Annie Carlson
Encyclopedia
Annie VanderMeer Mitsoda (also credited as Annie Carlson, Annie VanderMeer Carlson, and Anne VanderMeer) is an American
video game designer best known for her writing work on the 2008 PC title Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir
.
Annie Carlson (then VanderMeer) attended Macalester College
and earned a B.A. in English in 2003. After briefly working at a local GameStop, Carlson began work at Papaya Studio
in summer 2004, working Taxi Driver
, the ill-fated videogame "sequel" to the film of the same name. After the game was cancelled in October 2005, Carlson joined Obsidian Entertainment
in January 2006, beginning work on "Project New Jersey" (a rumored unreleased RPG).
When Project New Jersey was cancelled, Carlson joined the Neverwinter Nights 2
team, where she worked on handling the in-game items. After NWN2
was released, Carlson began work as a writing assistant on Alpha Protocol
, working with creative lead Brian Mitsoda
, where she was credited with helping create some of the characters. While working on Alpha Protocol
, Carlson assisted with additional design for the first expansion to Neverwinter Nights 2
. Mask of the Betrayer
.
In early 2008, Carlson was moved onto the second expansion for Neverwinter Nights 2
, Storm of Zehir
as a designer and lead writer. Carlson also assisted with work on the Aliens RPG and spoke at the 'Women in the Game Industry' panel at the 2008 Penny Arcade Expo before she left the company in October 2008 to move to Seattle.
Carlson is currently working part-time as a game designer for DoubleBear Productions
, and full-time as a game designer at ArenaNet
for Guild Wars 2
. In June 2010, she married fellow game designer and DoubleBear founder Brian Mitsoda
, changing her name to "VanderMeer Mitsoda."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
video game designer best known for her writing work on the 2008 PC title Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir
Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir
Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir is an expansion pack for the computer role-playing game Neverwinter Nights 2, developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Atari. It was released in late 2008 in North America, Europe, and Australia...
.
Annie Carlson (then VanderMeer) attended Macalester College
Macalester College
Macalester College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was founded in 1874 as a Presbyterian-affiliated but nonsectarian college. Its first class entered September 15, 1885. The college is located on a campus in a historic residential neighborhood...
and earned a B.A. in English in 2003. After briefly working at a local GameStop, Carlson began work at Papaya Studio
Papaya Studio
Papaya Studio is an independent American video game developer founded by Peter Rosenlund and Roar Flølo and Lin Shen in 1999, and based in Irvine, California. Peter Rosenlund and Roar Flolo, two of the three founders left the company in 2005...
in summer 2004, working Taxi Driver
Taxi Driver
Taxi Driver is a 1976 American drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader. The film is set in New York City, soon after the Vietnam War. The film stars Robert De Niro and features Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel, and Cybill Shepherd. The film was nominated for four Academy...
, the ill-fated videogame "sequel" to the film of the same name. After the game was cancelled in October 2005, Carlson joined Obsidian Entertainment
Obsidian Entertainment
Obsidian Entertainment is an American video game developer founded in 2003 after the disestablishment of Interplay Productions' Black Isle Studios, for PC and console systems...
in January 2006, beginning work on "Project New Jersey" (a rumored unreleased RPG).
When Project New Jersey was cancelled, Carlson joined the Neverwinter Nights 2
Neverwinter Nights 2
Neverwinter Nights 2 is a computer role-playing game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Atari. It is the sequel to BioWare's Neverwinter Nights, based on the Dungeons & Dragons pencil and paper fantasy role-playing game...
team, where she worked on handling the in-game items. After NWN2
Neverwinter Nights 2
Neverwinter Nights 2 is a computer role-playing game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Atari. It is the sequel to BioWare's Neverwinter Nights, based on the Dungeons & Dragons pencil and paper fantasy role-playing game...
was released, Carlson began work as a writing assistant on Alpha Protocol
Alpha Protocol
Alpha Protocol is a third-person espionage role-playing video game, developed by Obsidian Entertainment, their first title for an original IP, and published by Sega. The game revolves around the adventures of field agent Michael Thorton...
, working with creative lead Brian Mitsoda
Brian Mitsoda
Brian Mitsoda is an American video game designer best known for his writing work on the 2004 PC title Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines.-Early career and Black Isle Studios:...
, where she was credited with helping create some of the characters. While working on Alpha Protocol
Alpha Protocol
Alpha Protocol is a third-person espionage role-playing video game, developed by Obsidian Entertainment, their first title for an original IP, and published by Sega. The game revolves around the adventures of field agent Michael Thorton...
, Carlson assisted with additional design for the first expansion to Neverwinter Nights 2
Neverwinter Nights 2
Neverwinter Nights 2 is a computer role-playing game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Atari. It is the sequel to BioWare's Neverwinter Nights, based on the Dungeons & Dragons pencil and paper fantasy role-playing game...
. Mask of the Betrayer
Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer
Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer is a computer role-playing game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Atari. It is an expansion pack for Neverwinter Nights 2. It was released in Autumn 2007 for the PC in North America, Europe, and Australia...
.
In early 2008, Carlson was moved onto the second expansion for Neverwinter Nights 2
Neverwinter Nights 2
Neverwinter Nights 2 is a computer role-playing game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Atari. It is the sequel to BioWare's Neverwinter Nights, based on the Dungeons & Dragons pencil and paper fantasy role-playing game...
, Storm of Zehir
Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir
Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir is an expansion pack for the computer role-playing game Neverwinter Nights 2, developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Atari. It was released in late 2008 in North America, Europe, and Australia...
as a designer and lead writer. Carlson also assisted with work on the Aliens RPG and spoke at the 'Women in the Game Industry' panel at the 2008 Penny Arcade Expo before she left the company in October 2008 to move to Seattle.
Carlson is currently working part-time as a game designer for DoubleBear Productions
DoubleBear Productions
DoubleBear Productions is an indie game studio founded in June 2009 by writer and game designer Brian Mitsoda. The studio intends to specialize in PC role playing games. Its first and current project is Dead State, a turn-based PC RPG set in a zombie apocalypse scenario...
, and full-time as a game designer at ArenaNet
ArenaNet
ArenaNet is a computer game developer and part of NCsoft Corporation, founded in 2000 by Mike O'Brien, Patrick Wyatt and Jeff Strain and located in Bellevue, Washington...
for Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2 is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game in development by ArenaNet. Set in the fantasy world of Tyria, the game follows the re-emergence of Destiny's Edge, a disbanded guild dedicated to fighting the Elder Dragons, a Lovecraftian species that has seized control of Tyria in...
. In June 2010, she married fellow game designer and DoubleBear founder Brian Mitsoda
Brian Mitsoda
Brian Mitsoda is an American video game designer best known for his writing work on the 2004 PC title Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines.-Early career and Black Isle Studios:...
, changing her name to "VanderMeer Mitsoda."