Anne O'Brien 1 805 704-0303 anne@anneobrien.me
The Software Toolworks
A Force To Be Reckoned With
The Software Toolworks is IT
The Force was with Anne O'Brien when she was hired as technical writer and technical editor by The Software Toolworks (later Mindscape). She had these major project management responsibilities.
- Documentation project manager, senior technical writer and senior technical editor responsible for 143+ game and educational software products.
- Collaborated with 17 international entertainment developers and their IT teams of programmers, graphic artists, quality assurance testers and technical support.
- Set the benchmark for computer game online and printed documentation.
- Trained technical writers in Novato California, Bordeaux France and London England in the development of excellent software online help, user guides and quick start cards. publications and online help
- Designed a simple procedure to transfer PC help into Macintosh help.
- Also designed a simple procedure to translate English online help into French, Spanish, Italian and German.
Anne O'Brien is the only technical writer in history to sweep regional awards and score an International 3rd place from the Society for Technical Communication (STC) for the childrens' Nintendo game, Mario Is Missing! A Multimedia Geography Adventure Macintosh CD-ROM.
Worldwide Entertainment IT Teams
Any Type of Entertainment Company Anywhere Anytime
Entertainment is IT
Anne O'Brien efficiently collaborated with IT Teams worldwide as senior technical writer and senior technical editor for hundreds of software products. She also provided technical editing services and translation protocols to her IT Teams. Anne O'Brien worked with and for combos of these developers.
Apple Inc. Cupertino CA USA
Atreid Concept SA Bordeaux France
Hasbro Inc. Providence Rhode Island USA
Kalisto Entertainment SA Bordeaux France
Lucasfilm LTD. San Rafael CA USA
Mattel Inc. El Segundo CA USA
Microprose Hunt Valley MD USA
Microsoft Seattle WA USA
Mindscape Bordeaux France
Mindscape Inc. Novato CA USA
NAMCO USA inc.
Nintendo Kyoto Prefecture Japan
Origin Systems Austin TX USA
SEGA San Francisco CA USA
Sierra Online Seattle WA USA
The Software Toolworks Novato CA USA
Worldscape London England
And Translators in Bordeaux France, Madrid Spain, Milan Italy, London England, and Dusseldorf Germany.
Target audience: fans of movies, board games, comics, video games and educational games.
Rise of the Machines
Platforms and Operating Systems
Cross Platform IT Girl
Anne O'Brien's had to play games to write about them. Her office looked like a teenager's dream with every platform and operating system. This was necessary as she documented game and educational software that crossed multiple platforms and operating systems. She also documented many games that stood alone on one platform. The Terminator is an example of a game that was only released on 1 platform, Super Nintendo.
Platforms
Nintendo
Nintendo Game Boy
Super Nintendo
SEGA Game Gear
SEGA Genesis
SEGA CD
Operating Systems
DOS
Macintosh
Macintosh CD ROM
Power Mac G5
Windows 3X
Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows XP
Target audience: fans of the movie.
The Chessmaster
Best Chess Software
The Chessmaster is IT
Anne O'Brien's opinion of The Chessmaster is that it is the most awesome game and educational software engineering wizardry ever. The software comes with supporting printed material, online help, quick hints, a selection of chessboards, chess pieces and a database of classic games of chess. The Chessmaster was a flagship game and educational software product for The Software Toolworks and Mindscape. Anne O'Brien had the pleasure of serving senior technical writer and senior technical editor for these versions of The Chessmaster.
The Chessmaster 3000 (PC)
The Chessmaster 3000 Multimedia
The Chessmaster 3000 Macintosh CD-ROM
The Chessmaster 4000
The Chessmaster 5000
The Chessmaster 5500
The Chessmaster Online
Anne O'Brien has 4 million satisfied users worldwide thanks to The Chessmaster alone. And, yes, it is for sale online.
Star Wars Chess
Chess Fun for Fans
The Software Toolworks Star Wars Chess is IT
Anne O'Brien wrote a user guide for every release of The Software Toolworks Star Wars Chess on all platforms and operating systems. The user interface is simple. Atop The Chessmaster's powerful software engine there is one chessboard. Players can choose from 2 sets of chess pieces.
White: Luke Skywalker (king), Princess Leia (queen), C-3PO (bishops), Chewbacca (knights), Yoda (rooks) and R2-D2 (pawns). White always go first in chess.
Black: The Emperor (king), Darth Vader (queen), Boba Fett (bishops), Tusken Raiders (knights), AT-ST (rooks) and Stormtroopers (pawns).
When a piece is captured there is a battle animation then the captured piece disappears.
Target audience: movie fans who like to play chess.
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing!
Best Typing Teacher
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing is IT
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! is a grand fine way to learn touch typing. Anne O'Brien developed online and print documentation for version 2 and operated as Senior Technical editors on other versions. above. When additional staff were promoted or hired as technical writers, she acted as technical editor, trainer and used this software to train them how to develop online help and printed material for software on the PC and Macintosh.
Target audience: anyone who wants to learn or improve their typing.