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Brett Sperry

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Brett W. Sperry
Brett Sperry curating 2024 exhibit
Born
Brett Wesley Sperry

Newington, Connecticut, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Websitewww.brettsperry.com

Brett Sperry is an American video game designer,[1] fine arts gallerist,[2][3][4] and professional photographer. He is also a prominent developer of the Las Vegas arts community, where he has made significant investments in property and infrastructure, primarily in the Downtown Las Vegas area.[5]

In the world of video and computer games, Sperry was the co-founder and president of Westwood Studios,[6] where he created the Command and Conquer[7] series, among other titles. During this time, Sperry was named the sixth most influential person in the history of video games.[8] Westwood Studios later received the 2015 Industry Icon Award,[9][10] presented by 2015 Game Awards host Kiefer Sutherland.[11]

Background and education

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Brett Sperry moved from his native Connecticut to the Las Vegas Valley in 1979. He later spent a year at Arizona State University, where he studied psychology and architecture.[12] A self-taught programmer, he began his professional work with video and computer games in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he performed contract work for hire with Imagic and other companies.

Video and computer games

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Westwood Studios

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In 1985, from a suburban Las Vegas garage, Brett Sperry and his business partner Louis Castle founded Brelous Software, with Sperry serving as president and Executive Producer. Two months later, they renamed the company Westwood Associates, and in 1992, they changed the name again to Westwood Studios, reflecting their studio-like approach to the business.[13]

As the company became more successful, Sperry and Castle received full buyout offers from both Sierra Entertainment and Richard Branson’s satellite division, Virgin Interactive (a division of Spelling Entertainment Group[14]). In 1992, Sperry and Castle sold Westwood Studios to Virgin, despite receiving a higher offer from Sierra, citing the potential for greater freedom and autonomy.[15] As Westwood grew into one of the most successful video and computer game companies,[16] Sperry continued as President and Executive Producer. However, in 1997, he took on a larger role as Virgin Interactive's President of Worldwide Development, an internal effort to turn Virgin's struggling video game divisions into a profitable enterprise.[17][18]

In 1998, Electronic Arts purchased the Westwood library and assets outright from Spelling/Virgin.[19][20]

Jet Set Games

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In early 2009, Brett Sperry announced the collaborative launch of the Las Vegas-based software publisher Jet Set Games,[21] a computer gaming company focused on mobile devices such as iPads and iPhones. The company's first successful release was the Highborn strategy game.[22][23]

Las Vegas arts developer

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Since 2007, Brett Sperry has been a central figure in the development of the Las Vegas arts community.[24]

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Starting with a 2007 Downtown Las Vegas land purchase, Brett Sperry built and designed the award-winning[25] Brett Wesley Gallery,[26] which became home to a succession of notable art installations, exhibits, and international artists.[27] In 2016, Brett Wesley Gallery was named the "Best of the City."[28]

Brett Wesley (Gallery) remains a cultural staple.

National Public Radio, Best of the City (2016): These Are the Champions

Sperry then acquired additional parcels nearby, and in collaboration with development partner Trinity Schlotmann, he created the Artifice Lounge, a multi-use "art-inspired" bar and lounge that Sperry designed from what was formerly an empty 1950s warehouse.[29][30][31]

Art Square

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Sperry made a sizable economic and architectural investment in the creation of the adjacent Art Square, a 20,000-square-foot site featuring retail and professional spaces, desert gardens, a performance arts theater, and a restaurant—all of which, apart from the restaurant, Sperry conceived and designed.[32][33][34][35][36]

The Art Square complex was sold to Las Vegas Arts District Development in 2015[citation needed].

The Modern Contemporary and Luminous Park

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In 2009, Sperry became the spearhead and Chairman of a proposed $29-million international-class arts museum based in Las Vegas called "The Modern Contemporary." The museum and its grounds are part of a conceptual entity known as "Luminous Park."[37][38][39][40][41]

Sperry's tenure as Chairman was contractually completed in 2014. Since then, he has been an active member of the board of directors.[42]

