Phone Contact
(Image to prevent spam calls)
Resume of Noah Falstein
Noah Falstein (Contact for Address)
Experience:
The Inspiracy Marin County, California July 1996-April 2013, April 2017-Present
Freelance Designer/Producer
Designed or produced many dozens of game titles (listed on last page) across 6 continents. Lectures and workshops around the world, advisory boards of several companies, conferences. Design and production lead on many titles, design consultation on AAA titles like Empire at War, Alan Wake, also design on Facebook and IOS social games. 2nd longest-serving freelance game designer in the world.
Since 2017 primary focus has been Games for Healthcare, consulting/advising Akili Interactive, Level Ex, Abbott Labs, Healium, TrainPain, Freestyle+, Arcade Therapeutics and many more.
Google, Inc. Mountain View, California April 2013-April 2017
Chief Game Designer
Designer or design contributor to internal game and gamification projects. Developer Advocate for games, primarily explaining the Tango AR system and the Daydream VR system to game developers around the world, and to executives meeting at Google offices - over 50 events.
Suddenly Social Los Altos, California July 2011-July 2012
Co-Founder, Chief Creative Officer
Ran the studio side of a platform/studio startup, with cloud-based multiuser tech. Had $1.25M seed round. Lead design/producer on two published, innovative Realtime Multiplayer IOS games.
DreamWorks Interactive Los Angeles, California May 1995-July 1996
Executive Producer, Head of Story/Design Group
Started as third employee, producing large-scale interactive titles for children and adults, hired initial teams, led group integrating game design and screenwriting talent.
NF Interactive San Mateo, California November 1993-April 1995
Freelance Designer/Producer
Provided services to a number of clients, including Sega, Rocket Science Games, PF. Magic, and Digital Pictures, on CD-ROM, Live-action video, location based, and online projects.
The 3DO Company San Mateo, California March 1992 - November 1993
Producer/Director/Designer
Built initial internal production department, designing and managing entertainment and educational titles. Began as employee number 9, helped company grow to over 270 people in 20 months.
LucasArts Entertainment Company/ February 1984 - February 1992
Lucasfilm Games San Rafael, California
Project Leader/Game Designer/Producer/Assistant Creative Director
Served in various capacities in the division’s growth from an unknown offshoot of Lucasfilm with 7 employees to a world class entertainment software developer group with 120 employees. Designed or produced many award-winning, best-selling games, including PC games, Online projects, educational titles, and high-end location-based simulator rides. Co-designed their first million-unit seller.
Williams Electronics Chicago, Illinois. May 1982-December 1983
Project Leader/Programmer/Concept Development Leader
Led the project group for the coin-op video game Sinistar, contributed to programming and design.
Milton Bradley Company E. Longmeadow, Massachusetts February 1980-May 1982
Project Engineer/Programmer
Designed and programmed games for the Atari VCS and the unreleased Milton Bradley Home Computer, helped research speech synthesis toys, developed robot control software.
Noah Falstein
Additional Information
Education:
Hampshire College Amherst, Massachusetts January 1980
Bachelor of Arts degree. Senior project was Koronis Strike: A Computer Simulation Game of Mining and Combat in the Asteroid Belt.
Professional:
Chairman of the Board of the Computer Game Developers Association January 1997 – January 1998. Largest professional association for developers of interactive entertainment, now the IGDA
Contributing editor on the topic of Design for the Computer Game Developers Association Report.
Journalist, writing for trade magazines including Interactivity, Game Developer, and Games Business. Contributing editor for 6 years, design column of Game Developer magazine based on The 400 Project.
Author, writing chapters for books such as Game Developers Market Guide, Introduction to Game Development, Developing Interactive Narrative Content, Space Time Play: Computer Games, Architecture and Urbanism, and several upcoming titles.
Guest Lecturer at numerous Multimedia classes, including classes at Institut National de l'Audiovisuel (Paris), EMMA Masterclasses (Amsterdam, Hamburg, Toronto), Nordmedia conference (Hannover) Sagasnet (Stuttgart), Filmakademie Baden-Wurtemburg (Stuttgart), Media Design School (Auckland), Harvard, San Francisco State University, Loyola-Marymount University, and UCLA.
Speaker at professional conferences in the US, Europe, Australia and Asia including GDC (every conference since 1991), SPA, AGDC, E3, CES, Intermedia, XMediaLab, Digital Hollywood, Milia, Imagina, ITAA (keynote speaker), SEIGE (keynote) TED and many others.
