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Ralph Stock

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Ralph Stock
Ralph Stock in 2014
Born1969 (age 54–55)
Gießen, West Germany
NationalityGerman
Occupation(s)Video game designer, entrepreneur
Known forMad TV (video game), Emergency (video game series)

Ralph Stock (born 1969) is a German game designer. He is best known for his video games Mad TV and Emergency.

Life and career

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Early years (1977–1992)

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Around 1977, Ralph Stock stumbled upon a Commodore PET at the home of a family friend and had his first chance to dabble in computer science. Hamurabi, a resource management game, spurred his fascination with video games and their development. In the early ‘80s, at the age of twelve, Ralph Stock built his first computer, a Sinclair ZX81, from an assembly kit. He used this computer for his first experiments in programming.[1] At the age of fifteen, Stock developed his first game for the Commodore 64 with a group of friends from school: an adventure game called Philosopher’s Stone. Stock was still at school when the game was published and commercially marketed by Kingsoft in 1984.[2] While still finishing school, Stock worked on Bozuma: Mystery of the Mummy and East vs. West: Berlin 1948, finally graduating in 1988. Bozuma was published by Time Warp Software GmbH, a Rainbow Arts (Softgold) label. Stock continued to work with Softgold/Rushware, first as a freelancer, later in a permanent role as a programmer and producer at Rainbow Arts. He also developed his own project, Mad TV, at Rainbow Arts; laying the foundations for its indirect successors. After working as a producer and game designer at Rainbow Arts, Ralph Stock became the chief producer and head of development in 1990.[3]

For Stock, like many other game developers in the post-Amiga era, Rainbow Arts was a place to test his ideas before founding his own company.[4] By his own statement, developing the German-language versions of computer games by Lucasfilm Games, TSR, and SSI, and interacting with game designers from around the world, like Chris Roberts and Richard Garriott, was pivotal in Stock's career as a game designer and producer.[5]

Promotion Software and Sixteen Tons Entertainment (1993–present)

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In 1993, Ralph Stock founded the company Promotion Software GmbH in Tübingen, Germany. With his company he developed promotional games such as Victor Loomes, Tom Long: The Time Adventure (MS DOS)[6] and Jeff Jet: Adventure Infohighway. In 1994, he released his first political edutainment game: Der rasende Reporter (simulation, MS DOS). In cooperation with Ikarion, Stock developed other titles like Mad News (1994) and Caribbean Disaster (1995) in the style of the humoristic simulation game, Mad TV. Musician Chris Huelsbeck composed the soundtracks for these and other games by Ralph Stock.[7][5]

Stock also worked with board game authors like Reiner Knizia, creating digital versions of board games like Keltis (2009), Einfach Genial (2009), and Heckmeck (2014).[8][9]

In 1997, inspired by Command & Conquer, Stock invented a rescue-simulation game, Emergency: Fighters for Life - a real-time strategy game “turned into something positive”, which was released in 1998. According to Gamesindustry.biz, the Emergency series remains ″one of the most important German game titles to this day″.[10] Under the label Sixteen Tons Entertainment,[11] Ralph Stock developed several other games in Tübingen like Gotcha! Extreme Paintball (2004), The Show (2007), and sequels in the Emergency game series. In 2009, he founded a subsidiary studio in the Media City Babelsberg.[12] Games developed there were published under the name Quadriga Games up until 2012. Since 2017 the studio is based in Berlin.

Social commitment

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Stock works on gamification, games for health and games for digital education through the division of Promotion Software GmbH specialized in applied games (Serious Games Solutions[13][14]) and shares his experience at trade fairs. In addition to his work as a game developer, he attended the International German Forum on Health and Innovation (Internationales Deutschlandforum) at the request of Angela Merkel, which was held at the German Chancellery.[15][16] Stock also speaks at events like the Learntec conference, the Didacta trade fair for the education sector, the Bizplay trade conference, the Serious Games Conference, and German Dev Days.[17][18][19][20][21] Ralph Stock is also invited to judge competitions. In 2019 he was a judge at the Animated Games Award, a contest held by the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Films.[22]

Recognition

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Ralph Stock is regarded as one of the leading developers of digital games for the health and education sectors.[23] His most famous game, Mad TV, is a whacky television station simulation game published by Rainbow Arts in 1991. The game received positive reviews from the trade press (Powerplay magazine: “Mad TV is one of the funniest strategy games of the year”)[24] and inspired various official and unofficial sequels. Stock's Emergency HQ, released in 2018 for iOS and Android, is the first game in the Emergency series to be designed as a purely free-to-play game. PocketPC magazine describes it as a successful implementation of the Emergency game principle: “In conclusion: a strong classic re-issued for the mobile gaming market”.[25] His game Emergency 2016 was presented as an application example at the 10th European Conference on Game Based Learning by the University of the West of Scotland.[26]

