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'Father of the PlayStation' to receive Lifetime Achievement Award
Ken Kutaragi, lead architect of the original PlayStation and former CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award on March 19, during the 14th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards. Respawn Entertainment Community Manager Abbie Heppe will host, while PlayStation 4 lead architect Mark Cerny will present Kutaragi his award. Although Kutaragi is arguably best-known for his role and nickname "Father of the PlayStation," his first contribution to gaming was the development of the SPC700, the sound chip used in Nintendo's Super NES console. Kutaragi left Sony in 2007, but continues to be active in the tech and entertainment fields as President and CEO of Cyber AI Entertainment Inc. "The PlayStation has become a household name, representing some of the biggest and best gaming experiences of all time," said Meggan Scavio, General Manager of GDC events, in a press release. "Its success and longevity is a reflection of the insight, craft, technical prowess and hard work of the team led by Kutaragi-san, the father of the PlayStation." "We're honored to have Kutaragi-san present at the event, and heartened to recognize a true visionary that helped bring about an unparalleled era of growth in the industry." [Image: Macara via Wikimedia Commons]
Ken Levine accepts lifetime achievement award at Golden Joystick Awards
Ken Levine received an award for lifetime achievement at the Golden Joystick Awards last night, marking yet another in a long line of awards for the man who brought us BioShock and System Shock 2. "I've been doing this for 18 years and I don't feel like I'm sitting on some mountaintop handing out wisdom," Levine said during his acceptance speech, as reported by CVG. "I feel more like I'm somewhere in the middle, looking up at the peak with all these clouds around it, and as an industry we're all trying to find out exactly what video games are, where they're going to go and where they'll end up." Levine said it was "strange" to be given a lifetime achievement award for his contributions to an industry that didn't exist when he was born, but also called the experience "incredibly flattering." Levine thanked the usual: his team at Irrational Games, his publishing partners at 2K Games, as well as friends and family. Ken Levine's got a golden joystick. He's got a golden chance to make his way. And with a golden joystick it's a gooooldeeeen daaaayy!
BioWare doctors to receive GDCA Lifetime Achievement award
The Game Developers Conference announced BioWare co-founders Drs. Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk as the winners of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award. At the GDCAs on March 27, the doctors are to be honored with one of the industry's most prestigious prizes, won previously by such luminaries as Shigeru Miyamoto, Will Wright, and Hideo Kojima."The BioWare doctors are truly a unique breed," said Meggan Scavio, General Manager of GDC events. "Not only have they created some of the most emotionally-engaging and beloved games ever made, they are two of the most passionate, engaging, just all-around nice guys anyone could be fortunate enough to meet... There's no denying the deep footprint Ray and Greg have made, and how much their dedication and leadership will be missed in our industry."18 years ago, the two recently graduated Canadian doctors, along with Augustine Yip, forged a studio that went on to shape Western role-playing games for nearly two decades. Under their leadership, BioWare transformed from a close-knit studio of dozens into a worldwide force of hundreds. That's largely been down to the consistent quality and popularity of the games they've made, including the likes of Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age, and Mass Effect.We caught up with Dr. Zeschuk recently to see what beers he'd pair with particular game genres. We're sure he'll have a certain tipple in mind for when he and Dr. Muzyka celebrate their award, and whatever that proves to be, it'll certainly be well deserved.
Warren Spector (note: not 'War Inspector') GDC Lifetime Achievement award video loosed
During GDC this year, Warren Spector was honored with the Lifetime Achievement award for ... uh ... his life, and Mega64 was there with an amazing video to celebrate as much. Starring Epic Games' Cliff Bleszinski, you'll find out that Spector's name isn't just a guise for his secret job as a "War Inspector." Finally! The truth!
ESA founder Doug Lowenstein receives AIAS Lifetime Achievement Award
The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences has chosen the third recipient for its prestigious and reportedly quite heavy Lifetime Achievement Award in Doug Lowenstein, founder of the Electronic Software Association (ESA). Lowenstein served as the organization's president for 13 years until 2007, after which he became CEO of the Private Equity Council (PEC). The AIAS has deemed Lowenstein a video game industry champion, noting his achievements in combating various forms of piracy, unfriendly legislature and anti-game sentiment. According to AIAS Board chair Jay Cohen, "It was under Doug's leadership that the industry fought off dangerous efforts to impose restrictions on video game content, in the process establishing unequivocally that video games are entitled to the same First Amendment rights as any other entertainment content." He added, "For those of us in the AIAS, it is no exaggeration to say that the artistic freedom we now enjoy stems directly from Doug's efforts." Previous recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award include Nintendo of America founders Howard Lincoln and Minoru Arakawa, as well as PlayStation creator Ken Kutaragi. But do any of them know Jack as well as Lowenstein does?
Sid Meier receiving Lifetime Achievement award at GDC
At this year's Game Developers Conference, Sid Meier will receive a lifetime achievement honor during the Game Developers Choice Awards -- he will then promptly be whacked with a shovel and buried in the Moscone Center basement. How awkward to give Meier a "one-foot-in-the-grave" award while he's still making games. Last year's winner was Shigeru Miyamoto who obviously still has steam left in him, and the year before that it was Richard Garriott -- actually, they kinda have a point on that one.Jamil Moledina, executive director of the Game Developers Conference, states Meier is receiving the award because he's been creating "fun and intelligent games for a diverse public long before it was popular." And despite the implication of a Lifetime Achievement Award we hope he still does it for at least another decade.
