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Mike Elliott (sometimes credited as Michael Elliott) is a Seattle-based board game, card game and mobile game designer whose titles include ''
Magic: The Gathering ''Magic: The Gathering'' (colloquially known as ''Magic'' or ''MTG'') is a tabletop and digital collectable card game created by Richard Garfield. Released in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast (now a subsidiary of Hasbro), ''Magic'' was the first ...
'', '' Thunderstone'', and '' Battle Spirits Trading Card Game''. ''Magic'' head designer
Mark Rosewater Mark Rosewater (born May 25, 1967) is the head designer for ''Magic: The Gathering'', a position he has held since 2003. Biography Rosewater grew up in Pepper Pike, Ohio. In his youth, he worked as a professional magician. Rosewater has descri ...
called him "one of the most prolific ''Magic'' designers in the history of the game."
Mark Rosewater Mark Rosewater (born May 25, 1967) is the head designer for ''Magic: The Gathering'', a position he has held since 2003. Biography Rosewater grew up in Pepper Pike, Ohio. In his youth, he worked as a professional magician. Rosewater has descri ...
(March 8, 2004)
"Sliver me Timbers"
Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast LLC (often referred to as WotC or simply Wizards) is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and List of science fiction themes, science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for ga ...
. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
He was inducted into the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design Hall of Fame at the 2017
Origins Game Fair Origins Game Fair is an annual gaming convention that was first held in 1975. Since 1996, it has been held in Columbus, Ohio at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Origins is run by The Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Origins was cha ...
.


Career

While living in Phoenix, Arizona in the early 1990s, Elliott and several of his friends were active bridge players and competed regularly in tournaments. One evening after a tournament, a friend introduced the group to the ''
Magic: The Gathering ''Magic: The Gathering'' (colloquially known as ''Magic'' or ''MTG'') is a tabletop and digital collectable card game created by Richard Garfield. Released in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast (now a subsidiary of Hasbro), ''Magic'' was the first ...
'' trading card game. When Elliott returned home he purchased the game and began playing in ''Magic'' tournaments. While at a ''Magic'' tournament at
Arizona State University Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public research university in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, ASU is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the ...
Elliott told two fellow attendees what he thought was wrong with the game. During the conversation they revealed that they worked for
Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast LLC (often referred to as WotC or simply Wizards) is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and List of science fiction themes, science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for ga ...
. One of them, Joel Mick, invited Elliott to fly to Seattle and interview for a position with the company.''Little Metal Dog'' (September 17, 2013)
"Episode 66 – Codes and Keys"
Retrieved October 4, 2013.
(September 10, 2003)
"Magic Dossier: Michael Elliott"
Wizards of the Coast. Retrieved October 4, 2013.


Wizards of the Coast

Elliott started at Wizards of the Coast in January 1996 as a developer. Afterward he was promoted to designer, and then senior designer. He worked on approximately 30 Magic expansions and introduced new mechanics such as slivers. His ''Magic'' related expansions and project included: Designing * Portal * Weatherlight * Tempest (the card Emmessi Tome was named in his honor; M.S.E. - Michael Scott Elliott). * Stronghold (lead) * Portal Second Age * Exodus (lead) * Urza's Saga (lead) * Urza's Legacy (lead) * Unglued * Mercadian Masques (lead) * Nemesis (lead) * Fifth Edition (lead) * Invasion * Vanguard I (lead) * Vanguard II (lead) * Planeshift (lead) * Torment * Judgement * Onslaught (lead) * Legions (lead) * Scourge * Mirrodin * Champions of Kamigawa * Betrayers of Kamigawa (lead) * Ravnica: City of Guilds * Guildpact (lead) Developing * Mirage * Visions * Portal * Weatherlight (lead) * Tempest * Stronghold (lead) * Portal Second Age * Exodus * Urza's Saga (lead) * Urza's Legacy * Urza's Destiny (lead) * Mercadian Masques * Nemesis * Fifth Edition (lead) * Prophecy * Apocalypse (lead) * Odyssey * Judgement * Scourge * Fifth Dawn * Champions of Kamigawa While at Wizards of the Coast he also designed non-''Magic'' games including ''
Harry Potter Trading Card Game The ''Harry Potter Trading Card Game'' is an out-of-print collectible card game based in the world of J. K. Rowling's '' Harry Potter'' novels. Created by Wizards of the Coast in August 2001, the game was designed to compete with the ''Yu- ...
'', ''
Neopets Trading Card Game The 'Neopets TCG' is a collectible card game and a spin-off of the popular virtual pet website, Neopets. The game was launched in 2003 and produced by Wizards of the Coast, a large trading card company that produces a variety of other trading car ...
'', ''
Hecatomb In ancient Greece, a hecatomb (; ; grc, ἑκατόμβη ''hekatómbē'') was a sacrifice of 100 cattle (''hekaton'' = one hundred, ''bous'' = bull) to the Greek gods. In practice, as few as 12 could make up a hecatomb. Although originally the ...
'', and ''
Duel Masters Trading Card Game The ''Duel Masters Trading Card Game'' is a two-player or two vs. two team collectible card game (CCG) jointly developed by Wizards of the Coast and Takara Tomy (itself an affiliate of Hasbro, which owns WotC). The card game is part of the ''Duel M ...
''. Elliott left Wizards of the Coast at the end of 2005.