Games

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Name Year Credited with Publisher
Philosopher's Stone (Der Stein der Weisen)[27][28] 1984 developer Kingsoft
Bozuma – Mystery of the Mummy[29] 1988 programmer Rainbow Arts Software GmbH
East vs. West: Berlin 1948[30] 1989 creator Time Warp Productions
Mad TV[31][32] 1990 producer Rainbow Arts Software GmbH
Log!cal[33] 1991 producer and additional design Rainbow Arts Software GmbH
Victor Loomes[34] 1993 idea and project management Promotion Software GmbH
Tom Long: The Time Adventure[35] 1993 realization Promotion Software GmbH
Hurra Deutschland (The game about the satirical series Hurra Deutschland)[36] 1994 idea, producer Rainbow Arts Software GmbH, Softgold Computerspiele GmbH
Mad News[37] 1994 original concept and documentation Promotion Software GmbH
Der rasende Reporter[38] 1994 developer Bundespresseamt
Berlin Connection[39] 1994 ceo Promotion Software GmbH
Tim und Nina[40] 1995 developer Promotion Software GmbH
Jeff Jet: Abenteuer Infohighway[41] 1995 developer Promotion Software GmbH
Caribbean Disaster[42] 1995 idea, concept and manual Promotion Software GmbH
Emergency[43] 1998 idea, producer and voices WizardWorks Group, Inc.
Emergency Police[44] 2001 ceo Deep Silver
Emergency 2[45] 2002 idea, producer Deep Silver
Gotcha! Extreme Paintball[46] 2004 idea, executive producer and ceo Gathering of Developers
Emergency 3[47] 2005 concept and executive producer Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
Emergency 4 (911 First Responders)[48] 2006 idea and executive producer Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
The Show[49] 2007 original concept and executive producer Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
Emergency DS[50] 2009 ceo Destineer
Keltis (digital version of the board game by Dr. Reiner Knizia)[51] 2009 ceo United Soft Media Verlag GmbH
Einfach genial (digital version of the board game by Dr. Reiner Knizia)[52] 2009 project lead United Soft Media Verlag GmbH
Emergency 2012[53] 2010 idea and executive producer Deep Silver
Emergency 2012 DS[54] 2010 idea and executive producer Rondomedia
Emergency Kids[54] 2011 ceo United Soft Media Verlag GmbH
Polizei for Windows[55] 2011 idea and executive producer Rondomedia
Emergency HD[56] 2012 ceo Promotion Software GmbH
Emergency 2013[54] 2013 idea and executive producer Deep Silver
Power Matrix[57] 2013 ceo Siemens Energy
Menschen auf der Flucht[58] 2013 idea and executive producer missio
Emergency 2014[54] 2014 idea and executive producer Deep Silver
Emergency 5[59] 2014 idea, executive producer and head of game design Deep Silver
Heckmeck (digital version of the board game by Dr. Reiner Knizia)[57] 2015 ceo United Soft Media Verlag GmbH
Emergency 2016[60] 2015 idea and executive producer Deep Silver
Emergency 2017[61] 2016 idea and executive producer Deep Silver
Emergency 20[62] 2017 idea and executive producer Deep Silver
Emergency HQ[60] 2018 ceo Sixteen Tons Entertainment

Awards

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  • 2018: Comenius-EduMedia-Award for Blue Brain Club.[63]
  • 2017: Deutschland – Land der Ideen, category awarded place (German: ″ausgezeichneter Ort″) for Teamwork.[64]
  • 2014: Deutscher Preis für Onlinekommunikation 2014, category Best Corporate Game for Power Matrix.[65]
  • 2013: Digital Communication Awards 2013, category Best Corporate Game for Power Matrix.[66]
  • 2013: Deutscher Computerspielpreis (German Computer Games Award) jury award, category Bestes Serious Game, for Menschen auf der Flucht.[67]
  • 2010: Serious Games Award of the jury for Willi wills wissen: Bei den Wikingern at the Serious Games Conference[68]
  • 2009: Kindersoftwarepreis TOMMI for Willi wills wissen: Bei den Wikingern.[69]

