Engstrom was known as part of the “Beastie Boys,” a trio of evangelists who paved the way for Microsoft’s expansion in games in the late 1990s and early 2000s with DirectX. The expansion eventually enabled Microsoft to launch the Xbox (X signified DirectX) video game console — an enterprise that generated billions of dollars for Microsoft and made it a major player in the game industry.
What a fascinating man and career.
Anyone who remembers the OpenGL v Dirext3D wars knows how dirty Engstrom was including lies and leaning on corporate bully tactics to push Dirext3D and cripple OpenGL. Then there is the X-Box. Microsoft’s gaming division makes $10+ billion annually? Lies and corruption seemed to have won. This is all I remember of him from back then including his openly admitting it in a Gamasutra interview. Why Microsoft has never been done for this I don’t know.
OpenGL ARB had been set up as an independent thing (now Khronos). Some years later as SGI was on the way out SGI were thrown a bung by the G W Bush presidency along with a handful of other corporations. My memory was hazy but the excuse was national security either during or not long after Gulf War II. It’s sad to see SGI’s demise but while there may have been strategic economic and defence reasons I’m still doubtful about the legality of this.
I’m sorry I don’t have anything good to say about either of them.
I’m not familiar with the history or the person, but it is a reminder that notoriety, fame and fortune are no immunity to a sad ending.
I know a lot of friends who in the past had been advised to take relative large regular doses of paracetamol daily because it was safe and harmless, mostly for overnight pain management of an injury or osteo-arthritis to allow better rest. Little did we know people were basically being invited into game of roulette for their long kidney and liver health.
I skipped those details as they’re a bit rough. I’m sure anyone with empathy feels a twinge.