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Line 1: − {{InfoBoxRealPerson+ '''Jordan Weisman''' is an American computer game designer who has founded three major game design companies, each in a different game genre and segment of the industry. − | image = Jordan Weisman.jpg − | image caption = (photo undated) − | name = Jordan K. Weisman − | birthdate = ca. 1961<ref>described as "thirty years old" in [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdJA5C_Po4U Discovery Channel Beyond 2000 Battletech Center] episode from 1992 and as 53 years old in a November 2013 article by [[w:Der Spiegel|German magazine Der Spiegel (online edition)]] at [http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/games/shadowrun-erfinder-jordan-weisman-ueber-die-zukunft-von-tischspielen-a-930907.html this link]</ref> − | died = − | Occupation = Game Designer<br />[[FASA]] cofounder − | penname = − | Sarnaname = − | Forumhandle = − | BTPersona = [[Jordan Weis]] − | homepage = − }} − '''Jordan K. Weisman''', one of the key developers of [[BattleTech]], is an American entrepreneur and game designer who founded several major game design companies, each in a different game genre and segment of the industry. ==Biography== ==Biography== − Weisman graduated from Francis W. Parker High School, in Chicago, Illinois. According to himself in an online interview,<ref name=MC>''MattChat #314'' interview</ref> he had troubles in school being dyslexic ("illiterate" in his own words) despite special tutoring; cheating his way through school was easier for him than learning to read. [[w:Dungeons and Dragons|Dungeons and Dragons]] "completely changed [his] life" when he was 16, as it was an incentive for him actually learn reading well. − Since he liked sailing (growing up near [[w:Lake Michigan|Lake Michigan]]) and his grades were not particularly good, he felt he did not have many college options and enrolled in the [[w:United States Merchant Marine|Merchant Marine Academy]]. There, he was given a half-hour tour of a computer graphic supported bridge simulator for training [[w:Maritime pilot|maritime pilots]] in ca. 1978 or 1979. Impressed, Weisman decided at that point that he wanted to build something similar for gaming purposes. He left school to pursue his business interests, but failed to procure any funding for the multiplayer simulator project.<ref name=MC/>+ [[Image:Jordan-weisman.jpg|thumb|right|Jordan Weisman]] − In 1980 he founded role playing game publisher [[FASA]] (short for the ''Freedonian Aeronautics & Space Administration,'' named after Groucho Marx's mythical country in Duck Soup) with Merchant Marine Academy fellow [[L. Ross Babcock]]. After starting out producing supplements for the RPG ''Traveller'', including starship deck plans he had drafted personally, and later a popular ''Star Trek'' RPG, FASA produced the highly successful [[BattleTech]] series of games.+ Weisman graduated from Francis W. Parker High School, in Chicago, Illinois. He spent time in the Merchant Marines, and briefly attended University of Illinois at Chicago, before leaving school to persue his business interests. − Eventually, they used money from FASA to start [[Virtual Worlds]], Inc, a company that produced the BattleTech Centers. There, players sat in cockpits using multiple monitors and elaborate controls for networked battles with giant mecha.+ In 1980 he founded role playing game publisher [[FASA]] (short for the ''Freedonia Aeronautics & Space Administration,'' named after Groucho Marx's mythical country in Duck Soup) with partner [[L. Ross Babcock]]. After starting out producing supplements for the RPG ''Traveller'', FASA produced the highly successful [[MechWarrior]] games, set in the [[BattleTech]] universe. − In 1995, Weisman founded [[FASA Interactive]] to personally take over the development and production of the hit [[MechWarrior (video games)|MechWarrior PC games]]. The franchise became one of the top-selling PC games of all time, with sales of over 9 million units worldwide. In 1999, [[w:Microsoft|Microsoft]] acquired FASA Interactive and moved the 40-person development team to Redmond, Washington. As part of the deal, Weisman became Creative Director for Microsoft's entertainment division.