Vertigames » Gameography

Contact Information

Company: Raven Software / Electronic Arts
Released: Fall 1993
Platform: PC (floppy)
Position: Scripting Intern
Notes: I only spent a few weeks scripting for Shadowcaster, but that period taught me more than I ever expected about the game industry.
Other SKU’s: A small team went on to create a port of the floppy game to Shadowcaster CD.

CyClones

Company: Raven Software / Strategic Simulations, Inc.
Released: Fall 1994
Platform: PC (floppy, CD)
Position: Lead Programmer
Other SKU’s: SSI later took the CyClones engine and game code to create Thunderscape.

Necrodome

Company: Raven Software / Mindscape
Released: September 1996
Platform: PC
Position: Lead Programmer
Other SKU’s: I later worked with the tech programmer and another to work on Cyclones for Playstation. The title made significant progress, but was eventually cancelled due to the lack of sales of the PC version.

Mageslayer

Company: Raven Software / GT Interactive
Released: September 1997
Platform: PC
Position: Programming Manager
Notes: This used a new top-down engine developed by Chris Rhinehart, which was being used both by Mageslayer and Take No Prisoners.

Take No Prisoners

Company: Raven Software / Red Orb (Broderbund)
Released: September 1997
Platform: PC
Position: Programming Manager
Notes: TNP was one of three games that shipped within a month of each other at Raven, two of which used the same new technology. Raven was bought by Activision at the same time as well. Let’s just say it was a crazy time.

Hexen II

Company: Raven Software / Activision
Released: September 1997
Platform: PC
Position: Programming Manager
Other SKU’s: The team went on to create an expansion pack, titled Hexen II: Portal of Praevus.

Heretic II

Company: Raven Software / Activision
Released: November 1998
Platform: PC
Position: Lead Programmer
Other SKU’s: Loki later ported Heretic II to Linux.
Titan Computer later ported Heretic II to the Amiga (believe it or not).

Soldier of Fortune

Company: Raven Software / Activision
Released: February 2000
Platform: PC (Standard, Tactical Low-Violence Edition)
Position: Game Programmer
Other SKU’s: The game was re-released with some small feature and content updates as Soldier of Fortune Gold, and later, Soldier of Fortune Platinum.
MacPlay later ported Soldier of Fortune to the Macintosh.
Loki later ported Soldier of Fortune to Linux.
Crave later went on to release Soldier of Fortune for the Dreamcast, then Pipe Dream Interactive amazingly ported Soldier of Fortune Gold to the Playstation 2.

Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force

Company: Raven Software / Activision
Released: September 2000
Platform: PC
Position: Multiplayer Lead
Other SKU’s: The team went on to create an expansion pack, titled Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force Expansion Pack.
Aspyr Media later ported Elite Force to the Macintosh.
Pipedream and Majesco later ported Elite Force to the Playstation 2.
Ritual Entertainment later went on to create a sequel, Star Trek: Elite Force II.

Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast

Company: Raven Software / LucasArts
Released: March 2002
Platform: PC
Position: Multiplayer Lead
Other SKU’s: Aspyr later ported Jedi Outcast to the Macintosh.
The team and Vicarious Visions later ported Jedi Outcast to the Xbox.
Vicarious Visions later ported Jedi Outcast to the Gamecube.
This gameplay and programming work also appeared in the the semi-sequel, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy.

Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix

Company: Raven Software / Activision
Released: May 2002
Platform: PC
Position: Game Programmer
Other SKU’s: The game was re-released with some small feature and content updates as Soldier of Fortune II Gold.
MacPlay later ported SOF2 to the Macintosh.
Gratuitous Games later ported SOF2 to the Xbox.

X-Men Legends

Company: Raven Software / Activision
Released: September 2004
Platform: Playstation 2, Xbox, Gamecube
Position: Project Lead
Other SKU’s: Barking Lizards managed to forge a version for N-Gage.
This game design and programming work was ultimately used for the sequels X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse and Marvel Ultimate Alliance.

Dungeons and Dragons Online: Stormreach

Company: Turbine, Inc. / Atari
Released: February 2006
Platform: PC
Position: Game Designer
Notes: I mostly worked as part of the systems team, creating actual thief-like activites for Rogues like secret doors and trap disabling, which was a pretty new thing for MMO’s.

Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar

Company: Turbine, Inc. / Midway Games
Released: April 2007
Platform: PC
Position: Creative Director
Notes: This was one of my favorite learning experiences in the last few years. MMO’s are large, gi-mundous games that require a tremendous amount of design, and managing all that content requires a veritable army!