Arbor Productions is proud to announce that Mike Dukes has been named as our new Creative Director.

The man formerly known as the Assistant Line Developer for Hardboiled and War of the Dead, and the mastermind behind such concepts as the upcoming player-character monster templates, the dark and foreboding Noir Magic System, and the interactive features slated for War of the Dead, is now in charge of all Arbor Productions’ product development.

Mike’s history with Arbor Productions has been one of our most unique.  We first met at GenCon 2007 when he won our contest for a year’s worth of free product.  From there, Mike started sending me private messages through the official M&M boards talking about Autumn Arbor, Savage Worlds, and the RPG industry in general.

After throwing his name into the hat to become a freelance writer and sending me samples, he and I started talking about an upcoming Supernatural-Noir setting I’d wanted to do for Savage Worlds.  When he heard we were approved under the old Savage License for a setting I’d dubbed Hardboiled, he immediately wanted to write for the product, stating his own love and knowledge of the genre.

From there, Mike started submitting ideas for the setting, ranging from the magic system and monster templates we have now, to bits and pieces about the city, itself.  It didn’t take long for me to realize his own knowledge of the genre surpassed my own, and offered him the Assistant Line Developer position.

As the ALD, Mike continued to do tremendous work for us behind the scenes, from promoting the upcoming products across the internet, bringing more talented individuals onboard, and even handling talent scouting for more artists and writers . . . not just for Hardboiled, but for Arbor Productions as a whole.

After discussing it with the staff, I offered Mike the chance to become the Creative Director for the company.  An opportunity to, in effect, become the top guy for product design and development.

The future will soon be history.

On behalf of everyone at Arbor Productions, congratulations Mike!  You’ve sold us your soul!