I AM SORRY TO ANNOUNCE THAT MARK HAS THE FLU, SO WE WILL RESCHEDULE THIS EVENT. STAY TUNED.

Mark Jacobs is one of the true pioneers of online gaming. Literally starting in his basement in 1985 with a 286 computer and 10 modems, Mark conceptualized, designed and programmed one of the world's earliest commercial MUDs called Aradath, a fantasy role-playing game for his first company, Adventures Unlimited Software Inc. He was on the ground floor of the first commercial multiuser gaming system, GEnie, with a port of Aradath (renamed Dragons' Gate) and a 4X game called Galaxy.

In 1995, Mark formed Mythic Entertainment, and after a dozen other online games such as Magestorm and Aliens Online, produced one of the most popular MMOs of all time in Dark Age of Camelot in 2001. Electronic Arts purchased Mythic Entertainment in 2006 and Mark remained aboard to head the Fairfax-based studio which produced Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, released in 2008. Dark Age of Camelot and Warhammer Online are two of the highest rated MMORPGs of all time occupying two of the top 5 slots according to the game's industry yardstick Metacritic. Mark and EA parted ways earlier this year.

Mark has graciously agreed to share his thoughts about the past, present, and future of online games in an informal setting.