J. Todd Coleman
Encyclopedia
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. He was a founder at Wolfpack Studios
, which was purchased by Ubi Soft Entertainment and currently works at the very successful KingsIsle Entertainment
in Austin, Texas.
. 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. His first commercial endeavor was a database tools and technology company called Reliant Data Systems, which was sold in 1999 to Compuware Corporation.
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
. 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. 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
. 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. In addition, Coleman has a long history of entrepreneurial endeavors, with product innovation and strategic planning as his strengths.
May 2009, named the 6th most influential person in online gaming by Beckett Massive Gamer Magazine, a Beckett Media
publication.
November 2009, named one of the Top 50 most influential game developers by Game Developer Magazine
.
May 2010, named the 15th most influential person in online gaming by Beckett Massive Gamer Magazine, a Beckett Media
publication.
March 2011, named the #1 Most Influential person In the Massively Multiplayer Online game industry by Beckett Massive Gamer Magazine, a Beckett Media
publication.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
computer game designer who is a director of massively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
titles. He is known for Shadowbane
Shadowbane
Shadowbane was a free fantasy computer role-playing game created by Wolfpack Studios and published on March 25, 2003 by Ubisoft for Windows and Mac platforms. Originally commercial and subscription-driven, Shadowbane was launched in March 2003, and was the creation of text-MUD veterans J...
released in 2003 and Wizard101
Wizard101
Wizard101 is a 3D massively multiplayer online role-playing game created by KingsIsle Entertainment. Players take on the role of students of Wizardry to save the Spiral , and battle a variety of creatures by casting spells using a turn-based combat system similar to collectible card games...
released in 2008. He was a founder at Wolfpack Studios
Wolfpack Studios
Wolfpack Studios was a video game company based in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 1999 by text-MUD veterans J. Todd Coleman, Josef Hall, James Nance, Robert Marsa and Patrick Blanton. Wolfpack's sole product was the fantasy MMORPG Shadowbane, with its accompanying two expansions...
, which was purchased by Ubi Soft Entertainment and currently works at the very successful KingsIsle Entertainment
KingsIsle Entertainment
KingsIsle Entertainment is a video game developer based in Austin and Dallas, Texas. The company was launched in February 2005, with perhaps the best known of its recruits being Tom Hall, co-founder of id Software and Ion Storm and J...
in Austin, Texas.
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 GothScepter of Goth
Scepter of Goth, also spelled Sceptre of Goth, was an early multi-user text-based role-playing game, or MUD. Originally written by Alan E. Klietz, Scepter of Goth was one of the first commercial MUDs and the first commercial MUD in the United States...
. In college, he and his friends (Josef Hall, James Nance, and Patrick Blanton) were early pioneers in text mudding
MUD
A MUD , pronounced , is a multiplayer real-time virtual world, with the term usually referring to text-based instances of these. MUDs combine elements of role-playing games, hack and slash, player versus player, interactive fiction, and online chat...
, when they created and ran ChaosMUD, a DikuMUD
DikuMUD
DikuMUD is a multiplayer text-based role-playing game, which is a type of MUD. It was written in 1990 and 1991 by Sebastian Hammer, Tom Madsen, Katja Nyboe, Michael Seifert, and Hans Henrik Staerfeldt at DIKU —the department of computer science at the University of Copenhagen in Copenhagen,...
derivative. His first commercial endeavor was a database tools and technology company called Reliant Data Systems, which was sold in 1999 to Compuware Corporation.
His first virtual world
Virtual world
A virtual world is an online community that takes the form of a computer-based simulated environment through which users can interact with one another and use and create objects. The term has become largely synonymous with interactive 3D virtual environments, where the users take the form of...
company was Wolfpack Studios
Wolfpack Studios
Wolfpack Studios was a video game company based in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 1999 by text-MUD veterans J. Todd Coleman, Josef Hall, James Nance, Robert Marsa and Patrick Blanton. Wolfpack's sole product was the fantasy MMORPG Shadowbane, with its accompanying two expansions...
, where he was one of the creators (along with Josef Hall, James Nance, Patrick Blanton and Robert Marsa) of Shadowbane
Shadowbane
Shadowbane was a free fantasy computer role-playing game created by Wolfpack Studios and published on March 25, 2003 by Ubisoft for Windows and Mac platforms. Originally commercial and subscription-driven, Shadowbane was launched in March 2003, and was the creation of text-MUD veterans J...
. 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. He currently serves as the Vice President and Creative Director, and is the co-creator (with Hall) of Wizard101
Wizard101
Wizard101 is a 3D massively multiplayer online role-playing game created by KingsIsle Entertainment. Players take on the role of students of Wizardry to save the Spiral , and battle a variety of creatures by casting spells using a turn-based combat system similar to collectible card games...
, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
for KingsIsle Entertainment
KingsIsle Entertainment
KingsIsle Entertainment is a video game developer based in Austin and Dallas, Texas. The company was launched in February 2005, with perhaps the best known of its recruits being Tom Hall, co-founder of id Software and Ion Storm and J...
. 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. In addition, Coleman has a long history of entrepreneurial endeavors, with product innovation and strategic planning as his strengths.
May 2009, named the 6th most influential person in online gaming by Beckett Massive Gamer Magazine, a Beckett Media
Beckett Media
Beckett Media is a privately held company. Founded in 1984 by James Beckett as Beckett Publications, the company focuses on the collectible industries, especially in the area of sports collectibles.-History:...
publication.
November 2009, named one of the Top 50 most influential game developers by Game Developer Magazine
Game Developer Magazine
Game Developer magazine is the premier publication for working video game creators, and reaches over 35,000 industry professionals monthly. Each month, industry leaders and experts share technical solutions, review new game development tools, and discuss strategies for creating innovative,...
.
May 2010, named the 15th most influential person in online gaming by Beckett Massive Gamer Magazine, a Beckett Media
Beckett Media
Beckett Media is a privately held company. Founded in 1984 by James Beckett as Beckett Publications, the company focuses on the collectible industries, especially in the area of sports collectibles.-History:...
publication.
March 2011, named the #1 Most Influential person In the Massively Multiplayer Online game industry by Beckett Massive Gamer Magazine, a Beckett Media
Beckett Media
Beckett Media is a privately held company. Founded in 1984 by James Beckett as Beckett Publications, the company focuses on the collectible industries, especially in the area of sports collectibles.-History:...
publication.