:Messhof
{{Short description|American video game designer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mark Essen
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| nationality = American
| other_names = Messhof
| occupation = Video game designer and artist
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| known_for = Nidhogg
| notable_works =
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Mark Essen, better known as Messhof, is an American video game designer and artist best known for Nidhogg, its sequel, and Flywrench.
Career
In college, Messhof made games with GameMaker and Microsoft Paint software. An early game, Punishment 1, began as a group assignment in an advanced, experimental class. His other early games included Wally, Bool, Booloid, Punishment 2, and Flywrench, uploaded on his website.{{Cite web |title=Interview: Messhof (Flywrench) |work=IndieGames.com |date=2007-12-09 |url=http://indiegames.com/best-of-features/interviews.php?i=mark_essen |accessdate=2017-08-20 |df=mdy-all |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015020743/http://www.indiegames.com/best-of-features/interviews.php?i=mark_essen |archivedate=2011-10-15 }} His work was profiled in The Creators Project{{Cite web |last1=W. |first1=Tim |title=Indie Game Links: Sorcery Is Afoot |work=IndieGames.com |date=2010-06-22 |url=http://indiegames.com/2010/06/indie-game-links-sorcery-is-af.html |accessdate=2017-08-20 |df=mdy-all |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821003238/http://indiegames.com/2010/06/indie-game-links-sorcery-is-af.html |archivedate=2017-08-21 }} and the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art,{{Cite web |last1=Squires |first1=Jim |title=Nidhogg Creator Mark Essen is an Artist |work=Gamezebo |date=2014-07-03 |url=http://www.gamezebo.com/2014/07/03/nidhogg-creator-mark-essen-artist/ |accessdate=2017-08-20 |df=mdy-all |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821003453/http://www.gamezebo.com/2014/07/03/nidhogg-creator-mark-essen-artist/ |archivedate=2017-08-21 }} and shown in the New York New Museum, Toronto Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art,{{Cite news |last1=Pfeiffer |first1=Alice |title=Inspired by Your Life, a Custom-Designed Video Game |work=The New York Times |date=2011-11-21 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/22/arts/inspired-by-your-life-a-custom-designed-video-game.html |issn=0362-4331 |df=mdy-all |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821050240/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/22/arts/inspired-by-your-life-a-custom-designed-video-game.html |archivedate=2017-08-21 }} and Liverpool Foundation for Art and Creative Technology.{{Cite web |last1=Schiller |first1=Jen |title=National Endowment for the Arts Makes Roger Ebert Eat His Words |work=Kotaku |date=2011-07-12 |url=http://kotaku.com/5820477/national-endowment-for-the-arts-makes-roger-ebert-eat-his-words |accessdate=2017-08-20 |df=mdy-all |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821002242/http://kotaku.com/5820477/national-endowment-for-the-arts-makes-roger-ebert-eat-his-words |archivedate=2017-08-21 }} He was cited by a Savannah College of Art and Design instructor as a successful example of blending arts aesthetics and video games.{{Cite web |last1=Warren |first1=Jamin |title='Game designers want to be artists without knowing what that means.' |work=Kill Screen |date=2011-03-21 |url=https://killscreen.com/articles/game-designers-want-be-artists-without-knowing-what-means/ |accessdate=2017-08-20 |df=mdy-all |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821003621/https://killscreen.com/articles/game-designers-want-be-artists-without-knowing-what-means/ |archivedate=2017-08-21 }}
Messhof developed Nidhogg, a fast-paced, side-scrolling sword fighting game between 2010 and 2014. Its first prototype, Raging Hadron, was expanded over four years to include online multiplayer, new environments, and new gameplay modes. Messhof balanced development as the sole programmer with development on other games and both teaching and student commitments in graduate school.{{r|almost four years}} He taught classes on intermediate game design and experimental mobile games at University of Southern California's Interactive Media & Games program.{{r|Venus Patrol: Q&A}} Nidhogg{{'s}} production's pace increased when he formed a studio, also known as Messhof, with Kristy Norindr, who found other collaborators for finishing the project.{{Cite web |last1=Farokhmanesh |first1=Megan |title=Why Nidhogg took almost four years to release |work=Polygon |date=2014-01-19 |url=https://www.polygon.com/2014/1/19/5324508/why-nidhogg-took-almost-four-years-to-release |accessdate=2017-08-20 |df=mdy-all |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821043247/https://www.polygon.com/2014/1/19/5324508/why-nidhogg-took-almost-four-years-to-release |archivedate=2017-08-21 }} An expanded version of the game, Nidhogg 2, was illustrated by artist Toby Dixon and includes new levels, music, and weapons.{{Cite web |last1=Caldwell |first1=Brendan |title=Interview: Messhof On Nidhogg 2 |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |date=2016-09-29 |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/09/29/interview-messhof-on-nidhogg-2/ |accessdate=2017-08-20 |df=mdy-all |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815060849/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/09/29/interview-messhof-on-nidhogg-2/ |archivedate=2017-08-15 }}
In 2023, Messhof revealed Ghost Bike, an adventure/racing game focused around cycling. The game was delayed and rebranded as Wheel World in 2024, after changes were made to its story and core gameplay features.{{cite web |title=The Annapurna-published cycling adventure Ghost Bike is now Wheel World |url=https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-annapurna-published-cycling-adventure-ghost-bike-is-now-wheel-world-173009766.html |website=Engadget |access-date=25 March 2025}}
Legacy
Messhof influenced Jonatan Söderström, co-creator of Hotline Miami.{{cite web | url=https://www.avclub.com/avc-at-gdc-10-day-one-which-actions-earn-points-whic-1798219373 | title=AVC at GDC '10, Day One: Which actions earn points? Which actions piss you off? | website=The A.V. Club | date=10 March 2010 }}
Games developed
References
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