References

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  1. ^ Olschewski, Felix (2013). Mysterium Spieleentwickler: Schritt für Schritt vom Wunsch zur Karriere (German). Felix Olschewski. ISBN 978-3842342262.
  2. ^ "Gamedesign bei der Kinderuni – Kinder müssen die Spiele vorher testen (German)". Stuttgarter Zeitung. 2011-10-16. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  3. ^ "Spielfluss muss heute neu definiert werden (German)". makinggames.biz. 2014-12-23. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  4. ^ Retro Gamer Spezial, Verlag Heinz Heise, February 2017, p. 179
  5. ^ a b "About Ralph Stock (1994 - Mad News)". official website. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  6. ^ "Tom Long: The Time Adventure". MobyGames. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  7. ^ "Chris Huelsbeck". MobyGames. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  8. ^ "Special: Parlamentarischer Spieleabend im Bayerischen Landtag". demonews.de. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  9. ^ "Brettspielumsetzung von Einfach Genial im App Store". planetiphone.de. 2009-12-18. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  10. ^ "Ralph Stock: "Spielfluss muss heute neu definiert werden"". Making Games. 2014-12-23. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  11. ^ "Sixteen Tons Entertainment | Creator of the EMERGENCY series". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  12. ^ "Potsdamer Unternehmen - Spielen für den Ernstfall ( German)". Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichten. 2016-08-16. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  13. ^ "About Serious Games Solutions". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  14. ^ Anderie, Lutz (2018). Gamification, Digitalisierung und Industrie 4.0 (German). Springer Gabler Verlag. ISBN 978-3658198640.
  15. ^ ""Was Menschen wichtig ist – Globale Gesundheit und Innovation" (German)". 2017-02-22. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  16. ^ "Teilnehmer" (pdf). 2017-02-14. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  17. ^ "Umfangreiches Vortragsprogramm zum Thema Games und Bildung". 2017-01-20. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  18. ^ "Nachhaltiges Lernen, das motiviert: Serious Games erstmals auf der didacta". 2016-01-29. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  19. ^ "Bizplay Karlsruhe - Gamification Congress erstmals mit BIU.Dev als Partner - von Martin Lorber". 2016-09-28. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  20. ^ "Rund 350 Gäste auf der Serious Games Conference 2015".
  21. ^ "GermanDevDays 2019". 2019. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  22. ^ "Animated Games Award für "Trüberbrook"". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  23. ^ "Ralph Stock". Gemeinnützige Hertie Stiftung. 2018. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  24. ^ "Mad TV". Kultboy.com (German: “MadTV gehört zu den witzigsten Strategiespielen des Jahres”). Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  25. ^ "Angespielt: Emergency HQ ist eine Neuauflage des bekannten Emergency HD". pocketpc.ch (German: “Fazit: Starker Klassiker für den Mobile Gaming Markt neu aufgelegt”). 2018-05-31. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  26. ^ Connolly, Thomas (2016-10-06). Proceedings of the 10th European Conference on Game Based Learning. The University of the West of Scotland Paisley Scotland. ISBN 978-1510830295.
  27. ^ "Der Stein der Weisen (Kingsoft) – C64-Wiki". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  28. ^ "Ralph Stock Game Credits". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  29. ^ "Mystery of the Mummy for Amiga (1988)". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  30. ^ "Berlin 1948, East vs. West: Berlin 1948, Nazi - Amiga Game / Games - Download ADF - Lemon Amiga". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  31. ^ "Ralph Stock".
  32. ^ "Was macht eigentlich ... Ralph Stock?". 2002-08-10. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  33. ^ "Log!cal for Amiga (1991)". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  34. ^ "VL - das Spiel, Victor Loomes - Amiga Game / Games - Download ADF - Lemon Amiga". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  35. ^ "Tom Long: The Time Adventure for DOS (1994)". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  36. ^ "Hurra Deutschland for DOS (1994)". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  37. ^ "Mad News for Amiga (1995)". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  38. ^ "Werbespiel Archiv: Der rasende Reporter". 2010-07-19. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  39. ^ "Promotion Software GMBH". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  40. ^ "Werbespiel Archiv: Tim und Nina". 2010-09-08. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  41. ^ "Jeff Jet - Abenteuer Infohighway". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  42. ^ "Ralph Stock Video Game Credits and Biography". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  43. ^ "Emergency: Fighters for Life for Windows (1998)". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  44. ^ "Emergency Police (PC) - Release, News, Systemanforderungen". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  45. ^ "Emergency 2: The Ultimate Fight for Life for Windows (2002)". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  46. ^ "Gotcha! Extreme Paintball for Windows (2004)". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  47. ^ "Emergency 3 for Windows (2005)". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  48. ^ "911 First Responders for Windows (2006)". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  49. ^ "The Show for Windows (2007)". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  50. ^ "Emergency!: Disaster Rescue Squad for Nintendo DS (2008)". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  51. ^ "Keltis (DS) - hitparade.ch". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  52. ^ "Einfach Genial 2.0 for Windows (2009)". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  53. ^ "Emergency 2012 for Windows (2010)". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  54. ^ a b c d "Emergency 2012". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  55. ^ "Polizei for Windows (2011)". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  56. ^ "Emergency HD | Spielbar.de". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  57. ^ a b "About Ralph Stock". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  58. ^ "?Nur Top-Designer können Serious Games machen?". making games, 2013. 2013-06-26. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  59. ^ "Emergency 5 for Macintosh (2015)". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  60. ^ a b "Sixteen Tons Entertainment". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  61. ^ "Emergency 2017 for Windows (2016)". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  62. ^ "Emergency 20 for Windows (2017)". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  63. ^ "Comenius Award (German press release)" (PDF). comenius-award.de. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  64. ^ "Land der Ideen: Krisensimulation Teamwork, Ausgezeichnete Orte 2017 (German)". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  65. ^ "Mehr als nur Gamification: Energiewissen spielerisch vermitteln (German)". energieverdichter.de. 2016-03-18. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  66. ^ "Digital Communication Awards Winnerlist 2013 (German)". digital-awards.eu. 2019-04-30. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
  67. ^ "Preisträger Bestes Serious Game 2013 (German)". deutscher-computerspielpreis.de. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  68. ^ "Serious Games Award Gold 2010 (German)". Verband der deutschen Games-Branche. 2010-03-05. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  69. ^ "Willi wills wissen - Bei den Wikingern (TOMMI Archiv 2009)". kindersoftwarepreis.de. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
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