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Richard Garriott

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Richard Garriott
NationalityBritish / American
Space career
Spaceflight Participant
Current occupation
Game designer
Time in space
11 d 21 h
MissionsSoyuz TMA-13 / Soyuz TMA-12

Richard Allen Garriott (born July 4, 1961), also known as Lord British in Ultima and General British in Tabula Rasa, is a significant figure in the video game industry. He was originally a game designer and programmer, but now engages in various aspects of computer game development. On October 12, 2008, Garriott launched aboard Soyuz TMA-13 to the International Space Station as a self-funded tourist[1][2], returning safely 12 days later aboard Soyuz TMA-12.

Biography

Early life

Garriott was born in Cambridge, England,[3] and raised in Nassau Bay, Texas. He is the son of scientist Owen K. Garriott, who became an astronaut and flew with Skylab 3 and Space Shuttle mission STS-9. At Clear Creek High School, he took an interest in computers and began self-directed courses in programming in which he created fantasy computer games. In the summer of 1977, Richard's parents sent him to Oklahoma University for a seven-week computer camp. Shortly after he arrived, some of the other boys attending the camp introduced themselves. When Garriott replied to their greeting of "Hi" with "Hello" they decided he sounded like he was from Britain, and gave him the nickname "British". Garriott uses the name to this day for his various gaming characters, including Ultima character Lord British and Tabula Rasa character General British,[4] despite the fact that Garriott's parents moved to Texas when he was a baby and - despite his nickname and birthplace - he has an American accent, not a British accent.[5]

Programming career

Richard continued programming many games, often offering them to friends for free. He produced his first published game, Akalabeth (DND28b[6]), in the summer of 1980 while working at a ComputerLand retail store. Garriott earned more than enough money from Akalabeth to pay to continue his education. In the fall, he entered the University of Texas at Austin, joined the school's fencing team and later joined the Society for Creative Anachronism.

In the early 1980s, Garriott developed the Ultima computer game series (sequels after the first were numbered, such as Ultima II, Ultima III and so on). Originally programmed for the Apple II, the first was published by California Pacific Computers, and sold in Ziploc plastic bags to interested parties. The second part was published by Sierra On-Line. By the time he developed his third installment, the games had such a large following that Garriott (along with his brother, Robert, and father and others) established Origin Systems, their own video game publisher, to handle the publishing and distribution of his title, now available on several platforms. Origin went on to become one of the most influential game developers in the history of video games.

Garriott sold Origin to Electronic Arts in September 1992. In 1999 and 2000, EA canceled all of Origin's new development projects, including Privateer Online, and Harry Potter Online[7][8]. In the midst of these events, Garriott resigned from the company and returned to the industry by forming Destination Games in April 2000 with his brother and Starr Long (the producer of Ultima Online). Once Garriott's non-compete agreement with EA expired a year later, Destination partnered with NCsoft where he acted as a producer and designer of MMORPGs. After it, he became the current CEO of NCSoft Austin, also known as NC Interactive.

In an open letter on the Tabula Rasa website posted November 11, 2008, Garriott announced his plans to leave NCSoft to pursue new interests sparked by his spaceflight experiences. On the 24th of November NCSoft announced they planned to end the live service of Tabula Rasa. The servers shut down on February 28, 2009, after a period of free play from January 10th onward for existing account holders. [9]

Spaceflight

Screen capture from Windows on Earth, used by Garriott on ISS to identify targets for Earth photography. (Coast of Peru)

On September 28 2007, Space Adventures announced that Garriott would fly to the International Space Station in October 2008 as the sixth space tourist, reportedly paying $30 million USD.[1][10] On October 12, 2008, Garriott became the first offspring of an American astronaut to go into space,[1][11][12] and the second person to wear the British Union flag in space.[13] The Soyuz docked with the station on October 14, and Garriott returned to Earth on October 24 aboard the Soyuz TMA-12 with two members of Expedition 17, cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Sergei Volkov. Volkov is the first second generation space traveler.[14][15]

During his spaceflight, Garriott took part in several education outreach efforts. He is an Amateur Radio Operator (callsign W5KWQ), and during his stay on the International Space Station (ISS), communicated with students and other Amateur Radio operators using Amateur Radio.[16] Garriott also transmitted photographs using the ARISS SSTV amateur radio system. Garriott also worked with the Windows on Earth project, which provides an interactive, virtual view of Earth as seen from the ISS.[17] Garriott used Windows on Earth software to assist in the selection of locations on Earth to photograph, and the public were able to use the same online tool to track the ISS and see the view Richard was experiencing out an ISS window. Richard's photographs, along with images taken by his astronaut father Owen Garriott in 1973, will be available to the public through Windows on Earth, adding a personal element to studies of Earth and how Earth has changed over time.[17]

Also, Tracy Hickman wrote a screenplay for Garriott, for the first science-fiction film shot in space.[18]

On October 24, Russian cosmonauts, ISS Crew 17 Sergei Volkov and Oleg Kononenko, space tourist Richard Garriott, aboard Soyuz TMA-12 capsule, landed safely ("ideal") at 9:37 a.m. (0336GMT, 07:36 Moscow time), 55 miles north of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan. They were lifted to the Kazakhstan Baikonur space center by helicopter, and then flew to Zvezdny Gorodok (Star City), Moscow Region.[19][20][21][22]

Other accomplishments and interests

Garriott acted as corner man for professional boxer and friend Jesús Chávez in his first title defense against Erik Morales in 2004.[citation needed]

He is also an avid magician and magic collector, and appeared on the cover of the January 2008 MUM, the magazine of the Society of American Magicians.[citation needed]

Garriott built a "haunted house"/museum at his residence called Britannia Manor in Austin, Texas. He also promotes private space flight as vice-chairman of the board of directors for Space Adventures and as a trustee of the X-Prize.[citation needed]

Ham radio callsign: W5KWQ

When aboard the International Space Station in October 2008 he delighted many amateur radio operators and school children with contacts.

