Here’s one of the greatest reasons to attend the New York Game Awards on 1/19! The New York Videogame Critics Circle is proud to announce that the Andrew Yoon Legend Award will go to Ultima creator and astronaut Richard Garriott.

Richard Garriott will appear onstage at the New York Game Awards to receive his award from many of our nearly 40 writers. In addition, he’ll take time to speak to one of the teens we mentor from the Bronx’s DreamYard Prep School. The New York Videogame Critics Circle will also debut a short documentary about the winner’s historic accomplishments.

And in case you’re wondering who Andrew Yoon was:

The Andrew Yoon Legend Award is dedicated to the memory of Andrew Yoon, one of the co-founders of the New York Videogame Critics Circle. Andrew was a keen writer/journalist and later became an inspired game maker. He left us too soon.

Now you know.

At any rate, this is a much-deserved bit of recognition for Richard Garriott; the impact of the Ultima series on the gaming industry cannot be overstated.