WizKids

After leaving Wizards of the Coast, Elliott worked for WizKids until the company closed its Seattle office.Ryan Sturm and Geoff Engelstein. ''Ludology''. (August 7, 2011)
"Episode 13 - CCGs & DBGs"
Retrieved October 4, 2013.
His titles for WizKids included ''
Star Wars PocketModel Trading Card Game Star Wars PocketModel Trading Card Game is an out-of-print tabletop game manufactured by WizKids, Inc. that debuted in 2007, based on the '' Star Wars'' universe. The game was designed by Mike Elliott and Ethan Pasternack. The game has aspects ...
'', ''
Halo ActionClix The first-person shooter video game ''Halo 3'' was the focus of an extensive marketing campaign which began with the game's developer, Bungie, announcing the game via a trailer at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in May 2006. Microsoft, the gam ...
'', and ''DC HeroClix: Batman (Alpha)''.


Freelance career

As a freelance game designer and developer, Mike Elliott, has designed dozens of games. Notable titles include '' Battle Spirits Trading Card Game'', '' Thunderstone'', ''
Quarriors! Quarriors! is a pool-building game made by WizKids. In it Players represent a titular mystical warrior, and players roll dice which gives them Quiddity (an in-game currency) which allows them to purchase additional Spell Dice or Creature Dice, wh ...
'' and ''Star Trek: Fleet Captains'' He also designed ''Card-Jitsu'', an online mini-game in the
Club Penguin ''Club Penguin'' was a massively multiplayer online game (MMO), involving a virtual world that contained a range of online games and activities. It was created by New Horizon Interactive (now known as Disney Canada Inc.). Players used cartoon ...
children's MMO and worked on ''Hearthstone'' in early 2017.


Battle Spirits

In 2008 Elliott designed the '' Battle Spirits Trading Card Game'' for
Bandai is a Japanese multinational toy manufacturer and distributor headquartered in Taitō, Tokyo. Its international branches, Bandai Namco Toys & Collectables America and Bandai UK, are respectively headquartered in Irvine, California and Richmond ...
. Part of the ''Battle Spirits'' franchise—which also includes several anime series, manga serializations and other merchandise such as toys and video games—the TCG was released in Japan in September 2008. ''Battle Spirits'' became one of the top selling trading card games of the year.ICv2 (March 9, 2009)
"Bandai Brings ‘Battle Spirits TCG’ to U.S."
Retrieved October 4, 2013
The game's popularity led to Elliott's appearance in promotional videos, and a new character based on him being added to the anime series ''Battle Spirits: Shōnen Toppa Bashin''. The "Michael Elliott" character was an eccentric American game designer who created the titular ''Battle Spirits'' card game played in the series. ''Battle Spirits Trading Card Game'' was released in the United States by Bandai of America on August 14, 2009.


Thunderstone

In 2009 Elliott designed '' Thunderstone'' card game for
Alderac Entertainment Group Alderac Entertainment Group, or AEG, is a publisher of role-playing game, board game, and collectible card game products. AEG was formed by Jolly Blackburn in 1993 and is based in the city of Ontario, California. Prior to getting into their cur ...
. The game won several awards and nominations, including 2010 Golden Geek Best Card Game Nominee, 2010 Japan Boardgame Prize Voters' Selection Nominee, 2010 JoTa Best Card Game Audience Award, 2010 JoTa Best Card Game Critic Award and 2011 Fairplay À la carte Winner. Alderac relaunched ''Thunderstone'' in 2017 as '' Thunderstone Quest'' with a Kickstarter that raised more than $500,000.


Quarriors! and Dice Masters

In 2012 Elliott designed the ''Quarriors!'' dice building game. Published by WizKids, the game won the 2013 Origins Awards for Best Family, Party or Children's Game. The ''Quarriors!'' Dice Masters system expanded to include '' The Lord of the Rings Dice Building Game'', ''Marvel Dice Masters, DC Comics Dice Masters'', ''Dungeons & Dragons Dice Masters'', ''Yu-Gi-Oh! Dice Masters, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Dice Masters''. WizKids reported that ''Marvel Dice Masters: Avengers vs. X-Men'' sold out within its first week of release and in 2015, ''Marvel Dice Masters'' won the Origins Vanguard Award.


Shadowrun: Crossfire and Dragonfire

Eliott helped design '' Shadowrun: Crossfire, The Adventure Deck-building Game'' for Fire Opal Media and
Catalyst Game Labs Catalyst Game Labs (CGL) was created in May 2007 by InMediaRes Productions, LLC for the purpose of publishing print ''Shadowrun'' and ''Classic BattleTech'' sourcebooks.roleplaying game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within ...
s and deck-building card games. ''Dragonfire'', a cooperative deck-builder game based on the
Dungeons & Dragons ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (commonly abbreviated as ''D&D'' or ''DnD'') is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (RPG) originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by TSR (company)#Tactical Studies Rules ...
roleplaying game and using the Crossfire game engine, was launched in 2017.


