Michael Cranford
Encyclopedia
Michael Cranford is a former game programmer
and software engineer
. He is currently Chief Technology Officer of Ninth Degree, Inc. in Dana Point, California
, a website design
firm.
He was a Professor of Biblical Studies for eight years at Biola University
and Talbot School of Theology
in La Mirada, California
, gaining his Master of Divinity Degree from Biola and a Masters Degree in Religion from the University of Southern California
. He studied architecture at the University of California at Berkeley and he holds a degree in philosophy
from the University of California
, and has completed a Ph.D. in Social Ethics from the University of Southern California, with a focus on ethics and technology.
Michael was also a game designer and game programmer
. He is most well known as the designer and programmer of 1985's The Bard's Tale
and 1986's The Bard's Tale II: The Destiny Knight
computer role-playing games published by Interplay Productions. He also programmed the Apple
version of Donkey Kong
, the Commodore 64
version of Super Zaxxon, as well as Maze Master (a spiritual predecessor of The Bard's Tale). His last computer game was Centauri Alliance for Brøderbund
in 1990. He left the video game industry to pursue graduate studies, and thus was not involved in the creation of 1988's The Bard's Tale III
.
His publications include:
Game programmer
A game programmer is a software engineer, programmer, or computer scientist who primarily develops codebase for video games or related software, such as game development tools. Game programming has many specialized disciplines all of which fall under the umbrella term of "game programmer"...
and software engineer
Software engineer
A software engineer is an engineer who applies the principles of software engineering to the design, development, testing, and evaluation of the software and systems that make computers or anything containing software, such as computer chips, work.- Overview :...
. He is currently Chief Technology Officer of Ninth Degree, Inc. in Dana Point, California
Dana Point, California
-Climate:Dana Point enjoys a mild climate where temperatures tend to average around the 60's. The warmest month of the year is August with an average temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit. The coldest month is December with an average minimum temperature of 44 degrees Fahrenheit.-2010:The 2010...
, a website design
Web design
Web design is the process of planning and creating a website. Text, images, digital media and interactive elements are used by web designers to produce the page seen on the web browser...
firm.
He was a Professor of Biblical Studies for eight years at Biola University
Biola University
Biola University is a private, evangelical Christian, liberal arts university located near Los Angeles. Biola's main campus is in La Mirada in Los Angeles County, California. In addition, the university has several satellite campuses in Chino Hills, Inglewood, San Diego, and Laguna Hills.-...
and Talbot School of Theology
Talbot School of Theology
Talbot School of Theology is a non-denominational, conservative evangelical Christian theological seminary located near Los Angeles. Talbot is one of the seven schools that comprise Biola University, located in La Mirada, California.-History:...
in La Mirada, California
La Mirada, California
La Mirada is a city in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is one of the Gateway Cities. The population was 48,527 at the 2010 census, up from 46,783 at the 2000 census....
, gaining his Master of Divinity Degree from Biola and a Masters Degree in Religion from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. He studied architecture at the University of California at Berkeley and he holds a degree in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
from the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
, and has completed a Ph.D. in Social Ethics from the University of Southern California, with a focus on ethics and technology.
Michael was also a game designer and game programmer
Game programmer
A game programmer is a software engineer, programmer, or computer scientist who primarily develops codebase for video games or related software, such as game development tools. Game programming has many specialized disciplines all of which fall under the umbrella term of "game programmer"...
. He is most well known as the designer and programmer of 1985's The Bard's Tale
Bard's Tale (1985)
The Bard's Tale is a fantasy role-playing video game created by Interplay Productions in and distributed by Electronic Arts...
and 1986's The Bard's Tale II: The Destiny Knight
Bard's Tale II
To complete the game, players must collect segments of the Destiny Wand. The wizard Saradon has informed the party that they are hidden in seven separate locations "within a Snare of Death—a puzzle room that will require all the wisdom and cunning at your disposal in order for you to survive". The...
computer role-playing games published by Interplay Productions. He also programmed the Apple
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
version of Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong (video game)
is an arcade game released by Nintendo in 1981. It is an early example of the platform game genre, as the gameplay focuses on maneuvering the main character across a series of platforms while dodging and jumping over obstacles. In the game, Jumpman must rescue a damsel in distress, Lady, from a...
, the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
version of Super Zaxxon, as well as Maze Master (a spiritual predecessor of The Bard's Tale). His last computer game was Centauri Alliance for Brøderbund
Brøderbund
Brøderbund Software, Inc. was an American maker of computer games, educational software and The Print Shop productivity tools. It was best known as the original creator and publisher of the popular Carmen Sandiego games. The company was founded in Eugene, Oregon, but moved to San Rafael,...
in 1990. He left the video game industry to pursue graduate studies, and thus was not involved in the creation of 1988's The Bard's Tale III
Bard's Tale III
The Bard's Tale III: Thief of Fate is a computer fantasy role-playing game created by Interplay Productions in 1988. It is the second sequel to The Bard's Tale. It was designed by "Burger" Bill Heineman , Bruce Schlickbernd, and Michael A. Stackpole...
.
His publications include:
- “Drug Testing and the Obligation to Prevent Harm,” in Laura P. Hartman and Joe DesJardines (eds.), Business Ethics: Decision-Making for Personal Integrity and Social Responsibility (Boston: McGraw Hill, 2007), 301-307.
- “Drug Testing and the Right to Privacy: Arguing the Ethics of Workplace Drug Testing,” Journal of Business Ethics 17 (December 1998): 1805-1815. (Reprinted in Beauchamp & Bowie, eds., Ethical Theory and Business [6th & 7th editions.; New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2001], 294-302.)
- “The Social Trajectory of Virtual Reality: Substantive Ethics in a World Without Constraints,” Technology in Society 18 (1996): 79-92.
External links
- Ninth Degree, Cranford's web site design firm
- The Bard's Tale Compendium - more information about Michael Cranford's popular game series