BioWare's co-founders, Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk, have been named the 14th and 15th inductees into theAcademy of Arts and Sciences(AIAS) Hall of Fame, marking the first time the academy has welcomed two inductees into its hallowed halls in the same year.
Awarded in conjunction with AIAS' yearly Interactive Achievement Awards, the 'Hall of Fame' designation is reserved for individuals who have made a significant contribution to the video game industry. In an accompanying press release, AIAS president Mark Rae praised the duo for producing, “some of the most wildly successful and accomplished games, and these will resonate among gamers for a very long time."
Dubbed the 'BioWare Doctors', Muzyka and Zeschuk originally met in medical school where their joint passion for gastroenterology and acid based physiology naturally led to an interest in making games. Shortly after graduating, the pair rallied a small team of developers and programmers to form BioWare – a studio that would go on to create little known titles such as Baldur's Gate, Mass Effect, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Dragon Age (which also won AIAS's 2010 award for Best RPG).
"We're truly honored to represent our teams of passionate, hard-working, creative staff across the BioWare Group within Electronic Arts, and they all share this award with us," said Dr. Ray Muzyka upon receiving news of the award. "Driving BioWare's success past, present and future are the amazing family of people we have been privileged to work with over the years and our shared core values of quality in our workplace, quality in our products, and entrepreneurship in a context of humility and integrity."
Echoing his sentiments, Dr. Zeschuk added: "It's very meaningful to us as BioWare co-founders, business partners and friends for many years that the AIAS has chosen this year to be the first year that they induct two people in to the Hall of Fame simultaneously," said Dr. Greg Zeschuk. "We'd also like to thank our wives and the families of our employees for their continuous support over the years, which together with the hard work of our great teams continually enables BioWare's success."
Above: Future AIAS winner?
The last recipient to be awarded AIAS Hall of Fame entry was Mark Cerny, President of Cerny games. Past inductees also includeTrip Hawkins (2005), Peter Molyneux (2004), John Carmack (2001) and, of course, its inaugural hall of famer, Shigeru Miyamoto (1998).
Dr. Muzyka and Dr. Zeschuk will receive the award at the 14th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards at AIAS' 2011 D.I.C.E summit in Las Vegas.
Dec 17, 2010
[Source:Gamustra]
