Steve Moraff
Encyclopedia
Steve Moraff is a video game designer best known for a series of DOS
games launched in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
employee who worked on Cornell's mainframe and his mother was a child development expert. Moraff inherited his father's affinity for computers and began programming in a free computer lab provided by a local non-profit trying to start a science museum in Ithaca. He briefly attended the Alternative Community School but later dropped out of school and after taking some courses at the local Community College
, he obtained his GED
.
In the late 1980s, Moraff began programming games for DOS-based computers, culminating in the 1988 release of Moraff's Revenge
, which, in addition to the then innovative SVGA graphics, was one of the earlier games to be distributed using a shareware
model. This launched his career as a computer game developer and the company that would become MoraffWare and later Software Diversions, Inc. (SDI), based in Florida, which now specializes in Mahjong solitaire
-type games.
In a small way, Steve was also an early innovator in using the Internet
for national politics. During the 1992 Presidential election
season, he included a copy of a speech given by candidate Ross Perot
to the National Press Club - copies of which (including Mr. Moraff's introduction) can still be found on the Web to this day.
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
games launched in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Childhood and career
Raised in Ithaca, NY, Steve Moraff's father was an IBMIBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
employee who worked on Cornell's mainframe and his mother was a child development expert. Moraff inherited his father's affinity for computers and began programming in a free computer lab provided by a local non-profit trying to start a science museum in Ithaca. He briefly attended the Alternative Community School but later dropped out of school and after taking some courses at the local Community College
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
, he obtained his GED
GED
General Educational Development tests are a group of five subject tests which, when passed, certify that the taker has American or Canadian high school-level academic skills...
.
In the late 1980s, Moraff began programming games for DOS-based computers, culminating in the 1988 release of Moraff's Revenge
Moraff's Revenge
Moraff's Revenge is a role-playing game which provides a 3D first-person perspective for its players.The objective of the game is to create a character to explore a series of dungeons in order to destroy monsters, gain experience, find treasures, and reach the Fountain of Youth...
, which, in addition to the then innovative SVGA graphics, was one of the earlier games to be distributed using a shareware
Shareware
The term shareware is a proprietary software that is provided to users without payment on a trial basis and is often limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a...
model. This launched his career as a computer game developer and the company that would become MoraffWare and later Software Diversions, Inc. (SDI), based in Florida, which now specializes in Mahjong solitaire
Mahjong solitaire
Mahjong solitaire is a solitaire matching game that uses a set of Mahjong tiles rather than cards. It is also known as Shanghai solitaire, electronic or computerized mahjong, MahJong solitaire, solitaire Mahjong and, erroneously, as Mahjong...
-type games.
In a small way, Steve was also an early innovator in using the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
for national politics. During the 1992 Presidential election
United States presidential election, 1992
The United States presidential election of 1992 had three major candidates: Incumbent Republican President George Bush; Democratic Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, and independent Texas businessman Ross Perot....
season, he included a copy of a speech given by candidate Ross Perot
Ross Perot
Henry Ross Perot is a U.S. businessman best known for running for President of the United States in 1992 and 1996. Perot founded Electronic Data Systems in 1962, sold the company to General Motors in 1984, and founded Perot Systems in 1988...
to the National Press Club - copies of which (including Mr. Moraff's introduction) can still be found on the Web to this day.