Mike Nicholson

Mike Nicholson at Blizzcon 2010.

Mike Nicholson is a Senior Artist on Diablo III. Mike is known as the "UI guy," and he's worked extensively on the game interface, inventory, icons, and other related tasks.

Background

Mike has worked at a number of different game companies and has pretty much done the entire spectrum of activities associated with game design.^[1] He spent about 7 years working with DreamForge on multiple award-winning role-playing and strategy PC games. After the dissolution of DreamForge in 2000, he has since picked up a great deal of experience with a number of well-known game companies such as Sony Computer Entertainment, Monolith, and Sigil Games Online.

Mike joined Blizzard in October 2006 and now works as a Senior Artist/Interface Designer on Diablo III.

Interviews

Mike talked with Bashiok a bit about his career during Blizzcast #8.^[2]

Bashiok: Mike Nicholson who is a new face and voice to those following Diablo III, what do you do on the team?

Mike: I'm a Senior Artist and I’m in charge of all the interface. Also known as "The UI Guy".

Bashiok: So Mike, actually I wanted to touch on something you did in the past. I was at your office a few weeks ago and found out you were Lead Designer and Lead Art on a game which was near and dear to me which was called Sanitarium. Without going into it too much, that was a point and click adventure game, so how did you get from that to working here at Blizzard?

Mike: Well, I’m glad you liked it, I’m proud of that game. Well the thing was when we did Sanitarium unfortunately even though it was well received, everyone who played it liked it, not that many people played it. Well eventually they did. We kind of got there as the party was going out...

Bashiok: For point and click adventures...

Mike: So, you know you kind of take a look around and go well I guess I need to get back into art. Came out to California and started doing 3D environments and kind of worked all the way back up to interface, where I’m back to doing 2D art again.

Artwork

Mike maintains a personal website.^[3] There, you can see numerous, stunning examples of his art. Many pieces (from both games and otherwise) are featured there. On display are beautiful, colored samples from the World of Warcraft: Trading Card Game (WoW:TCG), concept art for various games, original Vanguard: SOH item lore and item artwork, personal artwork, as well as examples of interface design.

Diablo III Poker Set

Mike was one of the key members responsible for designing the Blizzcon 2010 Diablo III exclusive poker set. In a DirecTV special segment during the Blizzcon 2010 event, he explains to viewers the design decisions that went into making the cards and poker chips.^[4]

Game Credits/Experience

2007 - Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, Sigil Games Online; Senior Artist/UI Designer
2006 - Condemned, Monolith Productions; UI Concept Designer
2005 - The Matrix Online, Monolith Productions; Art Director
2005 - God of War, Sony Computer Entertainment Studios: Santa Monica; Additional Artist
2004 - Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, Interplay Entertainment; Special Thanks
2004 - Trigger Man, Point of View; Artist
2003 - Run Like Hell, Interplay Productions; Art, Additional Design
2001 - Giants: Citizen Kabuto, Interplay Productions; Artist
1999 - Warhammer 40k : Rites of War, DreamForge; Lead Artist, 2D Art Team
1998 - Sanitarium, DreamForge; Lead Designer, Additional Graphics/Artwork, 3D Art, Writing/Dialogue/Story, Storyboarding
1997 - War Wind II: Human Onslaught, DreamForge; Artist
1996 - War Wind, DreamForge; Graphics/Artwork
1995 - Anvil of Dawn, DreamForge; Artist, Rule Book Illustrations
1995 - Chronomaster, DreamForge; Lead Artist, Cover Art
1995 - Ravenloft: Stone Prophet, DreamForge; Graphics/Artwork
1994 - Menzoberranzen, DreamForge; Artist

References

[1] Linked-in profile for Mike Nicholson.

[2] Blizzcast #8. 2009-03-30.

[3] Mike Nicholson's personal website.

[4] Diablo III Poker Set. 2010-08-30.

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