Wes Platt
Encyclopedia
Wes Platt is a former professional journalist, game writer/designer, creator of the online games OtherSpace, Chiaroscuro and Necromundus, and one-time Director of Content Development for Fallen Earth
.
, he joined the staff of the Oracle
newspaper. While he was editor-in-chief, the Oracle achieved recognition as the Best Student Daily in the Nation by the Society of Professional Journalists
. In 1991, he started as an intern at the St. Petersburg Times
. Within a year, he was a full-time reporter. In 1994, he became editor of a fledgling regional edition of the Times in central Pasco County, which grew to a full-blown daily paper by 1998. His work as a reporter for the St. Petersburg Times
spanned 1991 to 2003.
Platt's first experience with text-based MUD
s came in 1994, with games like Infinity, TOS TrekMUSE (a Star Trek
-themed MU*), and Hemlock III. On June 28, 1998, he opened OtherSpace, an original space opera
themed MUSH
that was innovative in employing an evolving series of story arc
s. In 2003, he released fantasy
-themed Chiaroscuro. In 2005, he began working on the afterlife-themed game Necromundus, which was released in 2006.
Besides developing online games, he became active in the MUD
community as "Brody", writing columns about roleplaying for Top MUD Sites, The Mud Connector
and Imaginary Realities
.
Platt left journalism in 2003 to pursue a career in online game development, becoming CEO of Mongoose Online Entertainment, and eventually joined the Icarus Studios team in 2006 as a writer/content developer for the MMORPG
Fallen Earth
, where he was known as "Canticle". Platt was promoted to Director of Content Development in 2010, but was laid off later that year.
Fallen Earth
Fallen Earth is a free-to-play MMO developed by Reloaded Productions . The game takes place in a post-apocalyptic wasteland located around the American Grand Canyon...
.
Biography
Born in Lake Wales, Florida, he grew up in Orlando, where he attended Winter Park High School and Valencia Community College before moving to Tampa to enroll in the University of South Florida in 1989. At the University of South FloridaUniversity of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
, he joined the staff of the Oracle
The Oracle (University of South Florida)
The Oracle, the University of South Florida's student-run newspaper, made history when its premier issue was published September 6, 1966...
newspaper. While he was editor-in-chief, the Oracle achieved recognition as the Best Student Daily in the Nation by the Society of Professional Journalists
Society of Professional Journalists
The Society of Professional Journalists , formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is one of the oldest organizations representing journalists in the United States. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of...
. In 1991, he started as an intern at the St. Petersburg Times
St. Petersburg Times
The St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
. Within a year, he was a full-time reporter. In 1994, he became editor of a fledgling regional edition of the Times in central Pasco County, which grew to a full-blown daily paper by 1998. His work as a reporter for the St. Petersburg Times
St. Petersburg Times
The St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
spanned 1991 to 2003.
Platt's first experience with text-based MUD
MUD
A MUD , pronounced , is a multiplayer real-time virtual world, with the term usually referring to text-based instances of these. MUDs combine elements of role-playing games, hack and slash, player versus player, interactive fiction, and online chat...
s came in 1994, with games like Infinity, TOS TrekMUSE (a Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
-themed MU*), and Hemlock III. On June 28, 1998, he opened OtherSpace, an original space opera
Space opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
themed MUSH
MUSH
In multiplayer online games, a MUSH is a text-based online social medium to which multiple users are connected at the same time...
that was innovative in employing an evolving series of story arc
Story arc
A story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
s. In 2003, he released fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
-themed Chiaroscuro. In 2005, he began working on the afterlife-themed game Necromundus, which was released in 2006.
Besides developing online games, he became active in the MUD
MUD
A MUD , pronounced , is a multiplayer real-time virtual world, with the term usually referring to text-based instances of these. MUDs combine elements of role-playing games, hack and slash, player versus player, interactive fiction, and online chat...
community as "Brody", writing columns about roleplaying for Top MUD Sites, The Mud Connector
The Mud Connector
The Mud Connector, abbreviated TMC, is a computer gaming web site which provides articles, discussions, reviews, resource links and game listings about MUDs. The site allows mud owners, administrators and enthusiasts to submit information and reviews about specific MUDs...
and Imaginary Realities
Imaginary Realities
Imaginary Realities was an influential MUD community online magazine running from September 1998 to December 2001. It was hosted under the auspices of George Reese's Center for Imaginary Environments at imaginary.com...
.
Platt left journalism in 2003 to pursue a career in online game development, becoming CEO of Mongoose Online Entertainment, and eventually joined the Icarus Studios team in 2006 as a writer/content developer for the MMORPG
MMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
Fallen Earth
Fallen Earth
Fallen Earth is a free-to-play MMO developed by Reloaded Productions . The game takes place in a post-apocalyptic wasteland located around the American Grand Canyon...
, where he was known as "Canticle". Platt was promoted to Director of Content Development in 2010, but was laid off later that year.