I like games

My name is Emily Dresner and I like games.

Oh, I like other things too:  Microhistories.  Economic history. Artificial Intelligence. Quantum Physics. Cryptography. Technology.  Small dogs.  Writing words. Knitting. The coming singularity. Making fun of blockchain.

But mostly, I like games.  I like playing games. I like discussing games. And I like making games.

Rumor has it I also build and run technically advanced Internet startups in my spare time when I am not reading, discussing, arguing about, or playing games.

Things I Have Done aka “the Professional Biography”

Right now,  I work on the Internet in an undisclosed location.  Before getting all mysterious, I was the Chief Technology Officer of Upside Business Travel and ran all of technology and engineering.

Prior to joining Upside, I held the role of Director of Product Engineering for Luminal, Inc. (DBA Fugue), a forward-thinking Cloud Computing startup where I was responsible for Product Engineering teams, DevOps, QA and IT. At Luminal, I focused on hiring, engineering process, cloud architecture, and high-quality product delivery.

Previously, I was the Web Team Lead and Principal Architect on the Elder Scrolls Online at Zenimax Online Studios (see above!). At Zenimax, I led the design and implementation of both public and private cloud operations across the US and Europe at enormous scale to support millions of simultaneous users integrating engineering, data operations, security, and business intelligence. Before that, at Zenimax, I built and led web teams in launching multiple websites with worldwide reach.

I have also held numerous senior engineering and team leadership positions across many industries including entertainment, health care, and banking. Exciting!

I have a Master’s in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan making me a Michigan Football Cultist. I am also a Certified SCRUM Master.

Things I’ve Written or “Why You Are Actually Here”

I wrote like mad for 5 years, 1999 – 2004. I quit writing after the implosion with GOO in 2004 and didn’t come back to it until 2015 — a hiatus of 11 years.  From 2011 to 2014, I was the Web Lead and the Principal Architect for the Elder Scrolls Online.  Technically published a big game during this time!  But I didn’t write on it.

Bibliography

Lots of Dungeonomics at Critical Hits (2015 until current)

Swords of the Serpentine (2019, Pelgrane Press)

The Book of Changing Years (2017, Pelgrane Press)

(the big hiatus)

BESM Revolutionary Girl Utena: the Rose Collection (2004, Guardians of Order)

Dark Ages: Inquisitor (2002, White Wolf)

Dharma Book: Resplendent Cranes for Kindred of the East (2002, White Wolf)

In Nomine: Superiors 4 (2002, Steve Jackson Games)

Tenchi Universe (2002, Guardians of Order)

Tenchi in Tokyo (2002, Guardians of Order)

Cute and Fuzzy Seizure Monsters (2001, Guardians of Order)

Liber Servitorum: the Book of Servants (1999, Steve Jackson Games)

In Nomine: the Book of Tethers (1999, Steve Jackson Games)

In Nomine: Superiors 1: War and Honor (1999, Steve Jackson Games)

Pyramid Columnist for Steve Jackson Games, ~1999-2000

I figured all this out because I looked myself up on Goodreads.  I don’t have copies of most of these games anymore.  One of them I never saw the finished product.

Where You Can Find Me

@multiplexer on Twitter As myself on Linkedin