Mike Young (game designer)
Encyclopedia
Mike Young is a game designer, author, and founder of the first
independent professional LARP
publishing house, "Interactivities Ink".
He has also published several LARPs and several card games. He also
contributed many short pieces to the professional LARP journal
"Metagame" from 1989 through 1999.
His "The Galactic Emperor is Dead" LARP was sold to Skotos
Inc
for their online game play.
Mike's "Tales From the Floating Vagabond 1" (1990), "Tales From the Floating Vagabond 2" 1992, and "Tales From the Floating Vagabond Square Root of Pi" (1997) were officially licensed LARPs run in the Tales from the Floating Vagabond
RPG setting originally published by Avalon Hill
. The first two were run with the creator of Tales from the Floating Vagabond
, Lee Garvin.
He has also authored computer games (from Alien Software), including the Neophyte series
. He is credited on Legend Entertainment
's "Callahan's Crosstime Saloon" and "Blackstone Chronicles". He is also credited as a level designer and developer for Icebreaker
from Magnet Interactive Studios.
Mike has also published three card games, one of which, Hamlet: A Game In Five Acts, won an award in the Polycon Independent Game Design Contest.
In addition to designing games and LARP punditry, Mike current works for Biap Systems as a computer programmer. Mike was the lead developer for "NBC Olympics Now," which was nominated for a 2007 Technology & Engineering Emmy Award
from the National Television Academy in the category of "Outstanding Achievement in Advanced Media Technology for the Synchronous Enhancement of Original Television Content."
Mike has also had two entries published in the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest
.
His first work, Miskatonic Class Reunion
(1989) has been run over 20 times from 1989–2000 and has been
made available to others to run, but has not yet seen publication. It has two sequels, "Miskatonic Archaeological Expedition" (1994), and "Miskatonic Class Reunion 2000" (2000).
independent professional LARP
Live action role-playing game
A live action role-playing game is a form of role-playing game where the participants physically act out their characters' actions. The players pursue goals within a fictional setting represented by the real world, while interacting with each other in character. The outcome of player actions may...
publishing house, "Interactivities Ink".
Works
His works include co-authorship of Rules to Live By (RTLB), one of the few published generic (non-license not from tabletop) LARP system.He has also published several LARPs and several card games. He also
contributed many short pieces to the professional LARP journal
"Metagame" from 1989 through 1999.
His "The Galactic Emperor is Dead" LARP was sold to Skotos
Skotos
Skotos, sometimes known as Skotos Tech, is an online game company that was founded in 1999 and released its first game, Castle Marrach, in September 2000. Its primary focus is prose online RPGs , though it currently offers a total of 15 different games...
Inc
for their online game play.
Mike's "Tales From the Floating Vagabond 1" (1990), "Tales From the Floating Vagabond 2" 1992, and "Tales From the Floating Vagabond Square Root of Pi" (1997) were officially licensed LARPs run in the Tales from the Floating Vagabond
Tales from the Floating Vagabond
Tales from the Floating Vagabond is a science-fiction role-playing game by Lee Garvin, published by Avalon Hill in 1991. It has the tagline "Ludicrous Adventure in a Universe Whose Natural Laws Are Out To Lunch."-Overview:...
RPG setting originally published by Avalon Hill
Avalon Hill
Avalon Hill was a game company that specialized in wargames and strategic board games. Its logo contained its initials "AH", and it was often referred to by this abbreviation. It also published the occasional miniature wargaming rules, role-playing game, and had a popular line of sports simulations...
. The first two were run with the creator of Tales from the Floating Vagabond
Tales from the Floating Vagabond
Tales from the Floating Vagabond is a science-fiction role-playing game by Lee Garvin, published by Avalon Hill in 1991. It has the tagline "Ludicrous Adventure in a Universe Whose Natural Laws Are Out To Lunch."-Overview:...
, Lee Garvin.
He has also authored computer games (from Alien Software), including the Neophyte series
Neophyte (series)
Neophyte: The Journey Begins, Neophyte: Koplio’s Story, and Neophyte: The Spirit Master are a series of three action role-playing computer games created by Alien Software, and produced by Minor Insight as freeware demos for the never-released Neophyte computer game.A fourth freeware demo was to be...
. He is credited on Legend Entertainment
Legend Entertainment
Legend Entertainment was an American developer of computer games, best known for their complex, distinctive adventure titles throughout the 1990s....
's "Callahan's Crosstime Saloon" and "Blackstone Chronicles". He is also credited as a level designer and developer for Icebreaker
Icebreaker (game)
Icebreaker is a 1995 strategy/action video game developed by Magnet Interactive Studios for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer console. Despite the critical acclaim, the game did not sell well...
from Magnet Interactive Studios.
Mike has also published three card games, one of which, Hamlet: A Game In Five Acts, won an award in the Polycon Independent Game Design Contest.
In addition to designing games and LARP punditry, Mike current works for Biap Systems as a computer programmer. Mike was the lead developer for "NBC Olympics Now," which was nominated for a 2007 Technology & Engineering Emmy Award
Technology & Engineering Emmy Award
A Technology and Engineering Emmy Award is given by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for outstanding achievement in technical or engineering development...
from the National Television Academy in the category of "Outstanding Achievement in Advanced Media Technology for the Synchronous Enhancement of Original Television Content."
Mike has also had two entries published in the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest
Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest
The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest is a tongue-in-cheek contest that takes place annually and is sponsored by the English Department of San Jose State University in San Jose, California. Entrants are invited "to compose the opening sentence to the worst of all possible novels" – that is,...
.
His first work, Miskatonic Class Reunion
Miskatonic University
Miskatonic University is a fictional university located in Arkham; a fictitious town which is said to exist in Essex County, Massachusetts. It is named after the Miskatonic River . After first appearing in the H. P...
(1989) has been run over 20 times from 1989–2000 and has been
made available to others to run, but has not yet seen publication. It has two sequels, "Miskatonic Archaeological Expedition" (1994), and "Miskatonic Class Reunion 2000" (2000).