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Is Cary Torkelson Still Alive?
Posted by: dv- on 2026-07-01 19:24:54
He is/was a programmer and author; had a couple books on Macintosh Game programming out in the '90s, and wrote Galactic Empire, itself a port of a TRS-80 game. (Along with Galactic Trader, Desert Trek, and a few other classics.)

Galactic Empire - Macintosh Repository

Galactic Empire: You are asked to unite the twenty planets of the galaxy, by force, before civilization decays. You can utilize planetary...
www.macintoshrepository.org

After encountering it again recently, and remembering how addictive it is, I've spent most of the last couple weeks remaking the game in Python, using a UI framework (flet) that I needed an excuse to learn. I'm actually pretty happy with the results so far.

If I were to release it publicly, I'd want Mr. Torkelson's blessing, assuming he's around to give it. (And maybe permission to use the sound effects from the original game.)

LinkedIn and Facebook didn't give me much to go on. A couple people either with empty profiles, or who probably aren't old enough. Anybody ever run into this guy IRL, either professionally or at a con or something?
Posted by: Phipli on 2026-07-01 23:40:56
He is/was a programmer and author; had a couple books on Macintosh Game programming out in the '90s, and wrote Galactic Empire, itself a port of a TRS-80 game. (Along with Galactic Trader, Desert Trek, and a few other classics.)

Galactic Empire - Macintosh Repository

Galactic Empire: You are asked to unite the twenty planets of the galaxy, by force, before civilization decays. You can utilize planetary...
www.macintoshrepository.org

After encountering it again recently, and remembering how addictive it is, I've spent most of the last couple weeks remaking the game in Python, using a UI framework (flet) that I needed an excuse to learn. I'm actually pretty happy with the results so far.

If I were to release it publicly, I'd want Mr. Torkelson's blessing, assuming he's around to give it. (And maybe permission to use the sound effects from the original game.)

LinkedIn and Facebook didn't give me much to go on. A couple people either with empty profiles, or who probably aren't old enough. Anybody ever run into this guy IRL, either professionally or at a con or something?
Some info here - he worked for spiderphone, and will be about 59 now.
Posted by: Phipli on 2026-07-01 23:46:20
So this one is him :

www.linkedin.com

Cary Torkelson - Dynepic, Inc. | LinkedIn

Engineering executive with 25+ years of experience building and leading high-performing… · Experience: Dynepic, Inc. · Location: Eugene · 386 connections on LinkedIn. View Cary Torkelson’s profile on LinkedIn, a professional community of 1 billion members.
www.linkedin.com www.linkedin.com
Posted by: dv- on 2026-07-02 06:24:46
Damn. Thanks!
Posted by: chelseayr on 2026-07-05 05:07:04
dv I used to play that particular game for a while a long time ago. in that case Iperhaps won't mind trying an unofficial remake of it as who knows!

(and not being negative or anything but this http://macintoshgarden.org/games/galactic-empire would be a better link to refer to in the future)
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