Credits


Magic: The Gathering

* Lead Designer Magic Guildpact Expansion * Lead Designer Magic Betrayers of Kamigawa Expansion * Lead Designer Magic Legions Expansion * Lead Designer Magic Onslaught Expansion * Lead Designer Magic Planeshift Expansion * Lead Designer Magic Nemesis Expansion * Lead Designer Magic Mercadian Masques Expansion * Lead Designer Magic Urza’s Legacy Expansion * Lead Designer Magic Urza’s Saga Expansion * Lead Designer Magic Exodus Expansion * Lead Designer Magic Stronghold Expansion * Designer Magic Ravnica Expansion * Designer Magic Champions of Kamigawa Expansion * Designer Magic Mirrodin Expansion * Designer Magic Judgment Expansion * Designer Magic Torment Expansion * Designer Magic Invasion Expansion * Designer Magic Tempest Expansion * Designer Magic Weatherlight Expansion * Lead Designer/Developer Magic 5th Edition Expansion * Lead Developer Apocalypse Magic Expansion * Lead Developer Nemesis Magic Expansion * Lead Developer Urza’s Destiny Magic Expansion * Lead Developer Urza’s Saga Magic Expansion * Lead Developer Stronghold Magic Expansion * Lead Developer Weatherlight Magic Expansion * Developer Fifth Dawn Magic Expansion * Developer Scourge Magic Expansion * Developer Judgment Magic Expansion * Developer Odyssey Magic Expansion * Developer Exodus Magic Expansion * Developer Prophecy Magic Expansion * Lead Designer Vanguard Magic game play accessory


Computer games

* Research and Development lead Magic Interactive Computer Encyclopedia * Research and Development lead Microprose Magic Computer Game * Designer Cardjitsu Trading Card Game for Club Penguin Website


Original game design credits


=Trading card games

= * Battle Spirits Trading Card Game 2008 * Duelmasters Trading Card Game 2002 * Neopets Trading Card game 2003 – 2006 * Harry Potter Trading Card game 1999-2001 * Xiaolin Showdown Trading Card game 2005 - 2006 * Hecatomb Trading Card game 2005 – 2006 * Simpsons Trading Card game 2002 * Charm Angel Trading Card Game (Japan) – 2006- 2007 * UzuMajin Trading Card Game (Japan) 2007- 2008 * Cardjitsu/Disney Club Penguin Trading Card Game 2008–present * Topps Attax Baseball Trading Card Game 2009 * Puck Attax Hockey Trading Card Game 2010 * Star Wars Force Attax Trading Card Game 2012 * Yo-kai Watch Trading Card Game 2016 * Dragoborne: Rise to Supremacy 2017


=Single deck card games

= * Earthquake Card game 1997 * Instinct Card game 1997 * Agent Hunter Card game 2013 * Final Touch 2016 * The Dingo Ate The Baby 2017


=Miniatures games

= * Dreamblade Anvilborn expansion 2006 * Axis and Allies Naval Miniatures 2006- 2011 * Star Wars Pocketmodel Trading Card Game 2007-2008 * Halo Actionclix Miniatures Game 2007-2008 * Mechwarrior Solaris VII Miniatures 2007-2008 * Heroclix Alpha Miniatures Game 2008


=Board games

= * Sword and Skull 2005 * Thunderstone/Thunderstone Advance 2009–2014 Base game and expansions * Star Trek Fleet Captains 2011–2014 Base game and expansions * Quarriors Dice Building Game 2011–2014 Base game and expansions * Lost Legends 2013 * Sangoku 2013 * Shadowrun: Crossfire 2013 * Lord of the Rings Dice Building Game 2012 * Marvel Dice Masters 2013 * Yu-Gi-Oh! Dice Masters 2014 * DC Comics Dice Masters 2015 * Dungeons & Dragons Dice Masters 2015 * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Dice Masters 2016 * Speechless 2016 * Dragonfire 2017 * Shutterbug 2017 * Immortals 2017 * Thunderstone Quest 2018


=iOS and digital games

= * Thunderstone 2011 * Connect with Pieces: Pacific Rim 2013 * Quarriors 2013 * Letter Pix 2014


=Other brands

= * Wizards of the Coast R&D lead Pokémon TCG 1999-2001 * Lead Developer X-Men Trading Card Game * Lead Developer Star Wars Trading Card Game * Designer WOTC Star Wars TCG /Set design on 5 expansions * Designer Netrunner Classic expansion * Lead Designer Heritage WWE Flip and Fight Card Game System * Connect With Pieces 2012


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elliott, Mike Living people Board game designers American game designers Year of birth missing (living people)