Difference between revisions of "Blog:RIP Michael Knox"

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After attending San Diego State University, Knox went into the US Navy, where he worked as a Data Systems Technician, repairing and maintaining mainframes and other electronic systems aboard the USS Jouette CG-29 and the USS Horne CG-30. It was during this time he began designing and developing computer software.
 
After attending San Diego State University, Knox went into the US Navy, where he worked as a Data Systems Technician, repairing and maintaining mainframes and other electronic systems aboard the USS Jouette CG-29 and the USS Horne CG-30. It was during this time he began designing and developing computer software.
  
From there, Knox worked for West Coast Consultants (a company that developed CAD software), Cinemaware, and [[Company:Pacific Dataworks International|Pacific Dataworks International]]. He then co-founded Park Place Productions in 1989 with $3,000 and a credit card. In about four years, the company became the largest independent game development company in North America. For his accomplishments with Park Place, Knox received Inc. Magazine's Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 1993.
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From there, Knox worked for West Coast Consultants (a company that developed CAD software), Cinemaware, and [[Company:Lyndon & Associates/Pacific Dataworks International|Pacific Dataworks International]]. He then co-founded Park Place Productions in 1989 with $3,000 and a credit card. The company would eventually become the largest independent game development company in North America. For his accomplishments with Park Place, Knox received Inc. Magazine's Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 1993.
  
Park Place developed many titles during its lifespan, mostly sports games including the first console Madden football games, the first Joe Montana football game for the Genesis, and Electronic Arts' first NHL hockey games. For more information and stories about those, be sure to read [http://www.sega-16.com/feature_page.php?id=306&title=Interview:%20Michael%20Knox Sega-16's extensive interview with Mr. Knox].
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Park Place developed many titles during its lifespan, many of them sports games including the first console Madden football game, the first Joe Montana football game for the Genesis, and Electronic Arts' first NHL hockey game. For more information and stories about those, be sure to read [http://www.sega-16.com/feature_page.php?id=306&title=Interview:%20Michael%20Knox Sega-16's extensive interview with Mr. Knox].
  
 
More recently, Knox co-founded [http://www2.voice2page.com/ V2P (Voice2Page) Communications], an Internet audio company.
 
More recently, Knox co-founded [http://www2.voice2page.com/ V2P (Voice2Page) Communications], an Internet audio company.

Revision as of 13:47, 26 September 2009

Michael Knox

Michael Knox, co-founder of developer Park Place Productions, passed away last week after a battle with cancer. This is according to Sega-16's Ken Horowitz, who posted the news on the Sega-16 Forums yesterday.

After attending San Diego State University, Knox went into the US Navy, where he worked as a Data Systems Technician, repairing and maintaining mainframes and other electronic systems aboard the USS Jouette CG-29 and the USS Horne CG-30. It was during this time he began designing and developing computer software.

From there, Knox worked for West Coast Consultants (a company that developed CAD software), Cinemaware, and Pacific Dataworks International. He then co-founded Park Place Productions in 1989 with $3,000 and a credit card. The company would eventually become the largest independent game development company in North America. For his accomplishments with Park Place, Knox received Inc. Magazine's Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 1993.

Park Place developed many titles during its lifespan, many of them sports games including the first console Madden football game, the first Joe Montana football game for the Genesis, and Electronic Arts' first NHL hockey game. For more information and stories about those, be sure to read Sega-16's extensive interview with Mr. Knox.

More recently, Knox co-founded V2P (Voice2Page) Communications, an Internet audio company.

A perusal of Knox's MySpace profile reveals that he had been dealing with cancer for some time. There are pictures from last year of him "recovering" and even a blog post about his illness. It is sad he did not survive, but he will be remembered. Some of the sports games he and Park Place were involved with were certainly a factor in the success of the Sega Genesis in the US, and Madden and other EA Sports franchises continue to be top-sellers to this day.


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CRV 13:41, 22 September 2009 (UTC)


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