to studio
- Client management for potential and existing projects
- Selected Titles (see titles list for complete listing)
- Toy Story Midway Mania – location-based entertainment, Disney Parks
- Sum of all Thrills – location-based entertainment in Epcot Center, FL
- Triazzle – mobile puzzle game
- Lionel Battle Trains
- The World of Lexica – story-based MMO to teach literature curriculum to middle school students
- Battleball – Facebook basketball game
- Tunnel Tale – anti-drug education game for elementary school
| Ticom Geomatics | Austin, TX |
| Producer/Creative Director | 12/05 – 12/08 |
- Creative Director/Exec. Producer for training game for US Navy – awarded 2008 Serious Game of the Year – Government Division, Serious Games Showcase and Challenge
- Titles:
- GeoCommander
| Sony Online Entertainment | Austin, TX |
| Senior Designer | 5/03 – 12/05 |
- Developed tools, design pipelines, and processes that increased team output by 200%
- Content Lead for team of 10 content designers for Star Wars Galaxies
- Lead designer for original IP, MMORPG. Took design from concept, preproduction and through first 9 milestones of playable production
- Titles:
- Goodlife (unreleased)
- Star Wars Galaxies
Employment prior to 2003
5/00 – 2/02 Metrowerks – Producer
6/95 – 3/98 American Laser Game/Her Interactive – Head of Produce Development
10/89 – 9/93 Origin Systems, Inc – Game Designer
Education
- 1997 St. Edwards University in Austin, BLS in English/creative writing
- 2021 – University of Texas, Master of Education
Interests
Racing sports cars, raising and showing purebred dogs, tabletop/paper gaming, and computer gaming
Sheri Graner Ray – Professional Vitae
Professional Organizations and Recognition
- Founder of Women in Games International (WIGI)
- Served as Exec. Director for WIGI – 8 years
- Founder of Women in Games special interest group (SIG) of the International Game Developers’ Association (IGDA)
- Served as Director for Women in Game SIG – 10 years
- Served on Board of Directors for IGDA – 4 years
- Served on Board of Directors for IGDA Foundation – 4 years
- Serve on Advisory Board of Games Program at Full Sail University – 15 years
- Featured by the Strong Museum of Play in their 2018 Pioneering Women in Games exhibit
- Listed on 100 Most Influential Women in Computer Entertainment by Hollywood Reporter, 2004
- Listed on 100 Most Influential Women in Computer Games by NextGen.com
- Listed on 50 most Influential Women in Technology by Corporate Board Member magazine
- Listed on 50 over 50 to watch by Game Advocacy
- Featured in Continental Airlines inflight magazine: “Ones to Watch” section
- Featured in Tribeza Austin magazine no.68 “Exposed” section
- Recipient of 2005 Game Developers’ Choice Award
Selected Publications
Author
Ray, Sheri Graner. Gender Inclusive Game Design Expanding the Market. Charles River Media, 2004.
“Tutorials: Learning To Play.” Gamasutra, 6 Oct. 2010, www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/134531/tutorials_learning_to_play.php.
Contributing Author
Fullerton, Tracy. Game Design Workshop: a Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games. CRC Press, 2019.
Marie, Meagan. Women in Gaming: 100 Professionals of Play. DK/Prima Games, 2018.
Hepler, Jennifer Brandes. Women in Game Development: Breaking the Glass Level-Cap. CRC Press, 2017.
Novak, Jeannie. Game Development Essentials. Cengage Learning, 2015.
Prescott, Julie, and Julie Elizabeth McGurren. Gender Considerations and Influence in the Digital Media and Gaming Industry. Information Science Reference, 2014.
Lowder, James. Family Games: the 100 Best. Green Ronin, 2010.
Laramée François Dominic. Game Design Perspectives. Charles River Media, 2005.
Bateman, Chris, and Richard Boon. 21st Century Game Design. Charles River Media, 2006.
