The 21st Annual Awards for Technical Excellence singles out the year's most innovative products and technologies, and the people who did the most to move our industry forward. Will Wright, creator of The Sims and SimCity, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award.
There are many brilliantly inventive minds in the gaming realm, but Will Wright shines even in that select group. Thanks to him, gamers don't just destroy: They also create.
There are many brilliantly inventive minds in the gaming realm, but Will Wright shines even in that select group. Thanks to him, gamers don't just destroy: They also create.
PC Magazine's Lifetime Achievement Award description describes Will Wrights career as follows:
In 1984, at the age of 24, Wright invented his first video game, a Nintendo title called Raid on Bungling Bay. At first glance, it was much like any other video game. But one unprecedented feature set the game apart: You could design your own islands, placing factories, guns, and tanks wherever you liked. After a while, Wright realized that building islands was much more fun than shooting at them. And gaming would never be the same.
Wright's next game was SimCity, and it focused entirely on building virtual cities. In 1987, unable to find a publisher for the title, Wright cofounded his own company, Maxis. SimCity made its debut in 1989. Within a year, the game was a widespread hit. SimCity would eventually spawn a whole family of simulation games, including SimEarth, SimFarm, and finally, The Sims, in which you can build entire societies. The hugely popular title has engendered its own family of expansion packs, along with an online game and the new sequel, The Sims 2.
In recognition of his pioneering and influential work in the gaming industry, Will Wright is the recipient of PC Magazine's Lifetime Achievement Award. Before Wright, computer simulation was the domain of the military, scientific research, and academics. He brought it to everyone.
Congratulations, Will!
Written at 08:42 on Friday, 31 December 2004 by Stash.