+ Eventually, they took money from FASA to start Virtual Worlds, Inc - a company that produced the BattleTech Centers. There, players sat in cockpits using multiple monitors and elaborate controls for networked battles with giant mecha. − In 2000, he founded [[WizKids]], which produces the games [[w:Mage Knight|Mage Knight]], [[w:Heroclix|Heroclix]], [[MechWarrior: Dark Age]], and [[w:Pirates of the Spanish Main|Pirates of the Spanish Main]]. The company focuses on miniatures games that are easy to learn for younger players. + In 1995, Weisman founded FASA Interactive to personally take over the development and production of the hit MechWarrior PC games. The franchise is one of the top-selling PC games of all time, with sales of over 9 million units worldwide. In 1999, Microsoft acquired FASA Interactive and moved the 40-person development team to Redmond, Washington. As part of the deal, Weisman became Creative Director for Microsoft's entertainment division. − In 2003 he founded 4orty 2wo Entertainment, a design company in the new field of the Alternate Reality Game. 4orty 2wo created two of the best known AR games to date, ''The Beast'', to promote the Steven Spielberg film ''A.I.,'' and ''I Love Bees'' to promote the Xbox game ''Halo 2''. + In 2000, he founded [[WizKids]], which produces the games [[w:Mage Knight|Mage Knight]], [[w:Heroclix|Heroclix]], [[MechWarrior: Dark Age]], and [[w:Pirates of the Spanish Main|Pirates of the Spanish Main]]]. The company focuses on miniatures games that are easy to learn for younger players. − Another gaming project was the video game company [[Harebrained Schemes]] who developed modern takes on two games he helped create at FASA, ''[[Shadowrun]]'' and [[BattleTech (Video Game)|''BattleTech'']] with funding secured via a [[2015 BattleTech Video Game Crowdfunding Campaign|highly successful crowdfunding campaign]] running from September 28 to November 4 2015.+ In 2003 he founded 4orty 2wo Entertainment, a design company in the new field of the Alternate Reality Game. 4orty 2wo created the two best known AR games to date, ''The Beast'', to promote the Steven Spielberg film ''A.I.,'' and ''I Love Bees'' to promote the Xbox game ''Halo 2''. − Weisman was an Adjunct Professor in the Interactive Media Division at the USC School of Cinema-Television.{{cn}}+ Jordan is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Interactive Media Division at the USC School of Cinema-Television. ==Design credits== ==Design credits== + Weisman's design credits in paper RPG game design include: Weisman's design credits in paper RPG game design include: + * ''[[AeroTech 2 Revised Edition]] (BattleTech) (2004) * ''[[AeroTech 2 Revised Edition]] (BattleTech) (2004) * ''[[MechWarrior: Dark Age]]'' (2002) * ''[[MechWarrior: Dark Age]]'' (2002) * ''[[Earthdawn]]'' (1993) * ''[[Earthdawn]]'' (1993) − * ''Shadowrun'' (1989) + * ''[[Shadowrun]]'' (1989) − * ''[[MechWarrior, First Edition|MechWarrior, The BattleTech Role Playing Game]]'' (1986) + * ''[[MechWarrior, First Edition|MechWarrior, The Battletech Role Playing Game]]'' (1986) * ''Star Trek III: Starship Combat Game Box Set'' (1984) * ''Star Trek III: Starship Combat Game Box Set'' (1984) He also served as production manager and/or graphic designer on a long series of titles. He also served as production manager and/or graphic designer on a long series of titles. − ==Credits== + == References == − ===Production Manager=== − * ''[[Rolling Thunder (scenario pack)|Rolling Thunder]]'' − * ''[[Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook)|Wolf's Dragoons]]'' − == References == − <references/> *[http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,1428/ Weisman's rap sheet at MobyGames] *[http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,1428/ Weisman's rap sheet at MobyGames] − *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLc--Jza4GU Matt Chat #314 interview on YouTube]+ [[Category:PeopleReal|Weisman, Jordan]] [[Category:PeopleReal|Weisman, Jordan]] + {{wikipedia|81725803}}
