Some here will recognize the name, but Mike designed the second most requested Stern game (by a whisker), Seawitch.
He came through the ranks from engineering, assisting Harry Williams on Flight 2000, the ultimate winner on this site. He also had a hand in numerous other titles as engineer before getting his signature on designs of his own. It's safe to say that Seawitch was his pride and joy though, and that's how we met:
I'd go into the bar every day after work to drink martinis and play that game. One day the owner introduced Mike to me as 'the guy who made that game', and soon after we were best of pals. We were both single then, so most of the good stories can't be told in public. But I can share one quick one re pinball:
I'd been to the Stern factory numerous times to visit Mike at work (I actually met Harry Williams there!) and on one visit told Mike I loved the backglass art on Quicksilver. He asked if I wanted one, but we couldn't find any in the plant. So we went to Gary Stern's office and took the one he had hanging on his wall. That glass is still hanging in my basement along with "The *****" (as we affectionately called Seawitch) and Warlock, a game Mike designed for Williams.
I eventually married and moved to the suburbs, he did the same a few years later. We were both busy with "responsibilities", and eventually lost touch for nearly 15 years. Until...
TPA published the Stern "most wanted" poll. I was so excited that Seawitch was actually in the running that I tracked Mike down via Facebook (really, my wife did it since I'm not on it) to tell him about TPA and this site. He'd heard of neither but we spoke for a good 45 minutes and it was like we'd never lost touch. Caught up on jobs, kids, wives, and life in general. We also relived some of the old days, laughing much. We left it with me promising to bring my iPad to him and showing him Seawitch when TPA made it.
That can't happen now, but a couple thoughts:
If it hadn't been for this site and the poll, I probably wouldn't have gotten nostalgic to reach out to Mike. Thank you all for that! And...
I can't think of a greater gift I could present to his kids than Seawitch immortalized for the ages by a TPA version. If any mods here would be kind enough to point Farsight to this post I'd appreciate it. Maybe it can happen sooner rather than later. I've just learned that there's no guarantee of "later".
Mike was 57 and leaves two teens and his wife. It was my pleasure to be his friend, and to appreciate his contributions to the game we all love.
Thanks for your indulgence.
He came through the ranks from engineering, assisting Harry Williams on Flight 2000, the ultimate winner on this site. He also had a hand in numerous other titles as engineer before getting his signature on designs of his own. It's safe to say that Seawitch was his pride and joy though, and that's how we met:
I'd go into the bar every day after work to drink martinis and play that game. One day the owner introduced Mike to me as 'the guy who made that game', and soon after we were best of pals. We were both single then, so most of the good stories can't be told in public. But I can share one quick one re pinball:
I'd been to the Stern factory numerous times to visit Mike at work (I actually met Harry Williams there!) and on one visit told Mike I loved the backglass art on Quicksilver. He asked if I wanted one, but we couldn't find any in the plant. So we went to Gary Stern's office and took the one he had hanging on his wall. That glass is still hanging in my basement along with "The *****" (as we affectionately called Seawitch) and Warlock, a game Mike designed for Williams.
I eventually married and moved to the suburbs, he did the same a few years later. We were both busy with "responsibilities", and eventually lost touch for nearly 15 years. Until...
TPA published the Stern "most wanted" poll. I was so excited that Seawitch was actually in the running that I tracked Mike down via Facebook (really, my wife did it since I'm not on it) to tell him about TPA and this site. He'd heard of neither but we spoke for a good 45 minutes and it was like we'd never lost touch. Caught up on jobs, kids, wives, and life in general. We also relived some of the old days, laughing much. We left it with me promising to bring my iPad to him and showing him Seawitch when TPA made it.
That can't happen now, but a couple thoughts:
If it hadn't been for this site and the poll, I probably wouldn't have gotten nostalgic to reach out to Mike. Thank you all for that! And...
I can't think of a greater gift I could present to his kids than Seawitch immortalized for the ages by a TPA version. If any mods here would be kind enough to point Farsight to this post I'd appreciate it. Maybe it can happen sooner rather than later. I've just learned that there's no guarantee of "later".
Mike was 57 and leaves two teens and his wife. It was my pleasure to be his friend, and to appreciate his contributions to the game we all love.
Thanks for your indulgence.
