J. Todd Coleman

J. Todd Coleman is an American computer game designer who is a director of massively multiplayer online role-playing game titles. He is known for Shadowbane released in 2003 and Wizard101 released in 2008. [1] He was a founder at Wolfpack Studios, which was purchased by Ubi Soft Entertainment and worked at the very successful KingsIsle Entertainment in Austin, Texas.[2] On February 1, 2013, Coleman resigned from KingsIsle Entertainment to pursue other interests. He is currently Creative Director of the Kickstarter-backed MMORPG Crowfall.[3]

Biography

Coleman's start in the virtual world industry was in 1985, when he was selected to be a Game Master on a dial-up adventure game known as Scepter of Goth.[4] In college, he and his friends (Josef Hall, James Nance, and Patrick Blanton) were early pioneers in text mudding, when they created and ran ChaosMUD, a DikuMUD derivative.[4] His first commercial endeavor was a database tools and technology company called Reliant Data Systems, which was sold in 1999 to Compuware Corporation.[5]

His first virtual world company was Wolfpack Studios, where he was one of the creators (along with Josef Hall, James Nance, Patrick Blanton and Robert Marsa) of Shadowbane.[6] Wolfpack was sold in early 2003 to Ubi Soft Entertainment. Ubi Soft assumed control of the Shadowbane game service and continued to run it until July 1, 2009.[7] He currently serves as the Vice President and Creative Director, and is the co-creator (with Hall) of Wizard101, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game for KingsIsle Entertainment.[2] Coleman's in-depth knowledge of the online video game business, with additional expertise in sales, marketing and business development make him an outstanding and valued member of the KingsIsle team. Coleman is not currently working with Kingsisle Entertainment, however. In addition, Coleman has a long history of entrepreneurial endeavors, with product innovation and strategic planning as his strengths.[8]

May 2009, named the 6th most influential person in online gaming by Beckett Massive Gamer Magazine, a Beckett Media publication.[9]

November 2009, named one of the Top 50 most influential game developers by Game Developer Magazine.[10]

May 2010, named the 15th most influential person in online gaming by Beckett Massive Gamer Magazine, a Beckett Media publication.[11]

March 2011, named the #1 Most Influential person In the Massively Multiplayer Online game industry by Beckett Massive Gamer Magazine, a Beckett Media publication.[12]

On April 25, 2012 Coleman announced KingsIsle's new release, Pirate101, a game made corresponding to Wizard101.

On January 25, 2013, Coleman announced that he would be leaving KingsIsle. On February 1, 2013, Coleman resigned from KingsIsle Entertainment.

In January 2015, Coleman announced Crowfall, an MMORPG, with ArtCraft Entertainment Inc. Its Kickstarter campaign raised $1,766,204 from 16,936 backers.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Introducing Wizard 101 - The Vault Network". Vault.ign.com. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
  2. 1 2 http://kingsisle.com/management.html#coleman
  3. ↑ "Crowfall: About the Team". Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Raph Koster's Home Page". Raphkoster.com. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
  5. ↑ "Compuware Announces Acquisition of Reliant Data Systems - re> FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., May 26 /PRNewswire/". Prnewswire.com. 1999-05-25. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
  6. ↑ Archived March 17, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ Archived September 10, 2004, at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ Retrieved 2009-21-04
  9. ↑ http://www.beckett.com/estore/news/?eskin=subMOG&a=10166&s=118
  10. ↑ "The document you are looking for cannot be found". Gamedeveloper.texterity.com. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
  11. ↑ http://www.massiveonlinegamer.com/news/announcements/612-mogs-top-20-most-influential-people-in-mmos-list
  12. ↑ http://www.massiveonlinegamer.com/special-features/1114-top-20-most-influential-people-in-mmos
  13. ↑ "Crowfall - Throne War PC MMO". Retrieved 27 March 2015.
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