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| − | + | '''Jordan Weisman''' is an American computer game designer who has founded three major game design companies, each in a different game genre and segment of the industry. | |
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==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
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| − | + | [[Image:Jordan-weisman.jpg|thumb|right|Jordan Weisman]] | |
| − | + | Weisman graduated from Francis W. Parker High School, in Chicago, Illinois. He spent time in the Merchant Marines, and briefly attended University of Illinois at Chicago, before leaving school to persue his business interests. | |
| − | + | In 1980 he founded role playing game publisher [[FASA]] (short for the ''Freedonia Aeronautics & Space Administration,'' named after Groucho Marx's mythical country in Duck Soup) with partner [[L. Ross Babcock]]. After starting out producing supplements for the RPG ''Traveller'', FASA produced the highly successful [[MechWarrior]] games, set in the [[BattleTech]] universe. | |
| − | + | Eventually, they took money from FASA to start Virtual Worlds, Inc - a company that produced the BattleTech Centers. There, players sat in cockpits using multiple monitors and elaborate controls for networked battles with giant mecha. | |
| − | In | + | In 1995, Weisman founded FASA Interactive to personally take over the development and production of the hit MechWarrior PC games. The franchise is one of the top-selling PC games of all time, with sales of over 9 million units worldwide. In 1999, Microsoft acquired FASA Interactive and moved the 40-person development team to Redmond, Washington. As part of the deal, Weisman became Creative Director for Microsoft's entertainment division. |
| − | In | + | In 2000, he founded [[WizKids]], which produces the games [[w:Mage Knight|Mage Knight]], [[w:Heroclix|Heroclix]], [[MechWarrior: Dark Age]], and [[w:Pirates of the Spanish Main|Pirates of the Spanish Main]]]. The company focuses on miniatures games that are easy to learn for younger players. |
| − | + | In 2003 he founded 4orty 2wo Entertainment, a design company in the new field of the Alternate Reality Game. 4orty 2wo created the two best known AR games to date, ''The Beast'', to promote the Steven Spielberg film ''A.I.,'' and ''I Love Bees'' to promote the Xbox game ''Halo 2''. | |
| − | + | Jordan is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Interactive Media Division at the USC School of Cinema-Television. | |
==Design credits== | ==Design credits== | ||
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Weisman's design credits in paper RPG game design include: | Weisman's design credits in paper RPG game design include: | ||
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* ''[[AeroTech 2 Revised Edition]] (BattleTech) (2004) | * ''[[AeroTech 2 Revised Edition]] (BattleTech) (2004) | ||
* ''[[MechWarrior: Dark Age]]'' (2002) | * ''[[MechWarrior: Dark Age]]'' (2002) | ||
* ''[[Earthdawn]]'' (1993) | * ''[[Earthdawn]]'' (1993) | ||
| − | * ''Shadowrun'' (1989) | + | * ''[[Shadowrun]]'' (1989) |
| − | * ''[[MechWarrior, First Edition|MechWarrior, The | + | * ''[[MechWarrior, First Edition|MechWarrior, The Battletech Role Playing Game]]'' (1986) |
* ''Star Trek III: Starship Combat Game Box Set'' (1984) | * ''Star Trek III: Starship Combat Game Box Set'' (1984) | ||
He also served as production manager and/or graphic designer on a long series of titles. | He also served as production manager and/or graphic designer on a long series of titles. | ||
| − | == | + | == References == |
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*[http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,1428/ Weisman's rap sheet at MobyGames] | *[http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,1428/ Weisman's rap sheet at MobyGames] | ||
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[[Category:PeopleReal|Weisman, Jordan]] | [[Category:PeopleReal|Weisman, Jordan]] | ||
| + | {{wikipedia|81725803}} | ||