Michael Abrash

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Michael Abrash is a game programmer and a technical writer that has worked in the computer industry for 37 years. The first game he vividly remembers playing is “Breakout”. Later, he would write his first game in FORTRAN and assembly language; an arcade-style game for the Vector Graphics VIP CP/M system. The first title published commercially was “Space Strike”, in 1982. He subsequently collaborated with Dan Illowsky in some published titles during the 80´s, and has credits has a programmer or designer in several others during the years, including “Quake” and “Portal” 2 [1] [2].

Abrash worked as Graphic’s Lead in Windows NT during a hiatus as a game programmer. He later returned to games with the work on Quake (1996) after joining Id Software. He lists “Quake” as his favorite game, and some of the technology behind that title is documented in Abrash's “Ramblings in Realtime”, published in Dr. Dobb's Journal [1] [3]. Afterwards, he worked with RAD Game Tools as a programmer and also on Microsoft’s Xbox. He joined Valve Software, as a developer, from 2010 until 2014 where he researched about Virtual Reality. Currently, he is the Chief Scientist at Oculus VR [1] [2] [4].

As a technical writer, he is the author of several books, including “Zen of Assembly Language Volume 1: Knowledge” (1990) and the “Graphics Programming Black Book” (1997) [1].

Bibliography

  • Abrash, M. (1989). Power Graphics Programming (Programming series). Que
  • Abrash, M. (1990). Zen of Assembly Language: Volume I. Pearson Scott Foresman
  • Abrash, M. (1994). Zen of Code Optimization. Coriolis Group Books
  • Abrash, M. (1996). Zen of Graphics Programming. Coriolis Group Books
  • Abrash, M. (1997). Graphics Programming Black Book Special Edition. Coriolis Group Books

Game Development

  • Portal 2 (2011)
  • Motocross Madness 2 (2000)
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 (1999)
  • Quake: The Offering (1999)
  • Half-Life (1998)
  • DOOM 64 (1997)
  • Quake Mission Pack No. 2: Dissolution of Eternity (1997)
  • Quake Mission Pack No. I: Scourge of Armagon (1997)
  • Final DOOM (1996)
  • Hexen: Beyond Heretic (1996)
  • Quake (1996)
  • DOOM (1995)
  • The Ultimate DOOM (1995)
  • DOOM (1993)
  • Big Top (1983)
  • Cosmic Crusader (1982)
  • Snack Attack II (1982)
  • Space Strike (1982) [1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Moby Games. Michael Abrash. Retrieved from https://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,213
  2. 2.0 2.1 Valve Pipeline (2013). Pipeline interviews: Michael Abrash on virtual reality & the future of gaming [video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l461vIVtDZM
  3. Abrash, M. (1996). Ramblings in real time. Retrieved from http://www.drdobbs.com/ramblings-in-real-time/184410037
  4. Linkedin. Michael Abrash. Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-abrash-25a01933