Warren Spector To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award
Gamasutra is reporting that Warren Spector, who worked on several Ultima titles at both Origin Systems and Looking Glass Studios, is slated to be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the upcoming Game Developers Choice Awards, also known as the GDCAs.
Which, I guess, is like the Golden Globes of the gaming world:
Deus Ex game director and producer, and Disney Epic Mickey creator Warren Spector will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 12th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards (GDCAs) for his contributions to the art and science of games. The Game Developers Choice Awards, held at GDC yearly, are the leading peer-based video game industry awards celebrating the industry’s top games and developers.
In receiving this award, Spector joins fellow gaming industry veterans/history makers Sid Meier (2008, for Civilization and other simulators), Shigeru Miyamoto (for Mario, Donkey Kong, etc.), Richard Garriott (2006, for Ultima), and Will Wright (for the Sim games), among several others.
I’m just going out on a limb here and guessing that Spector himself is going to be honoured for things like Deus Ex and Thief…and hopefully System Shock too.
What about the Ultima games he was involved with??
Er, yeah. (I mean, this being an Ultima site and all) 🙂
I know Spector worked on a lot of Ultima titles, and mention as much in the post.
But let’s face it…he’s most famous for Deus Ex and System Shock. And that’s likely what he’ll be honored for.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. I really believe that the GDCA folks pick the right people. Now let’s see Roberta or Ken Williams next!
I’d like to see somebody from Infocom win the award someday, even though everything they has been all but forgotten by the mainstream.
Also, Brian Fargo – a man who was arguably just as important to the development of the RPG as Richard Garriott, but wasn’t as good at public relations.
Oh, and Gabe Newell needs to get an award, but I see they gave him a “Pioneer Award” in 2010. 😉
Ron Gilbert!
For the record, Spector wasn’t behind the concept of Thief. He thought that a game where you can’t choose to fight the guards would be a failure. So I’d be disappointed if they mentioned Thief as the reason for giving him an award, when he doesn’t really deserve it.
While it’s great news he’s being recognized, the comments reveal the nature of awards in general. There are so many talented people who in large part or small helped create many of our greatest works. They should all be recognized (and are in the game credits, paychecks and interviews of video game history). The problem is there are too many great works, too many great contributors and too little time for them to all get their moment in the sun. That’s one of the pitfalls of seeking glory (to which I’m not immune, I confess).
Congrats to Mr. Spector, who certainly deserves whatever recognition is bestowed upon him.
I remember Chris Hecker pointing out an amusing fact when it comes to who get accolades for games…
Source: http://chrishecker.com/Do_Your_Job_Well,_Please
http://chrishecker.com/images/f/fc/Wspector2-small.png