Experience

Novy Unlimited

• United States
• Entertainment
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Co-Founder & President

  • May 2011 - Present

  Santa Monica, CA High-tech entertainment and consulting company focusing on games, music, book publishing, education, and public relations. Home of Novy PR, Novy Games, Novy Music, Novy Publishing, and Novy Learning.



Indiespace

• United States
• Entertainment

• Co-Founder & CEO

  • Jan 1994 - Present

  Santa Monica, CA Production company servicing game developers, filmmakers, musicians, authors, and artists. • Daily responsibilities included employee management, project management, business development, marketing, artist relations, customer relations, product sales, and design/technology implementation. • Developed business deals with Fox Interactive (now part of Vivendi Universal Games) and GarageGames. • Closed angel funding deal in excess of $500,000 for company. • Clients included Sony… Show more Production company servicing game developers, filmmakers, musicians, authors, and artists. • Daily responsibilities included employee management, project management, business development, marketing, artist relations, customer relations, product sales, and design/technology implementation. • Developed business deals with Fox Interactive (now part of Vivendi Universal Games) and GarageGames. • Closed angel funding deal in excess of $500,000 for company. • Clients included Sony Entertainment, Getty Center for Education, Temecula Valley International Film Festival, and A&M Records/PolyGram. Show less



Novy Music

• United States
• Media Production
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Performer / Composer / Recording Artist

  • Jan 1980 - Present

  Original music composed and performed by Jeannie Novak . . . Current Projects: * AFTERGLOW (original vocal/piano songs ranging from folk to alternative) * DJINN (original jazz, blues, and theatrical vocal/piano songs) * OUT OF TIME (nostalgic retro originals) * MAGIC HOUR (covers for the young at heart) * COVER ME (variety of rock, pop, and alternative covers) * SNOW (holiday covers) Published Projects: MOONRISE: Collection of eight voice/piano songs… Show more Original music composed and performed by Jeannie Novak . . . Current Projects: * AFTERGLOW (original vocal/piano songs ranging from folk to alternative) * DJINN (original jazz, blues, and theatrical vocal/piano songs) * OUT OF TIME (nostalgic retro originals) * MAGIC HOUR (covers for the young at heart) * COVER ME (variety of rock, pop, and alternative covers) * SNOW (holiday covers) Published Projects: MOONRISE: Collection of eight voice/piano songs recorded live; paired with original photographs by Jeannie Novak. SYNCH: Collection of nine solo piano improvisations synched to public domain footage courtesy of Prelinger Archives. Although the music was not inspired by the footage, both are now inseparable -- in my opinion :) REIGN OF FIRE: Solo piano concept album where each piece is based on a particular star located in a distinct constellation; paired with celestial map images by Johannes Hevelius (c. 1690). ROF contains a total of 16 pieces -- four suites (seasons) of four pieces each. HORRORSHOW: Synth, piano, and ambient versions of 24 horror-themed experimental keyboard pieces in the asylum (Mad House), circus (Big Top), and saloon (Ghost Town) traditions. Created for upcoming horror-themed book and film projects, the Halloween maker community (parties, haunted houses, theme parks) and horror music fans. All projects available at Jeannie Novak's YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/jeannienovak Show less



Cengage Learning

• United Kingdom

• Lead Author & Series Editor

  • Jun 2003 - Present

  • Created Game Development Essentials series of textbooks focusing on all aspects of the game industry—including gameplay, story/character development, interface design, level design, project management, artificial intelligence, and audio. • Sole author of Game Development Essentials: An Introduction, flagship book of the series (now in its third edition) that has garnered over $1 million in sales for the education market alone. • Co-author of Play the Game: The Parent’s Guide to Video… Show more • Created Game Development Essentials series of textbooks focusing on all aspects of the game industry—including gameplay, story/character development, interface design, level design, project management, artificial intelligence, and audio. • Sole author of Game Development Essentials: An Introduction, flagship book of the series (now in its third edition) that has garnered over $1 million in sales for the education market alone. • Co-author of Play the Game: The Parent’s Guide to Video Games focusing on how to use games as a bridge between parents and kids. * Supervise production, copyediting, layout, and printing of books in the series -- and participate in marketing and public relations initiatives. All Cengage Publications: Game Development Essentials: An Introduction [Novak] - 1st, 2nd, 3rd editions Game Story & Character Development [Krawczyk/Novak] Game Interface Design [Saunders/Novak] - 1st, 2nd editions Game Project Management [Hight/Novak] Game Artificial Intelligence [Ahlquist/Novak] Game Simulation Development [Muehl/Novak] Gameplay Mechanics [Dunniway/Novak] Online Game Development [Hall/Novak] Game Level Design [Castillo/Novak] Game Audio Development [Marks/Novak] Game QA & Testing [Levy/Novak] Game Industry Career Guide [Moore/Novak] Mobile Game Development [Unger/Novak] The Official GameSalad Guide to Game Development [Novak/Unger] Play the Game: The Parent's Guide to Video Games [Novak/Levy] Show less


Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
• United States
• Computer Games
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Selection Committee - Online Game of the Year Award

  • Jan 2004 - Present

Information Sciences Institute
• United States
• Research
• 200 - 300 Employee
• Game Consultant, NSF-funded PedGames Project

  • Oct 2010 - Sep 2015


IGDA

• Pakistan
• Entertainment Providers
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Vice President, Los Angeles Chapter

  • Sep 2010 - Jun 2011

  Greater Los Angeles Area



Women in Games International

• Computer Games
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Executive Team

  • Jul 2010 - Jun 2011

  Greater Los Angeles Area



Art Institute Online

• United States
• Design Services

• Online Program Director, Game Art & Design - Media Arts & Animation / Producer & Lead Designer

  • Oct 2006 - Oct 2009

  • Direct Game Art & Design and Media Arts & Animation programs • Hire, review, and manage all full-time and adjunct faculty (over 50) teaching in both programs • Develop and manage curriculum for both programs • Resolve and address student (over 500 in both programs) issues, concerns, and appeals • Represent the college at conferences, media interviews, and promotional events • Created the concept for “Godzilla” (code name), an original business communications course… Show more • Direct Game Art & Design and Media Arts & Animation programs • Hire, review, and manage all full-time and adjunct faculty (over 50) teaching in both programs • Develop and manage curriculum for both programs • Resolve and address student (over 500 in both programs) issues, concerns, and appeals • Represent the college at conferences, media interviews, and promotional events • Created the concept for “Godzilla” (code name), an original business communications course that functions as a game in the Second Life online multi-user virtual environment • Recruited and managed over 50 remote team members -- including associate producer, leads, designers, artists, programmers, testers, students, and educators. • Led the design team, consisting of gameplay, narrative, and curriculum designers • Demonstrated the game prototype at the Game Developers Conference and other industry events. Show less


UCLA / USC / Art Center College of Design / Santa Monica College AET
• Instructor

  • Jan 2000 - Dec 2005

GTE Internetworking
• Technology, Information and Internet
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Project Manager

  • Jan 1997 - Jan 1999


John Wiley and Sons

• United States
• Book and Periodical Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Author

  • Jan 1995 - Jan 1998

  Co-Author of three Internet technology books: - *Creating Internet Entertainment* - *Guide to Maintaining & Updating Dynamic Web Sites* - *Guide to Producing Live Webcasts*