John W. Ratcliff
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John W. Ratcliff is a noted game developer and the founder of the controversial website AARM.
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[edit] Game Development
Ratcliff's began his career as a software developer writing educational software as well as computer programs supporting cardiovascular research at the St. Louis University Hospital.
In conjunction with game publisher Electronic Arts in 1987, he helped create the first 256 color MCGA game 688 Attack Sub. Several years later, he followed up with a sequel entitled SSN-21 Seawolf, again to critical acclaim, and in 1997 released the game Scarab.
Ratcliff's most recent title was as lead engine programmer for Planetside, published by Sony Online Entertainment. Ratcliff is also credited in Car & Driver (1992) and MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat (1995).
Ratcliff continues to be an active member of the game development community and has been a contributing author to such magazines as Dr. Dobb's Journal. Currently, he works for AGEIA, where his role is to provide open source tools and technology to facilitate the integration of physics into games.
Ratcliff especially enjoys teaching on the subject of computer technology, with special emphasis on algorithms. He also speaks at conferences, and most recently spoke at game|tech 2004.
[edit] Atheist Apologetics Research Ministry
Ratcliff is the founder and creator of the discussion forum Atheist Apologetics Research Ministry (AARM), which, despite its name, does not promote atheism or any particular philosophy. The name itself is a parodic reference to the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry. Ratcliff began AARM as a reaction to the suspension of several users in the moderated CARM forums, which he interpreted as systematic exclusion of atheists and theologically and/or politically liberal Christians. AARM was thus intended to allow uncensored challenges to the values of conservative Christians, particularly those who contribute to CARM.[citation needed]
[edit] Beliefs
Ratcliff describes himself as a Pantheist influenced by "Neo-Platonism, quantum physics, the Seth Material by Jane Roberts, and the works of Robert Anton Wilson." Ratcliff practices Wilson's confrontational and controversial practice of guerrilla ontology. Ratcliff approves of the practice of internet trolling in the context of posting to moderated discussion boards, as he believes it forces people to confront new ideas.[1]
[edit] Controversy
The Evangelical website CARM has alleged that Ratcliff has failed to guard against false or libelous statements against them on AARM. They also note that Ratcliff once attempted to disrupt their forums, describing himself as a troll. [2]
