Tabula Rasa : Illumination - Michael

Hometown
I moved around a lot as a kid. if I have a hometown, it's probably Needham, Massachusetts.

Favorite games
Half Life, Unreal Tournament, Doom, Quake, Diablo, The Two Towers, Monkey Island, Gabriel Knight 1.

Favorite books
The Lord of the Rings, The Stand, The Grapes of Wrath, Janson's History of Art. Authors I like include Michael Crichton, John Grisham, Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Tom Clancy

Favorite movies
Star Wars, The Great Escape, The Empire Strikes Back, The Return of the King, The 13 th Warrior, Braveheart, Schindler's List, The Shawshank Redemption, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Shrek, 12 Monkeys, Enemy at the Gates, Saving Private Ryan

Favorite websites
Yahoo!

Favorite bands or songs
Too many to mention, but my all time favorites include Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Sting, Mark Knopfler, U2, The Police, Rush, Chris Isaak, Joe Satriani, Michael Schenker, Judas Priest, Pink Floyd, Daniel Lanois, Oingo Boingo/Danny Elfman, and many more...

Favorite quote or personal mantra
Keep Faith

Previous projects
Sierra adventures including King's Quest 6, Gabriel Knight 1, Lighthouse, Space Quest 6, and SWAT2; also, Star Wars: Battlefront, and (the now defunct) Dragon Empires

Describe your job
Designing scripted adventures and world building, and collaborating on other aspects of the game's design.

How did you get into the industry?
I attended a 4-year art school, and after graduation I did a bit of freelance illustration before a cousin of mine encouraged me to apply to Sierra On-Line, where he worked. After a few rounds of applications, I was offered an entry level job, and I jumped at it. Without fully realizing it, I had begun a whole new career. Since then, I have held many positions while working on art teams, from Junior Artist to Art Director, but my job on Tabula Rasa is an exciting opportunity on the Design team.

What do you like most about your job?
Working in a highly creative setting with a diversely talented team, all working towards a common goal. Also, I am inspired daily by the people I work with and am constantly learning new things. Mostly, I love the fact that people all over the world will have fun playing these games, and will hopefully be inspired in some way by them.

What sources have inspired you?
My favorite films, books and music. Nature and natural beauty; travel, historical locations. Artists: John Singer Sargent, Caravaggio, Bernini, Michelangelo, Vermeer, Frederic Church, NC Wyeth, Ralph McQuarry, Brom, and countless others.

What tools or software do you use most often?
3D Studio Max and Photoshop, as well as the proprietary tools I use in my job.

What have you contributed to the game that you are most proud of or what is your favorite feature of Tabula Rasa?
I am excited to be working on designing one of the campaigns for the game, which involves the interconnecting of many different missions and stories and developing the unique features that will be found in that area of the game.

What advice would you give to someone with aspirations to do what you do?
Absorb as much as you can and take inspiration from any creative source. Try to develop a wide range of skills, practice at them, and accept constructive criticism. Be open to different opportunities. When you get your break, seek responsibility and work hard.