Greetings, fellow sailor! I'm Michael Heilemann - known here as THE NORSEMAN, System Operator of The Norse Wanderer BBS since 1983, and as THE VIKING back in my Club X days.
My love affair with computing began in the early 1980s when I first laid hands on an Apple II+. The green phosphor glow of that monitor became my gateway to a digital realm of infinite possibilities.
In 1983, I founded The Norse Wanderer BBS, a sanctuary for like-minded digital adventurers from my room in Pacific Palisades. With the help of BOZO DE CLOWN (assembly programming genius) and THE BARBARIAN (primary developer and coder), we created something special - a community bulletin board that ran on ProDOS and served hundreds of users over the years. The full story of the board - and its recent recreation from the surviving 1986 disk images - is on the History page.
The BBS was where it all started, but Apple II bulletin boards eventually gave way to a 34-year career in the video game industry. I set technical strategy and led development at studios including EA/Maxis, Sony, Fox Interactive, Cryptic Studios, and Vivendi Universal Games, working my way up from lead programmer to Chief Technology Officer along the way.
Over the years I've built and guided teams of up to 200 people, managed development budgets ranging from $2M to $200M, and delivered games that generated anywhere from $5M to $1B in revenue. My leadership style is collaborative, fair, and focused on empowering teams to do their best work.
Some highlights along the way:
| Role | Studio / Project | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Lead Programmer | NHL 2000, NHL 2001, Medal of Honor | 1999-2001 |
| Director / VP of Technology | Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens Versus Predator 2, The Simpsons: Road Rage | 2001-2003 |
| Chief Technology Officer | F.E.A.R., The Bard's Tale, SWAT 4, Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, Crash Twinsanity | 2003-2005 |
| Chief Technology Officer | EA Maxis - The Sims 4 (Get to Work, Get Together, and other expansions) | 2014-2015 |
| Chief Technology Officer | Cryptic Studios - Magic: Legends | 2020-2021 |
Along the way I picked up credits on dozens of other titles - among them The X-Files: Resist or Serve, The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring, Van Helsing, Fight Club, Cold Winter, Red Ninja: End of Honor, and The Spiderwick Chronicles - plus special-thanks credits on titles like BioShock 2 and Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. I semi-retired from full-time studio work in 2022.
I've since built and maintained business relationships with external partners such as Microsoft, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA, Sony, Google, Apple, Autodesk, and Adobe. Today I work as a customer-focused fractional CTO and advisor, still passionate about problem-solving, unifying tech communities, and creating great products that delight customers. What drives me is simple: helping studios bring their vision to life and creating games that truly entertain, excite, and inspire players.
I believe in preserving the magic and community spirit of the BBS era. The Norse Wanderer wasn't just a computer system - it was a gathering place, a digital tavern where friendships were forged and adventures shared, along with some wares plundered.
When I'm not maintaining the BBS or repairing vintage hardware, you'll find me enjoying:
To keep the spirit of the BBS era alive, to preserve the technical achievements of Apple II computing, and to create a welcoming space where both veterans and newcomers can experience the magic of authentic vintage computing.
May Odin guide yer way on the digital seas!
- Michael Heilemann
THE VIKING / THE NORSEMAN
Sysop, Norse Wanderer BBS
Established 1983