Sam Oscar Lantinga | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Slouken |
| Employer(s) | Loki Entertainment (1999–2001) Blizzard Entertainment (2001–2011) Galaxy Gameworks (2011) 38 Studios (2011–2012) Valve (2012–present) |
Sam Oscar Lantinga is acomputer programmer. He used to be the lead software engineer atBlizzard Entertainment, where he was known to the community asSlouken. He is best known as the creator of theSimple DirectMedia Layer, a very popularopen source multimedia programming library, and also developed the compatibility database forExecutor, a proprietary Mac OS emulator.[1]
He was the lead programmer and a co-founder of the now-defunctLoki Software, which ported several game titles toLinux.[2] A Linux client ofWorld of Warcraft was developed, and negotiations withLinux Game Publishing were under way until Blizzard cancelled the project.[3][4] It is unknown if Lantinga was involved with this port.
He also foundedGalaxy Gameworks in 2008 to help commercially support theSimple DirectMedia Layer.[5] He left Blizzard Entertainment to "relax, spend time with family, and explore some ideas to expand the Galaxy Gameworks business."[6] Soon after he launched a new website for Gameworks including an extensive list of developer testimonials.[7] Lantinga went on to work for38 Studios,[8] which shut down in May 2012. Lantinga is currently[when?] employed atValve.[9]
The following is a list of game products Lantinga either developed on or was involved in porting.[10]
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