References

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  1. ^ "Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 Making Of". YouTube. 5 March 2011. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  2. ^ "Brett Sperry Builds His Own Vegas Gallery". ArtIntern.net. 5 September 2009. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  3. ^ "Brett Wesley Gallery Shares Unique Power of Art". Las Vegas Weekly. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  4. ^ "Downtown Dreams". smallTALK. 9 May 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  5. ^ "Brett Sperry, Arts District Developer". Las Vegas Weekly. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Grownup Gameboys: A Look Inside Westwood Studios". The Las Vegas Sun. 7 October 1996. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  7. ^ "A Good Ol' Fashioned Q&A With Brett Sperry". MOD DB. 1 October 1999. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  8. ^ "The Most Influential People in Computer Gaming of All Time". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 21 February 2005.
  9. ^ "Westwood Studios to Receive Industry Icon Award at The Game Awards 2015". The Game Awards. 30 November 2015. Archived from the original on 9 February 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  10. ^ "The Game Awards 2015 Will Honor Command and Conquer Studio Founders". CinemaBlend. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  11. ^ "The Game Awards 2015: Industry Icon Award". YouTube. 3 December 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  12. ^ "In the Beginning". GameSpot UK. Archived from the original on 7 May 2001.
  13. ^ "A New Dawn: Westwood Studios 15th Year Anniversary". GameSpot UK. Archived from the original on 15 May 2001.
  14. ^ "Spelling Entertainment Group, Inc. - Exhibit 21: Subsidiaries of the Registrant". US Securities and Exchange Commission (Edgar). 31 December 1997. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  15. ^ "Beyond the Hard Core". GameSpot UK. Archived from the original on 10 January 2002.
  16. ^ "Westwood Studios". Home of the Underdogs. 1 January 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  17. ^ "Virgin Interactive Appears Behind in Game Plan for IPO". Los Angeles Times. 1 December 1997. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  18. ^ "Cleaning Time: Corporations Slim Down". Next Generation. No. 31. Imagine Media. July 1997. p. 23.
  19. ^ "EA Buys Westwood". CNN Money. 17 August 1998. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  20. ^ "The Media Business: Spelling Agrees To Sell Westwood Studios". The New York Times. 18 August 1998. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  21. ^ "Jet Set Games: A Return To Cool". The Escapist. 3 February 2009. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  22. ^ "Brett Sperry's Jet Set Games to Launch 'Highborn' Game for iPhone, iPad". VB. 29 March 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  23. ^ "Trailer Released of iPhone Strategy Game, and an Update, Too". gamesindustry.biz. 9 June 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  24. ^ "Investing in the District". The Las Vegas Sun. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  25. ^ "2013 Competition Winners". The Hospitality Industry Network. 22 June 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  26. ^ "The Brett Wesley Wow Factor". The Las Vegas Sun. 3 March 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  27. ^ "Brett Wesley Gallery". Vegas Seven. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  28. ^ "Best of the City: These Are the Champions". National Public Radio, Nevada. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  29. ^ "Urban Exposure: Enter Artifice". Vegas Seven. 11 March 2011. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  30. ^ "Artifice In the Arts District Embraces the Neighborhood". Las Vegas Weekly. 23 March 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  31. ^ "Mayor Takes Victory Lap, Revels in Downtown Redevelopment". The Las Vegas Sun. 26 April 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  32. ^ "Arts District to Welcome New Multi-Use Art Square". The Las Vegas Sun. 4 February 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  33. ^ "Cockroach Theatre: Our Story". Cockroach Theatre. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  34. ^ "Art Square Opens Downtown, Heralded as 'Next Wave' of Las Vegas". The Las Vegas Sun. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  35. ^ "Art Square Flourishes After Its Former Industrial Use". The Las Vegas Review-Journal. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  36. ^ "Art Square". 18b: The Las Vegas Arts District. 30 April 2015. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  37. ^ "Does The Arts District Need an Art Museum?". National Public Radio. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  38. ^ "Art District". Downtown Vegas. 10 August 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  39. ^ "$29 Million Arts, Cultural Center Announced for Las Vegas". The Las Vegas Review Journal. 14 November 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  40. ^ "Is the Third Time the Charm for a Las Vegas Art Museum?". Las Vegas Weekly. 14 November 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  41. ^ "An Art Museum in Downtown Las Vegas is Closer to Becoming a Reality". Las Vegas Weekly. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  42. ^ "Big Changes for Downtown's Modern?". Las Vegas Weekly. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
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