Randy Linden

Randal (Randy) N. Linden
Born (1970-01-06) January 6, 1970 (age 54)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
OccupationComputer programmer
Years active1983–present
Notable work
  • The 64 Emulator
  • Dragon's Lair for Amiga
  • Doom for the Super NES
  • bleem!
  • bleemcast!
  • Cyboid

Randal (Randy) N. Linden (born January 6, 1970) is a Canadian computer programmer known for his intricate work in re-implementing video game titles, as well as for creating emulators. Linden's works include several notable video game re-implementations, approaches to emulation, code recompilation and optimization techniques, and programming practices.

Embarking on programming as a hobby in the early eighties,[1][2][3][4] Linden soon moved into professional development where his early work included developing commercial video game titles and application software for the Commodore 64, Commodore 128, and Amiga. In 1989, six years into his programming activities, Linden created a version of Dragon's Lair for the Amiga. This version was notable for being the first video game to feature full-screen animation and audio streaming from floppy disks on a home computer.[2] Linden subsequently entered console game development, earning widespread recognition for his version of Doom for the Super NES, successfully bridging the significant gap in computing power between the Super NES and the recommended system requirements of the PC version of the video game.[3][4][5]

Linden is also recognized for creating bleem!, a PlayStation emulator designed for Microsoft Windows, along with a Dreamcast version, bleemcast!, co-written with Rodney Maher.[6] Beyond that, Linden's portfolio includes Cyboid, a first-person shooter video game influenced by Quake II, for Android, Amazon Fire and Symbian devices. Linden's activities have not been limited to game development; he also played a significant role at Microsoft, working on products such as the Xbox 360, Kinect, and Microsoft Band.[6][7] Currently, Linden is employed at Limited Run Games.[1]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  3. ^ a b "Bleem: How The PlayStation Was Emulated - The Retro Hour EP190". The Retro Hour Podcast. September 13, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Interview with Randy Linden, the developer who brought Dragon's Lair to the Amiga, DOOM to the SNES, and creator of Bleem! – Part 1". Vintage is the New Old. November 28, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
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  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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