Born: 1958 (Fort-de-France, Martinique)
Biography:
Muriel Tramis, born in 1958 in Fort-de-France, Martinique, is a French video game designer and computer engineer. She is widely recognized as the first Black woman video game designer and has made significant contributions to the industry. Tramis’s passion for creating stories and images with computers led her to a successful career in video game development.
Tramis received her education at the convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny and later at the Seminary College in Fort-de-France, Martinique. Her thirst for knowledge and love for technology led her to pursue a generalist and polyvalent engineering training at the prestigious Institut supérieur d’électronique de Paris (ISEP) in Paris.
Before making her mark in the world of video games, Tramis worked as a computer engineer. She spent five years at Aérospatiale, where she played a key role in optimizing maintenance procedures for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Additionally, she handled remotely piloted aircraft used in missile fire tests and anti-ship missiles. Tramis’s excellence in her field paved the way for her transition into the world of marketing and communication, with a focus on interactive programs.
In 1986, Tramis joined Coktel Vision, a renowned French video game design and publishing company. She dedicated 17 years of her career to the company, leaving in 2003. Tramis’s time at Coktel Vision was intellectually and creatively fulfilling, and she played a vital role in the development of some of their most successful games. One of her notable achievements was co-creating the Gobliiins series with Pierre Gilhodes, which sold nearly 1.5 million copies.
Another significant contribution made by Tramis was her game Lost in Time, released in 1993. This adventure game was hailed as the first interactive adventure film to use full motion video technology. With hand-painted and digitized backgrounds, along with 3D decor, Lost in Time told the story of a woman who finds herself transported back in time to a shipwreck in 1840. As she explores the ship, she uncovers revelations about her own past.
Tramis’s creativity and storytelling abilities shone through in her collaboration with Patrick Chamoiseau and Philippe Truca to create her first adventure game, Méwilo. Set in Saint-Pierre on May 7, 1902, around the time of the devastating eruption of Mount Pelée, Méwilo was a success and laid the foundation for Tramis’s subsequent projects.
One of Tramis’s most notable works is the game Freedom: Rebels in the Darkness. Released in 1992, it follows the story of a slave who has one night to escape from a plantation. The game combines adventure and strategy, with players needing to navigate carefully, build alliances, and use persuasive tactics to secure their freedom.
Aside from her contributions to the gaming industry, Tramis was involved in the creation of the ADI range for schoolchildren and college students. Her expertise and dedication also led her to become the manager of Avantilles since 2003, a company specializing in real-time 3D applications for the web.
Muriel Tramis’s passion for storytelling and her groundbreaking work as a video game designer have left an indelible mark on the industry. Her unique perspective as a Black woman in a predominantly male field has contributed to the diversification of gaming narratives and has paved the way for future generations of designers.
Awards:
– Add any official awards or recognitions received by Muriel Tramis.