Michael J. Grabowski
- Account Type:
- member
- Location:
- Hinckely, Ohio
- Member since:
- March 23, 2002
- Last Login:
- September 3, 2008
- Last Update:
- September 3, 2008
- Bio:
Skills
- Primary Skill:
- Intermediate Designer
- Secondary Skill:
- Advanced Tester
- Tertiary Skill:
- Novice Artist
- Summary:
- I have been playing games since 1974, which started with Dungeons and Dragons, from there I moved into creating and designing my own worlds for D&D. Once my group of gamers got bored with a fantasy setting, I developed a "mod" if you will for the system. At first I simply created conversion from D&D to games like Traveler and Star Frontiers, but it didn't take long for me to complete my own sci-fi system and the conversion from D&D to it.
Once the Internet took off, I developed a couple play-by-email (PBeM) game systems for a sci-fi and gang style turn based games. I also ran a very popular PBeM wrestling league at one time.
Even though the Internet was another outlet for me, I still needed the openness and creative challenges that came with tabletop gaming. There fore I started working on a number of systems that encompassed concepts such as sports RPG to the player?s characters being woodland creatures.
Back in the early 90's, I was able to get in pretty much on the ground floor of the Massively Multi-Player Online games craze when I signed up for Sierras Mech Warrior online via their now completely outdated and defunct "Imagination Nation Online". Using the knowledge and experience I gained with that first beta test I have been fortunate enough to be on some very exclusive closed and alpha test teams for titles such as Mech Warrior Online (Newer updated version of the old), Motor City Online, EverQuest, Asherons 1 and 2, Ultimate Baseball Online, Dragon Empires as well as being accepted into Activisions exclusive test team the Visioneers.
Currently I am still testing a number of games, but I have started taking a more active role in the development of entertainment software titles by using my vast knowledge of gaming to a number of associates I have met through testing. I have also taken an online course at Gameversity.com entitled "Game Design Foundations" which is being instructed by the legendary Roger E. Pedersen.
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