Judge for Independent Games Festival at GDC and for EMMA Foundation (Electronic Multimedia Awards) in Europe, IGDA Spotlight Awards advisory board member, AIAS Design Awards board, VRDC Advisory board member.
Awards and Reviews:
Here are some awards granted to four of Mr. Falstein's titles (all games he designed or co-designed)
BATTLEHAWKS 1942
"Action Game of the Year" (1989) Computer Gaming World
"Program of the Year" (1988) Computer Entertainer
"The action was fantastic, and the graphics beautiful" Air & Space
"Fascinating, challenging and very exciting" San Francisco Examiner
"The most amazing combat simulation I have seen" PC Magazine
INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE
"Adventure of the Year" (1990) Joystick (France)
"PC Award of Excellence" (1989) Game Player's PC Strategy Guide
"Adventure Game of the Year" (1989) Power Play (Germany)
"European Adventure of the Year" (1990) European Computer Leisure Awards
"Best FRP/Adventure Program" Finalist Software Publishers Association
"Best Adventure Game of 1991" Runner Up MacWorld
"The Holy Grail of computer games." People Magazine
"This is one game every adventure fan should get." Video Games & Computer Entertainment
"Indy is a must for the software library of any self-respecting adventure gamer."
PC Magazine
"This game comes remarkably close to being a better Indiana Jones movie than 'The Last Crusade' was." Computer Gaming World
"A level of interactivity that almost no other games have achieved before."
Compute!
INDIANA JONES AND THE FATE OF ATLANTIS
"Adventure Game of the Year" (1992) Computer Game Review
"Best Adventure Game of 1992" Game Informer
"Best Graphic Adventure" (1993) Game Players PC Entertainment
"Favorite Game of the Year" (1993) Game Players PC Entertainment
"Best Adventure Game of 1992" Game Players PC Strategy Guide
"Top 100 Games" (1992) Games Magazine
"Best Adventure Game" (1993) CD-ROM Reporter
"Best Fantasy Role Playing/Adventure" 1993 Finalist Software Publishers Association
"Adventure Game of the Year" Game Bytes Magazine
"Best Interactive Adventure of 1992" PCM
"Best Pick of 1992" PC Home Journal
"Best Adventure Computer Game 1993" Finalist Electronic Games
"Best Game of the Year" Micro Mania (Spain)
"Best Adventure of the Year" PC Games (Germany)
"Best Computer Game of the Year" 1993 European Computer Trade Show
"Best Adventure of 1992" Honorable Mention Video Games & Computer Entertainment
HUNGRY RED PLANET
"Top Choice Software Award" (2003) Boston Museum of Science
"Award of Excellence" (2003) Discovery Channel School
"Five Star Rating" (2003) Choosing Children’s Software Magazine
"Best Pick Award" (2003) Computing with Kids.com
"Public Health Materials Contest Winner" (2003) American Public Health Association
Experience:
The Inspiracy Marin County, California July 1996-April 2013, April 2017-Present
Freelance Designer/Producer
Designed or produced many dozens of game titles (listed on last page) across 6 continents. Lectures and workshops around the world, advisory boards of several companies, conferences. Design and production lead on many titles, design consultation on AAA titles like Empire at War, Alan Wake, also design on Facebook and IOS social games. 2nd longest-serving freelance game designer in the world.
Since 2017 primary focus has been Games for Healthcare, consulting/advising Akili Interactive, Level Ex, Abbott Labs, Healium, TrainPain, Freestyle+, Arcade Therapeutics and many more.
Google, Inc. Mountain View, California April 2013-April 2017
Chief Game Designer
Designer or design contributor to internal game and gamification projects. Developer Advocate for games, primarily explaining the Tango AR system and the Daydream VR system to game developers around the world, and to executives meeting at Google offices - over 50 events.
Suddenly Social Los Altos, California July 2011-July 2012
Co-Founder, Chief Creative Officer
Ran the studio side of a platform/studio startup, with cloud-based multiuser tech. Had $1.25M seed round. Lead design/producer on two published, innovative Realtime Multiplayer IOS games.
DreamWorks Interactive Los Angeles, California May 1995-July 1996
Executive Producer, Head of Story/Design Group
Started as third employee, producing large-scale interactive titles for children and adults, hired initial teams, led group integrating game design and screenwriting talent.
