Sandy Antunes
Encyclopedia
Alexander "Sandy" Antunes (born 1967 in Baltimore, Maryland) is a Maryland
-area astronomer, author, and role playing game designer. He graduated from Boston University in 1989 with a dual major in astronomy and physics, received a Masters in astronomy from Penn State in 1992, and received his PhD in computational astrophysics from George Mason University in 2005. He was the Maryland Science Center "Science Person of the Month" for May 2007.
. In his work for NASA
, he designed the mission-scheduling software used for XTE
, Astro-E2, and Swift
missions. He was the science scheduler for the NASA/ISAS
ASCA
mission from 1992-1994.
Antunes is currently working on Project Calliope, a pico-satellite designed to convert space sensor data to music.
Antunes's notable works include Miskatonic University
, a supplement for Call of Cthulhu
; Rules to Live By (a LARP
rule book); Priceless, published by Rogue Publishing; and the Origins Award-nominated A Faery's Tale.
He was chief editor on the Origins Award-nominated Metagame Magazine for its mass market run, 1997-1999. He was executive director of the GPA for 2000 and 2002.
Antunes and Mike Young
ran the Cthulhu Live
demos at the 1996 Gen Con
game convention.
In recent years he has been exploring games that can be played by parents and children, children's games, and family games.
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
-area astronomer, author, and role playing game designer. He graduated from Boston University in 1989 with a dual major in astronomy and physics, received a Masters in astronomy from Penn State in 1992, and received his PhD in computational astrophysics from George Mason University in 2005. He was the Maryland Science Center "Science Person of the Month" for May 2007.
Astronomy
Antunes has been published in numerous journal articles, including ScienceScience (journal)
Science is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is one of the world's top scientific journals....
. In his work for NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
, he designed the mission-scheduling software used for XTE
Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer
The Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer is a satellite that observes the time structure of astronomical X-ray sources. The RXTE has three instruments—the Proportional Counter Array, the High-Energy X-ray Timing Experiment , and one instrument called the All Sky Monitor...
, Astro-E2, and Swift
Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission
The Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission consists of a robotic spacecraft called Swift, which was launched into orbit on 20 November 2004, 17:16:00 UTC on a Delta II 7320-10C expendable launch vehicle. Swift is managed by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and was developed by an international...
missions. He was the science scheduler for the NASA/ISAS
Institute of Space and Astronautical Science
is a Japanese national research organization of astrophysics using rockets, astronomical satellites and interplanetary probes. It is a division of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency .- History :...
ASCA
Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics
ASCA is the fourth cosmic X-ray astronomy mission by Japan's , and the second for which the United States is providing part of the scientific payload. The satellite was successfully launched on February 20, 1993. The first eight months of the ASCA mission were devoted to performance verification...
mission from 1992-1994.
Antunes is currently working on Project Calliope, a pico-satellite designed to convert space sensor data to music.
Gaming
Antunes has been active in the gaming community since 1992. With his wife, Emma, he founded the industry-focused role-playing game website RPGnet in 1996. He has published a monthly column on the business side of gaming since the site's inception. One early column, "The 1K Company" (RPGnet, 1998), continues to receive comments and citations.Antunes's notable works include Miskatonic University
Miskatonic University
Miskatonic University is a fictional university located in Arkham; a fictitious town which is said to exist in Essex County, Massachusetts. It is named after the Miskatonic River . After first appearing in the H. P...
, a supplement for Call of Cthulhu
Call of Cthulhu (role-playing game)
Call of Cthulhu is a horror fiction role-playing game based on H. P. Lovecraft's story of the same name and the associated Cthulhu Mythos.The game, often abbreviated as CoC, is published by Chaosium.-Setting:...
; Rules to Live By (a LARP
Live action role-playing game
A live action role-playing game is a form of role-playing game where the participants physically act out their characters' actions. The players pursue goals within a fictional setting represented by the real world, while interacting with each other in character. The outcome of player actions may...
rule book); Priceless, published by Rogue Publishing; and the Origins Award-nominated A Faery's Tale.
He was chief editor on the Origins Award-nominated Metagame Magazine for its mass market run, 1997-1999. He was executive director of the GPA for 2000 and 2002.
Antunes and Mike Young
Mike Young (game designer)
Mike Young is a game designer, author, and founder of the firstindependent professional LARP publishing house, "Interactivities Ink".- Works :...
ran the Cthulhu Live
Cthulhu Live
Cthulhu Live is a live-action roleplaying game version of the popular horror roleplaying game Call of Cthulhu. Based on the bleak works of horror author H. P...
demos at the 1996 Gen Con
Gen Con
Gen Con is one of the largest and most prominent annual gaming conventions in North America. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card-style games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, board games, live action role-playing games, collectible card games, non-collectible...
game convention.
In recent years he has been exploring games that can be played by parents and children, children's games, and family games.