Veteran game designer, engineer, and university professor Mike Sellers has passed away.
News of his passing was shared on social media by friends and peers, who described Sellers as someone with a great capacity for kindness and generosity.
Sellers began his career as a software engineer, working at companies including Tektronix and Mentor Graphics during the ’80s. He eventually began applying his talents to games at New World Designers, where he worked as a lead UI and UX designer on a variety of products including children’s games.
After that, he went on to establish Archetype Interactive and create massively multiplayer title, Meridian 59. After Archetype was acquired by 3DO, Sellers was snapped up by the studio to continue leading production on Meridian 59 and other game projects.
Eventually, Sellers would join Electronic Arts and work on titles such as SimCity Online, The Sims 2, and Ultima Online in his role as a senior game designer.
After departing EA in 2002, Sellers became a consultant before having stints at Online Alchemy, Kabam, and Rumble — accepting leadership roles at all three companies.
In his later years, Sellers ventured into the world of academia and most recently served as the director and professor of practice on Indiana University’s game design degree program.