NF Interactive San Mateo, California November 1993-April 1995
Freelance Designer/Producer
Provided services to a number of clients, including Sega, Rocket Science Games, PF. Magic, and Digital Pictures, on CD-ROM, Live-action video, location based, and online projects.
The 3DO Company San Mateo, California March 1992 - November 1993
Producer/Director/Designer
Built initial internal production department, designing and managing entertainment and educational titles. Began as employee number 9, helped company grow to over 270 people in 20 months.
LucasArts Entertainment Company/ February 1984 - February 1992
Lucasfilm Games San Rafael, California
Project Leader/Game Designer/Producer/Assistant Creative Director
Served in various capacities in the division’s growth from an unknown offshoot of Lucasfilm with 7 employees to a world class entertainment software developer group with 120 employees. Designed or produced many award-winning, best-selling games, including PC games, Online projects, educational titles, and high-end location-based simulator rides. Co-designed their first million-unit seller.
Williams Electronics Chicago, Illinois. May 1982-December 1983
Project Leader/Programmer/Concept Development Leader
Led the project group for the coin-op video game Sinistar, contributed to programming and design.
Milton Bradley Company E. Longmeadow, Massachusetts February 1980-May 1982
Project Engineer/Programmer
Designed and programmed games for the Atari VCS and the unreleased Milton Bradley Home Computer, helped research speech synthesis toys, developed robot control software.
Noah Falstein
Additional Information
Education:
Hampshire College Amherst, Massachusetts January 1980
Bachelor of Arts degree. Senior project was Koronis Strike: A Computer Simulation Game of Mining and Combat in the Asteroid Belt.
Professional:
Chairman of the Board of the Computer Game Developers Association January 1997 – January 1998. Largest professional association for developers of interactive entertainment, now the IGDA
Contributing editor on the topic of Design for the Computer Game Developers Association Report.
Journalist, writing for trade magazines including Interactivity, Game Developer, and Games Business. Contributing editor for 6 years, design column of Game Developer magazine based on The 400 Project.
Author, writing chapters for books such as Game Developers Market Guide, Introduction to Game Development, Developing Interactive Narrative Content, Space Time Play: Computer Games, Architecture and Urbanism, and several upcoming titles.
Guest Lecturer at numerous Multimedia classes, including classes at Institut National de l'Audiovisuel (Paris), EMMA Masterclasses (Amsterdam, Hamburg, Toronto), Nordmedia conference (Hannover) Sagasnet (Stuttgart), Filmakademie Baden-Wurtemburg (Stuttgart), Media Design School (Auckland), Harvard, San Francisco State University, Loyola-Marymount University, and UCLA.
Speaker at professional conferences in the US, Europe, Australia and Asia including GDC (every conference since 1991), SPA, AGDC, E3, CES, Intermedia, XMediaLab, Digital Hollywood, Milia, Imagina, ITAA (keynote speaker), SEIGE (keynote) TED and many others.
Judge for Independent Games Festival at GDC and for EMMA Foundation (Electronic Multimedia Awards) in Europe, IGDA Spotlight Awards advisory board member, AIAS Design Awards board, VRDC Advisory board member.
Awards and Reviews:
Here are some awards granted to four of Mr. Falstein's titles (all games he designed or co-designed)
BATTLEHAWKS 1942
"Action Game of the Year" (1989) Computer Gaming World
"Program of the Year" (1988) Computer Entertainer
"The action was fantastic, and the graphics beautiful" Air & Space
"Fascinating, challenging and very exciting" San Francisco Examiner
"The most amazing combat simulation I have seen" PC Magazine
INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE
"Adventure of the Year" (1990) Joystick (France)
"PC Award of Excellence" (1989) Game Player's PC Strategy Guide
"Adventure Game of the Year" (1989) Power Play (Germany)
"European Adventure of the Year" (1990) European Computer Leisure Awards
"Best FRP/Adventure Program" Finalist Software Publishers Association
"Best Adventure Game of 1991" Runner Up MacWorld
"The Holy Grail of computer games." People Magazine
"This is one game every adventure fan should get." Video Games & Computer Entertainment
"Indy is a must for the software library of any self-respecting adventure gamer."
