Michael Bacon
| EverQuest II: Rise of Kunark | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Sony Online Entertainment |
| Publisher(s) | Sony Online Entertainment (US), Koch Media (EU) |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release | November 13 2007 |
| Genre(s) | MMORPG |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
Michael Bacon is an American 3d Artist/Animator/Designer/Musician that has been working in the Video Game Entertainment Industry since 1996. He has worked on an array of large scale production game titles as Art Director /Lead Artist or Senior Artist with such companies as THQ, Sony Online Entertainment, Boss Game Studios, N-Space Inc, Jaleco Inc, Volition Inc, Hasbro Toy Company, and Aramat Productions.
Game Industry
Michael is currently part of Sony Online Entertainment in San Diego Ca working on the popular EverQuest 2 MMORPG PC franchise. Projects there include the international release of EQ2:Desert of Flames, EQ2:Kingdome of Sky, EQ2:Echose of Faydwer, EQ2:Rise of Kunark and is now in mid production of EQ2's 5th MMO expansion soon to be announced.
Michael also worked with Volition Inc contributing significantly to the XBOX360 title "Saints Row" and has work in the coming "Saints Row 2" Sequel that is scheduled for release late summer of 2008 from Publisher THQ.
In 2006 Michael started his company 3 Gunmen Games developing casual game titles for the PC and Console markets. They completed their first title "VectorBlast" for the Hasbro Toy Company in 2007 and their proprietary NetJet controller system and are presently in production working on "Pirate's Gold", an action puzzle title to be released some time in Summer of 2008. Other products in production include a series of Dice and other board style games that will introduced summer of 2008 as well.
In the Past
In 1996, Aramat Productions based in Wilsonville Or. was looking for a concept staff artist for the Sci-Fi project “Dead Unity” which at the time was being published by THQ and was slated to be released on the Playstation and PC-Rom. Being his first job in the Video Game Entertainment industry, Michael spent countless late hours and weekends learning as much as he could about all aspects of Game Development. Michael took to 3d and animation quickly and worked his way up to Lead Artist and eventually Art Director for the project.
He also did significant redesign work on core game play as well as story and dialog better suited for the title. Not having a dedicated sound studio or audio engineer, Michael took on the role to create soundtrack, sound effects and record dialog for the title as well as press videos presentations for E3 while in production.
THQ on a regular visit to the facility were impressed with Michael’s musical talents and enlisted him to contribute title theme tracks for their Playstation fighting game “VS” as well as their ultra popular wrestling franchise “WCW vs. NOW”.
At Aramat, Michael was also Producer and co-designer for the ambitious prototype project “Arch Gothic” co-designing with long time friend and colleague John Mulkey (who went on to work with Monolith Entertainment and was a significant contributor to the “No one lives forever” and “F.E.A.R” franchise).
In mid 1999, Michael was hired on at N-Space inc located in Olrando Fl as Art Director for their Sony Playstation title Danger Girl, based on the successful comic book license created by J. Scott Campbell and Andy Hartnell. While at N-space, Michael was asked to Record and perform the Duke Nukem theme song for the Playstation title Duke Nukem: Land of the babes published by GT Interactive. He was then brought on to the team to lend a hand on the Playstation 2 title Duke Nukem: D-Day published at the time by RockStar Games in NYC. That title was plagued with internal troubles and was eventually cancelled but not before Michael had moved on to take a Lead Artist position with Boss Game Studios in Seattle.
In 2001, Michael was brought on board as Project Art Director at Boss Game Studios. There he worked on different game prototypes including projects based on licenses for the Animated television series “Reboot”, “Sitting Ducks”, “the IRX international Racing Extreme” franchise, and most significantly to a project called “Film@11” using the Nintendo Game Cube Platform.
Michael accepted a position at Jaleco Entertainment as Lead Artist working on the PC-Rom title “Trailer Park Tycoon”, and later lending a hand as Environment Lead on “Goblin Commander: Unleash the Horde” where he worked along side of Chris and Ron Millar from Blizzard/WarCraft/StarCraft fame. After Goblin Commander was released Michael accepted the position of project Art Director for the Sequel Goblin Commander 2 which he had put in place a production power house that well exceeded the production of the previous title and well on its way to being a much refined and visually stunning version of its predecessor, however Jaleco was owned by PCCW Japan a large cell phone conglomerate who decided to dissolve its console game operation in the U.S. and closed the company down in April 2003.
Michael has since worked at Volition Inc in Champaign Il working on the Saints Row franchise before accepting a position with Sony Online Entertainment and permanent home in beautiful San Diego Ca.
Music Endevors
He is also a gifted rock guitar player/Producer/musician contributing tracks to the WCW vs. NWO wrestling game franchise, Duke Nukem - Land of the Babes for GT Interactive, and the THQ fighting game "VS". Michael has independent CD releases which including work with the 80s metal band Havuk, the 2006 release contributing tracks to the Madd Krakker "Saltine Dream" CD currently available at ITunes and other on-line distribution networks and is currently finishing up an EP for his new band "The Texas Doom Machine".
Michael is also featured on Karlton Coffin's up and coming release "Ghost in the Glass".
Production Releases
Discography
| Title | Release Date | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Madd Krakker 2: TBA | TBD | Liquid Reality Studios |
| Kalrton Coffin: Ghost in the Glass | In Production | Liquid Reality Studios |
| The Texas Doom Machine: Here Comes Trouble | In Production | Reactor Records |
| Madd Krakker: Saltine Dream | 2006 | Reactor Records |
| Michael Bacon: Engraved Invitation (EP) | 2003 | Reactor Records |
| Michael Bacon: Unrequested Fission Surplus (EP) | 1997 | Reactor Records |
| Coffin: Hell in a Half Rack | 1996 | Zood Cru Records |
| Havuk: Twisted Aggression | 1992 | Zood Cru Records |
| Havuk: Zeud Brewzer | 1990 | Zood Cru Records |
Michael also has interest in film and plans to launch his first indie film project/Production company late in the fourth quarter of 2008.
External links
See Also
Michael Bacon / The Bacon Brothers / Composer / Brother of Kevin Bacon