Mike Capps (executive)

Capps attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating summa cum laude with degrees in math and creative writing in 1994. He also earned his MS in computer science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1996.

Capps then went on to complete an SM in computer science and electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1998, followed by a Ph.D. in computer science from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2002.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Mike Capps |url=http://www.interactive.org/about/mike_capps.asp |access-date=2016-04-04 |website=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences}}

Before entering the game industry, Capps served as a research assistant professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California from 1998 to 2002. His areas of specialization were computer graphics, defense and entertainment collaboration, and virtual reality. For his work in these areas, he was one of fifty graphics pioneers interviewed for the ACM SIGGRAPH documentary The Story of Computer Graphics.{{Cite web |title=Dr. Michael Capps |url=https://diveplane.mystagingwebsite.com/executive-team/dr-michael-capps/ |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=Diveplane |language=en-US}}

Capps was selected by the Army's Office of Economic and Manpower Analysis (OEMA) to head its development team that was charged with designing a fun military video game.{{Cite book |last=Mead |first=Corey |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=URmqAAAAQBAJ&dq=michael+capps+video+game+credits&pg=PA90 |title=War Play: Video Games and the Future of Armed Conflict |date=2013 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |isbn=978-0-544-03156-2 |pages=90 |language=en}} He became the producer, designer and lead programmer of the America’s Army computer game.{{Cite news |last=Kennedy |first=Brian |date=2002-07-11 |title=Uncle Sam Wants You (To Play This Game) |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/11/technology/uncle-sam-wants-you-to-play-this-game.html |access-date=2016-04-03 |issn=0362-4331}} He used Epic's Games' Unreal Engine to build the game.

In 2002, Capps founded a video game company, Scion Studios, and became its CEO.{{Cite web |last=Fahey |first=Rob |date=March 14, 2004 |title=Scion to the Epic throne |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/scion-to-the-epic-throne |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}} Scion was acquired by Epic Games in March 2004.

Capps has been a game designer, executive producer, head writer, lead programmer, research professor, and studio executive. He is best known for his decade as the president of Epic Games, makers of the mega-hit Gears of War, Infinity Blade, Fortnite franchises, and the award-winning Unreal Engine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/johngaudiosi/2011/09/20/epic-games-president-mike-capps-looks-to-the-future/#20dd9329401e|title=Epic Games President Mike Capps Looks to the Future|website=Forbes|access-date=2016-04-04}}{{Cite web |date=2012-12-04 |title=Epic Games president Michael Capps retires |url=https://venturebeat.com/2012/12/04/epic-games-president-michael-capps-retires/ |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}} Under his leadership, Epic was named Studio of the Year at the 2006 Spike Video Game Awards, the North Carolina Technology Association 2007 Large Company of the Year, and the NCTA 2008 Top Industry Driven Technology Company of the Year. In addition, Gears of War won the Best Game and the Technology Award at Game Developers Choice Awards in 2007.{{Cite web |last=Ball |first=Ryan |date=2007-03-08 |title=Gears of War Conquers at GDC |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/video-games/gears-of-war-conquers-at-gdc/ |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=Animation Magazine |language=en-US}}

Capps also successfully defended video games using free speech before the U.S. Supreme Court. He stepped down from the post of president in December 2012.

Capps is co-owner of Autarch LLC, responsible for award-winning tabletop role-playing games, such as Adventurer Conqueror King.{{Cite web |title=Autarch |url=http://www.autarch.com}}

In 2018, Capps co-founded and became the CEO of Diveplane Corporation, an artificial intelligence start-up company based in Raleigh, North Carolina, along with Dr. Chris Hazard and Mike Resnick.{{Cite web |last=Brightman |first=James |date=August 7, 2018 |title=Epic Games' Former Pres Wants to Save the World from AI |url=https://gamedaily.biz/article/161/epic-games-former-pres-wants-to-save-the-world-from-ai |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=GameDaily.biz |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Maurer |first=Allan |date=2018-08-08 |title=Former Epic Games CEO plans to make "understandable" A.I. with Diveplane startup {{!}} WRAL TechWire |url=https://wraltechwire.com/2018/08/08/former-epic-games-ceo-plans-to-make-understandable-a-i-with-diveplane-startup/ |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=wraltechwire.com |language=en-US}} Diveplane has eighteen employees and is backed by $3.5 million. It is working the areas of healthcare and NASCAR racing simulation. In 2019, Diveplane won first place at the UBS Future of Finance Challenge for its platform, GEMINAI.{{Cite web |date=2020-08-24 |title=Diveplane's CEO explains what's behind the hype of his AI startup |url=https://www.researchtriangle.org/news/diveplanes-ceo-explains-whats-behind-the-hype-of-his-ai-startup/ |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=Research Triangle Regional Partnership |language=en-US}} In September 2023, Diveplane rebranded as Howso alongside the release of the open source version of the Howso Engine in a critical step towards meaningful social impact.