PC Magazine
"This game comes remarkably close to being a better Indiana Jones movie than 'The Last Crusade' was." Computer Gaming World
"A level of interactivity that almost no other games have achieved before."
Compute!
INDIANA JONES AND THE FATE OF ATLANTIS
"Adventure Game of the Year" (1992) Computer Game Review
"Best Adventure Game of 1992" Game Informer
"Best Graphic Adventure" (1993) Game Players PC Entertainment
"Favorite Game of the Year" (1993) Game Players PC Entertainment
"Best Adventure Game of 1992" Game Players PC Strategy Guide
"Top 100 Games" (1992) Games Magazine
"Best Adventure Game" (1993) CD-ROM Reporter
"Best Fantasy Role Playing/Adventure" 1993 Finalist Software Publishers Association
"Adventure Game of the Year" Game Bytes Magazine
"Best Interactive Adventure of 1992" PCM
"Best Pick of 1992" PC Home Journal
"Best Adventure Computer Game 1993" Finalist Electronic Games
"Best Game of the Year" Micro Mania (Spain)
"Best Adventure of the Year" PC Games (Germany)
"Best Computer Game of the Year" 1993 European Computer Trade Show
"Best Adventure of 1992" Honorable Mention Video Games & Computer Entertainment
HUNGRY RED PLANET
"Top Choice Software Award" (2003) Boston Museum of Science
"Award of Excellence" (2003) Discovery Channel School
"Five Star Rating" (2003) Choosing Children’s Software Magazine
"Best Pick Award" (2003) Computing with Kids.com
"Public Health Materials Contest Winner" (2003) American Public Health Association
Detailed Project List - Select Lucasfilm Games/LucasArts Projects
Project NameKoronis Rift
Labyrinth PHM Pegasus Strike Fleet Battlehawks 1942 Their Finest Hour Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe SWotL Expansion disks Indiana Jones/Last Crusade Indiana Jones/Fate of Atlantis Pipe Dream The DIg (Original Version Only) Secret of Monkey Island Day of the Tentacle Habitat (First Virtual World) Commander (Simulator ride) Mirage (Simulator ride) |
Design RoleDesigner
Contributor Designer Co-designer Co-designer Contributor Contributor Contributor Co-designer Co-designer Contributor Co-designer Contributor (Insult swordfights) Contributor Contributor Contributor Contributor |
Coding RolePrimary
Primary Contributor Contributor Contributor |
ManagementProject Leader
Project Leader Project Leader Producer Producer (2 disks) Co-Project Leader Project Leader Initial Producer |
Select NF Interactive/The Inspiracy Projects
|
Title
Interactive Comic Book Dark Ride CD game Borderline (Location Based Game) Kids on Site Mac CD Lost World: Chaos Island PC RTS Small Soldiers PC RTS STEPS training simulation Total Annihilation: Kingdoms PC Game The Iron Plague (Expansion set) TechGen PC RTS Big World MMORPG Solar Knights MMORPG Anti-smoking TV Commercial Location Based Simulator Game Chase - Xbox racing game Hungry Red Planet Attention Trainer (for ADD kids) Pusher, Neighbors from Hell (PC Games) Cryo Acquisition by Dreamcatcher Space Station Sim (PC Serious Game) Legend of Kay (PS game) Freedom Fighter 56 (PC Serious Game) Empire at War (Star Wars RTS for PC) Cisco Mindshare Interactive Trainer Mata Hari Adventure Game (PC) Alan Wake (Xbox, PC) |
Role
Designer Initial Designer Co-designer Co-designer Designer Sr. Designer Co-designer Writer Writer Exec Producer Design Consultation Production Review Writer Designer Design Consultation Designer Designer Design Consultation Producer Consultation Designer Design Consultation, Writer Designer Design Consultation, Writer Designer Co-Designer Design Consult |
Client (Country if not USA)
Sega Rocket Science Games Simultainment Corporation Digital Pictures Dreamworks Interactive Dreamworks Interactive Shell Oil (Netherlands) Cavedog Entertainment Cavedog Entertainment Hydrogen Games Microforte (Australia) Poptronik (Canada) Windmill Lane Productions Skunk Works (Canada) I-Imagine (South Africa) Health Media Labs East3 JoWooD (Austria) DreamCatcher Europe (France) Gentle Revolution Software Neon (Germany) Lauer Learning LucasArts Entertainment Cisco Systems DTP (Germany) Remedy (Finland) |