Andrew Kirmse
{{short description|American computer programmer}}
{{Infobox person
|name=Andrew Kirmse
|image=
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|nationality=American
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|alma_mater=Massachusetts Institute of Technology
|occupation=Video game developer (former)
Mobile software
|known_for=Creator of Meridian 59
Creator of Google Now
|boards=
|title=Distinguished engineer
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Andrew Kirmse is an American computer programmer. He was a co-creator of Meridian 59, the first 3D massively-multiplayer online game.{{cite web|url=http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/the-game-archaeologist-crosses-meridian-59-the-highlights/|last=Olivetti|first=Justin|title=The Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: The highlights|date=December 13, 2011|accessdate=June 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419015453/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/the-game-archaeologist-crosses-meridian-59-the-highlights/|archive-date=April 19, 2014|url-status=dead}} While an engineer at Google, he co-created Google Now, a predictive search engine.{{cite web|url=http://searchengineland.com/amazing-google-now-157223|last=Sullivan|first=Danny|title=The Amazing "Google Now" — When Google Searches Before You Think To|publisher=Search Engine Land|date=April 29, 2013|accessdate=June 13, 2014}}
Early life
Andrew Kirmse attended Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.{{Cite news|url=https://psmag.com/environment/makes-smart-computer-programmer-video-game-development-google-andrew-kirmse-94112|title=What Makes You So Smart, Computer Programmer?|work=Pacific Standard|access-date=2017-12-26|language=en}}
Video games
Andrew and his brother Chris developed the code for Meridian 59 in their parents' basement while they were in college.{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/elements/2014/05/the-last-survivors-of-meridian-59.html|title=The Last Survivors of Meridian 59|last=Parkin|first=Simon|date=May 12, 2014|work=The New Yorker}} Meridian was the first online game to include 3D graphics. After a beta period, it was published by The 3DO Company in 1996, where it ran until 2000. Meridian's code was open-sourced in 2012,{{cite web|url=http://www.gilcon.net/meridian/m59news-get.asp?ID=614|title=Meridian 59 : Open Source Released!}} and it continues to run for free today.
While at LucasArts, Andrew served as graphics programmer on the PlayStation 2 game Star Wars: Starfighter.{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/ps2/star-wars-starfighter/credits|title=Star Wars: Starfighter Credits}}
Andrew contributed to the first four volumes of the Game Programming Gems series of books about video game development. He was the editor of Game Programming Gems 4.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Game-Programming-Gems-Series-v/dp/1584502959|title=Game Programming Gems 4}}
Andrew began working at Google in 2003, where he managed the Google Earth team.{{cite web|url=http://web.mit.edu/physics/news/physicsatmit/physicsatmit_10_alumnotes.pdf|title=MIT Class of 1994 Alumni Notes}} He later started and led Google Now,{{cite web|url=https://plus.google.com/+android/posts/ir1dkuRWHPP|title=Android Google+ post|date=Nov 21, 2012}} which was named Innovation of the Year by Popular Science in 2012,{{cite web|url=http://www.popsci.com/bown/2012/product/google-now|title=Innovation of the Year: Google Now}} and won the Grand Prize at the 2013 User Experience Awards.{{cite web|url=http://userexperienceawards.com/ux-awards-2013-winners/#google|title=Google: Google Now Grand Prize, Best Everyday Utility|date=May 21, 2013}} He gave an invited talk on Google Now at the 2014 WWW Conference.{{cite web|url=http://www2014.kr/program/industry-track/|title=WWW 2014 Industry Track}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://meridian59.com Meridian 59] home page
- [https://github.com/Meridian59/Meridian59 Meridian 59] open source on github
- [http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04mc1hf Audio interview] with BBC Radio on the history of Meridian 59
- [http://google.com/now Google Now] description
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Category:Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology alumni