Stephen J Sweeney
Encyclopedia
Stephen J Sweeney is a British
software engineer
, probably best known for creating a number of GPL video games (such as Project: Starfighter, Blob Wars : Metal Blob Solid, and Blob Wars : Blob And Conquer), under the banner of Parallel Realities. Much of his work has been featured in British computer magazines such as Amiga Format
and Linux Format
. He began programming in the early 1990s on the Amiga
series of computers.
, where he studied environmental biology, before beginning a career in computers in 2001. He spent many years working in finance for banks such as Lehman Brothers
, Barclays Capital
and UBS.
before releasing a large number developed on Linux
. Notable games included TANX Squadron (Amiga, 1999), Project: Starfighter (2002), Blob Wars : Metal Blob Solid (2004), Virus Killer (2004), Blob Wars : Blob And Conquer (2008), and The Legend of Edgar (2009). All of the games for Operating Systems including the linux kernel
were released under the General Public License.
, the first book in the Battle for the Solar System space opera trilogy.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
software engineer
Software engineer
A software engineer is an engineer who applies the principles of software engineering to the design, development, testing, and evaluation of the software and systems that make computers or anything containing software, such as computer chips, work.- Overview :...
, probably best known for creating a number of GPL video games (such as Project: Starfighter, Blob Wars : Metal Blob Solid, and Blob Wars : Blob And Conquer), under the banner of Parallel Realities. Much of his work has been featured in British computer magazines such as Amiga Format
Amiga Format
Amiga Format was a British computer magazine for Amiga computers, published by Future Publishing. The magazine lasted 136 issues from 1989 to 2000. The magazine was formed when, in the wake of selling ACE to EMAP, Future split the dual-format title ST/Amiga Format into two separate publications...
and Linux Format
Linux Format
Linux Format was the UK's first Linux-specific magazine, and is currently the best-selling Linux title in the UK. It is also exported to many countries worldwide. It is published by Future Publishing...
. He began programming in the early 1990s on the Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
series of computers.
Early life
Sweeney was born in Brighton, UK in 1977 and attending Oxford Brookes UniversityOxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University is a new university in Oxford, England. It was named to honour the school's founding principal, John Brookes. It has been ranked as the best new university by the Sunday Times University Guide 10 years in a row...
, where he studied environmental biology, before beginning a career in computers in 2001. He spent many years working in finance for banks such as Lehman Brothers
Lehman Brothers
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. was a global financial services firm. Before declaring bankruptcy in 2008, Lehman was the fourth largest investment bank in the USA , doing business in investment banking, equity and fixed-income sales and trading Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (former NYSE ticker...
, Barclays Capital
Barclays Capital
Barclays Capital is a global British investment bank. It is the investment banking division of Barclays plc which has a balance sheet of over £1.2 trillion . Barclays Capital provides financing and risk management services to large companies, institutions and government clients. It is a primary...
and UBS.
Parallel Realities
Under the banner of Parallel Realities, Sweeney and his brother created a number of free video games, starting on the AmigaAmiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
before releasing a large number developed on Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
. Notable games included TANX Squadron (Amiga, 1999), Project: Starfighter (2002), Blob Wars : Metal Blob Solid (2004), Virus Killer (2004), Blob Wars : Blob And Conquer (2008), and The Legend of Edgar (2009). All of the games for Operating Systems including the linux kernel
Linux kernel
The Linux kernel is an operating system kernel used by the Linux family of Unix-like operating systems. It is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software....
were released under the General Public License.
Battle for the Solar System
In 2009, Sweeney released his first novel, The Honour of the KnightsThe Honour of the Knights
The Honour of the Knights is a science fiction novel written by Stephen J Sweeney, the First Edition of which is licensed under Creative Commons . It was first published in 2009 and is the first book in the Battle for the Solar System novel trilogy. Sweeney wrote the novel after losing his job...
, the first book in the Battle for the Solar System space opera trilogy.