Origin Systems. Serpent Isle Clue Book, Balancing the Scales. Origin Systems, 1993
Selected Speaking Engagements
| When | What | Role | Where |
| 1997 | Game Developers Conference | Panelist | San Francisco CA |
| 1998 | Siggraph | panelist | Los Angeles, Calif |
| 2003 | Game Developers Conference | Panelist | San Francisco, CA |
| 2003 | Australian Game Developer Conference | Presenter | Melbourne, Australia |
| 2004 | New Zealand Committee on Games | Presenter | Wellington, New Zealand |
| 2004 | New Zealand Game Conference | Workshop leader | Dunedin, New Zealand |
| 2004 | New Zealand Game Conference | Presenter | Dunedin, New Zealand |
| 2005 | University of Texas, EGADS | Presenter | Austin, TX |
| 2006 | Sex and Video Games | Presenter | San Francisco, CA |
| 2006 | Austin Tech Forum | Presenter | Austin, Texas |
| 2006 | Game Developers Conference | Panelist | San Francisco, CA |
| 2007 | Australian Game Developers Conference | Presenter | Melbourne Australia |
| 2007 | IGDA Leadership Forum | Presenter | Seattle, WA |
| 2007 | SxSW | Presenter | Austin, TX |
| 2008 | Game Developers Conference Online | Presenter | Austin, TX |
| 2008 | GDX – Savannah College of Art and Design | Presenter | Savannah Georgia |
| 2009 | Game Developers Conference Online | Presenter | Austin, TX |
| 2009 | Women in Games inaugural Conference | Keynote | London, UK |
| 2009 | Lifetime Television Annual Marketing Conference | Speaker | New York, NY |
| 2009 | Casual Connect | Speaker | Seattle WA |
| 2009 | SxSW | Presenter | Austin, TX |
| Aug 2009 | GDC Europe | Presenter | Cologne DE |
| Mar 2010 | Game Developers Conference | Presenter | San Francisco CA |
| 2010 | SxSW | Panelist | Austin, TX |
| 2010 | LOGIN Conference | Presenter | Seattle, WA |
| 2010 | DEVELOP conference | Keynote | Brighton, UK |
| October 2011 | GDC Leadership Forum | Presenter | Los Angeles, CA |
| Mar 2011 | Game Developers Conference | Presenter | San Francisco CA |
| Oct 2012 | GDC Online | Presenter | Austin, TX |
| 2012 | Game Connect Asia Pacific 2012 | Keynote | Melbourne, Australia |
| 2012 | IGDA Micro Talks | Presenter | Austin, Tx |
| 2012 | USAA – TechX Conference | Presenter | San Antonio, TX |
| 2012 | SxSW | Presenter | Austin, TX |
| 03 2013 | Laboratorio de Videojuesgos Cientificos | Presenter | Santiago, Chile |
| June 2013 | Gotland Game Conference | Keynote | Gotland, Sweden |
| 2013 | IGDA Micro Talks | Presenter | Austin, TX |
| Mar 2014 | Game Developers Conference | Presenter | San Francisco CA |
| 2014 | Game Jam | Presenter | Gjøvik Norway |
| Octo 2014 | Captivate Conf | Presenter | Austin, TX |
| 2014 | IGDA Micro Talks | Presenter | Austin, TX |
| 2015 | Game Developers Conference | Presenter | San Francisco, CA |
| 10-15
2015 |
Intel Buzz Gaming Workshop | Presenter | Austin, TX |
| 07-25
2015 |
Armadillocon | Panelist | Austin, TX |
| Oct 14, 2015 | Anita Borg Institute, Grace Hopper Celebration of women in Computing | Panelist | Houston TX |
| 2015 | IGDA Leadership Forum | Presenter | San Fransciso, CA |
| Oct 16 2016 | ChiPlay | Presenter | Austin, TX |
| 2016 | Game Jam 2016 | Presenter | Lulea, Sweden |
| 2016 | Texas Women in Games Conference | Keynote | Austin, Texas |
| 2017 | MDEV | Presenter | Madison, WI |
| 2017 | University of Texas, EGADS | Presenter | Austin, TX |
| 2017 | SxSW | Presenter | Austin, TX |
| 2018 | SxSW | Panelist | Austin, TX |
| 2018 | Strong Musuem of Play | Honored Guest, award recipient, speaker | Strong Museum of Play, Rochester NY |
| 2018 | Game Developers Conference | Panelist | San Francisco, CA |
| 2019 | SxSW | Panelist | Austin, TX |
| 2021 | Austin Tech Leadership | Panelist | Austin TX – virtual |
| 2021 | O3DCon | Keynote | Austin, TX |
Titles
| Title | Genre |
| DC Universe Online | MMO, PC and console |
| Yonder; The Cloud Catcher Chronicles | MMO, console |
| Wizards 101 | MMO, PC and console |
| Star Wars Galaxies – | MMO, PC |
| The World of Lexica | MMO, mobile |
| Battle Ball | MMO, browser |
| GeoCommander – | Single player, RTS, PC |
| Race for the Beach – | location-based, Multiplayer |
| Sum of All Thrills | Location-based/ride |
| Toy Story Midway Mania | Location based/ride |
| Battle Trains – | Action, browser |
| Lionel Battle Trains | Action, mobile |
| Tunnel Tale | Multi-player, Strategy, mobile |
| Triazzle | Puzzle, mobile, PC |
| Daniel Tiger Stop and Go Potty | Single player PC |
| Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Ride | Single player, PC |
| Play Forward -Elm City Stories | Single player, RPG, mobile |
| McKenzie and CO | Single Player RPG, PC |
| Vampire Diaries | Single player, RPG, PC |
| Nancy Drew, Secrets can Kill | Single player, RPG, PC |
| Nancy Drew Stay tuned for Danger | Single Player, RPG, PC |
| Ultima VII – The Black Gate | Single player, RPG, PC |
| Ultima VII part 2 – The Serpent Isle | Single player, RPG, PC |
| Ultima VIII – Pagan | Single player, RPG, PC |
| Goodlife (unreleased) | MMO PC |
| Shining Sword (unreleased) | Single Player, Action Console |
| Arthurian Legends (unreleased) | Single player, RPG, PC |
| Star Wars Rise to Power ((Unreleased) | 4X, mobile |
| Big Noise (unreleased) | Single player, strategy, mobile |
| Unannounced Maxis Title (unreleased) | Multiplayer, PC |