Capps is the technology futurist for the Science Channel's What on Earth?, Combat Countdown, and NASA's The Unexplained Files.{{Cite web |date=April 26, 2015 |title=Michael V. Capps Video Game Credits and Biography |url=https://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,71084/ |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=MobyGames}} He has also been featured as a technology expert and futurist on multiple documentary series on the Discovery Channel and Military Channel.

• 2007 Game Developers Choice Awards Best Game for Gears of War
• 2007 Game Developers Choice Awards Technology for Gears of War
• 2009 Technology Executive of the Year, North Carolina Technology Association
• 2012 CEO of the Year, WRAL Tech Wire Full Steam Ahead Awards
• 2012 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist.{{Cite web |url=https://www.epicgames.com/news/epic-games-mike-capps-named-an-ernst-young-entrepreneur-of-the-year-award-f |title=Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year}}
• 2016, Beacon Award for Lifetime Achievement, North Carolina Technology Association{{Cite web |url=http://www.nctechnology.org/events/nctatechawardsfinalists.pdf|title=NCTA Tech Awards}}
• Game Developer 50, Game Developer

Capps currently serves on the board of the Sphero entertainment robotics company in Colorado and is the chairman of the advisory board for the Lonerider Brewing Company.{{Cite web |last=Sinclair |first=Brendan |date=October 21, 2014 |title=Mike Capps joins Sphero board of directors |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-10-21-mike-capps-joins-sphero-board-of-directors |access-date=2016-04-03 |website=GamesIndustry.biz}} He also serves on the board of Epic Games.{{Cite web |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=2012-12-04 |title=Epic Games president Mike Capps retires |url=https://www.polygon.com/2012/12/4/3728416/epic-games-president-mike-capps-retires |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}} He also served as an advisor to the Game Developers Conference and the Video Games track.{{Cite news |title=Dragon Con Video Gaming |newspaper=Dragon Con Video Gaming Track |date=24 July 2014 |url=http://videogaming.dragoncon.org/2014/07/24/mike-capps/}} He was a member of the North Carolina Innovation Council. He is a frequent speaker at Dragon Con.{{Cite web |title=Dragon Con Guests List |url=https://www.dragoncon.org/people-to-see-2/guests/ |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=Dragon Con |language=en-US}}

He served on the boards of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, the Entertainment Software Association, the Game Developers Conference, International Game Developers Association, and Remedy Entertainment in Finland. He was the Treasurer for the Board of the IGDA and was a member of the Entertainment Software Review Board.

Capps became a stay-at-home father when his two children were born. He returned to work as his children became He is a member of Change the Equation. He also serves on the board of The Raleigh School.{{Cite web |title=Head of School & Board of Trustees - The Raleigh School |url=https://www.raleighschool.org/about-trs/our-hos-board-of-trustees |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=www.raleighschool.org |language=en-US}}

• America's Army: Operations (Epic Games, 2002)
• Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict (Epic Games, 2005)

• America's Army: Operations (2002)
• Gears of War (Epic Games/Microsoft Game Studios, 2006)
• Gears of War Limited Collectors Edition (Epic Games/Microsoft Games Studios, 2006)
• Unreal Tournament 3 (Epic Games, 2007)
• Gears of War Ultimate Edition (Epic Games, 2015)

• America's Army: Operations (2002)
• Unreal Tournament 2003 (Epic Games, 2003)
• Unreal Tournament 2004 (Epic Games, 2004)
• Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict (Epic Games, 2005)

• Unreal Tournament 3 (Epic Games, 2007)

• Gears of War 2 (Epic Games, 2008)
• Shadow Complex (Epic Games, 2009)
• Infinity Blade (Epic Games, 2010)
• Infinity Blade II (Epic Games, 2011)
• Gears of War 3 (Epic Games, 2011)
• Bulletstorm (Epic Games, 2011)
• Gears of War: Judgment (Epic Games 2013)

• Marvel Multiverse Table Top Role Playing Game (Marvel, 2022){{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Chase |date=2022-04-19 |title=The Marvel Multiverse game feels out of step with modern tabletop RPGs |url=https://www.polygon.com/23032071/marvel-multiverse-rpg-playtest-download-review |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}

• Gears of War: Volume Two. Wildstorm, 2011. {{ISBN|9781401228019}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.epicgames.com/ Official website of Epic Games]

{{Epic}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Capps, Mike}}

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni

Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni

Category:Naval Postgraduate School alumni

Category:Naval Postgraduate School faculty

Category:American video game businesspeople

Category:People from Raleigh, North Carolina

Category:American video game developers

Category:American video game designers