Awards

Garriott became the ninth inductee into the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences' Hall of Fame in 2006.

Video game works

Game Name First Released System Name(s) Garriott's Role(s)
Akalabeth: World of Doom 1980 Apple II & DOS Game Designer & Programmer
Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness 1980 Apple II, Atari 8 bit systems, Commodore 64, DOS, FM Towns & MSX Original Conceptor, Programmer & Graphic Artist
Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress 1982 Apple II, Atari 8 bit systems, Commodore 64, DOS & FM Towns Programmer
Ultima III: Exodus 1983 Apple II, Amiga, Atari 8 bit systems, Commodore 64, DOS, FM Towns, Mac OS & NES Project Director
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar 1985 Apple II, Amiga, Atari 8 bit systems, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, FM Towns, MSX, NES, Sega Master System Project Director
Autoduel 1985 Apple II, Amiga, Atari 8 bit systems, Atari ST, Commodore 64 & DOS Programmer & Designer
Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny 1988 Apple II, Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, FM Towns & NES Designer, Writer & Programmer
Omega 1989 Apple II, Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64 & DOS Designer
Ultima VI: The False Prophet 1990 DOS, Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, FM Towns, SNES Designer, Producer, Sound Effect Worker, Writer & Voice Actor
Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire 1990 DOS & SNES Executive Producer
Ultima: Worlds of Adventure 2: Martian Dreams 1991 DOS Creative Director
Ultima: Runes of Virtue 1991 Game Boy Creative Director
Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss 1992 DOS, FM Towns & PlayStation Director & Voice Actor
Ultima VII: The Black Gate 1992 DOS & SNES Director & Producer
Ultima VII: The Forge of Virtue 1993 DOS Creative Assistance & Producer
Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle 1993 DOS Creative Director & Audio Team Member
Ultima VII Part Two: The Silver Seed 1993 DOS Director & Voice Actor
Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds 1993 DOS, FM Towns & NEC PC-9801 Director & Voice Actor
Ultima VIII: Pagan 1994 DOS Producer
Ultima: Runes of Virtue II 1994 Game Boy Creative Director & Additional Design
Ultima VIII: The Lost Vale Expansion Pack Cancelled DOS Producer
Bioforge 1995 DOS Executive Producer
Ultima Online 1997 Windows Producer
Ultima Online: The Second Age 1998 Windows Executive Designer
Lineage 1998 Windows & Mac OS X Executive Producer
Ultima IX: Ascension 1999 Windows Director
Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle 2003 Windows Executive Producer
City of Heroes 2004 Windows Executive Producer
City of Villains 2005 Windows Executive Management
Tabula Rasa Nov. 2 2007 Windows Executive Producer

References

  1. ^ a b c Mark Carreau (2008). "$30 million buys Austin resident a ride on Soyuz mission". The Houston Chronicle. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Tariq Malik. "Former Astronaut's Son Signs on as Next Space Tourist". SPACE.com. Retrieved October 9 2007. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ^ "Inside Ultima IV", Computer Gaming World, pp. 18–21, March 1986
  4. ^ King, Brad (2003). Dungeons and Dreamers: The Rise of Computer Game Culture from Geek to Chic. McGraw-Hill. pp. 11–12. ISBN 0-07-222888-1. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ BBC, News (2008-07-15). "BBC NEWS - Science/Nature - Private mission set for ISS". Retrieved 2008-11-11. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ Ackerman, Kyle (2002-03-17). "Interview with Richard Garriott at Frictionless Insight". Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  7. ^ Linder, Brian (2001-05-10). "IGN: Harry Potter LEGO Redux". Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  8. ^ Matonis, Misty (2002-01-05). "When Kings Fall: Part II of II". Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  9. ^ Garriott, Richard (2008-11-11). "Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa - An Open Letter from General British". Retrieved 2008-11-11.
  10. ^ Space Adventures, Ltd. (2008). "Space Adventures Announces 1st Second Generation Astronaut". Space Adventures, Ltd. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Chris Bergin (2008). "Soyuz TMA-13 launches trio on journey to the ISS". NASA Spaceflight.com. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ The Associated Press (2008). "Rocket launches on space station voyage". International Herald Tribune. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ Second person to wear the Union flag in space
  14. ^ Peter Leonard for The Associated Press. "US game designer blasts into space with DNA cargo, fulfilling childhood dream". Minneapolis Star Tribune. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Marcia Dunn for The Associated Press (2008). "Space tourist will pay high price for adventure". MSNBC. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ Frank H. Bauer (2008-09-19). "Richard Garriott on ISS". Southgate Amateur Radio Club. Retrieved 2008-10-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ a b TERC (2008). "Richard Garriott's Mission in October, 2008". Technical Education Research Centers. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ "LTUE, Day 2". Tachyon City (Nathan Shumate). Retrieved 2009-02-20.
  19. ^ news.bbc.co.uk, Soyuz space capsule lands safely
  20. ^ ap.google.com, American, Russians return from space station
  21. ^ en.rian.ru/russia, Soyuz capsule safely lands in Kazakhstan - 2
  22. ^ itar-tass.com, Cosmonauts examined with special system
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