Greg Zeschuk

CM
Zeschuk in 2007
Born
Gregory Zeschuk

1969
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada[1]
Known forBioWare
AwardsLifetime Achievement Award (Game Developers Choice Awards, 2013)[2]
Member of the Order of Canada, 2018[3]

Gregory Zeschuk CM (born 1969)[4] is a Canadian businessman who was a VP at Electronic Arts and General Manager at BioWare Austin until 2012. He co-founded video game developer BioWare in Edmonton in 1995 with Ray Muzyka and Augustine Yip, after all three earned their medical degrees from the University of Alberta.[5] Zeschuk announced his retirement from BioWare on September 18, 2012.[6] He is currently involved in a number of projects related to the craft-beer industry, including the production of a web-based interview show known as "The Beer Diaries."[7] Greg is also the chairman of the board of the smart playground technology startup, Biba Ventures based in Vancouver, BC.

In 2009, he was chosen by IGN as one of the top 100 game creators of all time alongside Ray Muzyka.[8]

Early life

Zeschuk was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.[1] Growing up, Zeschuk played many role-playing games, including Dungeons & Dragons, saying he felt they were "always the strongest experience." During his childhood, he spent one summer making games on his Apple computer with a group of his friends.[5]

Founding of BioWare

Zeschuk attended the University of Alberta, studying medicine, where he met fellow medical students Ray Muzyka and Augustine Yip working on medical simulation programs.[9] During their residency, the first software they produced was called the Acid-Base Simulator. Zeschuk graduated in 1992,[10] and was appointed Research Associate in the Division of Studies in Medical Education along with Muzyka.[11] Zeschuk then spent two years training in both the USA and Canada. In 1994, he and Muzyka began working on a piece of medical simulator software called Gastroenterology Patient Simulator. While working on this, the team realised they were more passionate about video game development rather than medical software.[10] Zeschuck, Muzyka and Yip pooled together $100,000 and set out to make their first game.[9] BioWare was incorporated on 1 February 1995 in a small room in Zeschuk's basement.[11]

Works

Year Title Role
1996 Shattered Steel President and Joint-CEO
1998 Baldur’s Gate Lead Production
1999 Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast Lead Production
2000 Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn Executive Producer
MDK 2 Executive Producer
2001 Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal Executive Producer
2002 Neverwinter Nights Co-Executive Producer (with Ray Muzyka)
2003 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Joint CEO
2004 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II Special Thanks
2005 Jade Empire Co-Executive Producer
2006 Neverwinter Nights 2 Special Thanks
2007 Mass Effect Executive Producer (President)
2008 Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood President
2009 Mass Effect: Galaxy Director of Development
Dragon Age: Origins Vice-Presidents (RPG/MMO Group)
2010 Mass Effect 2 Co-founder and VP
2011 Dragon Age II General Manager, BioWare Austin
Star Wars: The Old Republic Co-founder, BioWare and BioWare MMO Business Unit General Manager, BioWare Austin General Manager, Vice President, EA
2012 Mass Effect 3 Co-founder BioWare, BioWare MMO Business Unit General Manager, BioWare Austin General Manager, Vice President, EA

Awards and recognition

At the Game Developers Choice Awards, on March 27, 2013, Zeschuk received the Lifetime Achievement Award.[2]

On December 27, 2018, Zeschuk was appointed to the Order of Canada.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 "ON GREG". Greg Zeschuk Official. 18 September 2012. Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  2. 1 2 Makuch, Eddie (11 February 2013). "BioWare founders getting Lifetime Achievement Award". Gamespot. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Governor General announces 103 new appointments to the Order of Canada". The Governor General of Canada. 21 December 2018.
  4. ↑ Waldman, Debby (22 February 2022). "From BioWare to Beer: How Greg Zeschuk Makes Dreams Come True". Wired. Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  5. 1 2 Ewalt, David (2011-06-27). "Obsessed With Imagination: BioWare's Co-Founders On Storytelling And The Future Of Mass Effect". Forbes. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
  6. ↑ Greg Zeschuk (2012-09-18). "FROM GREG ZESCHUK". BioWare. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
  7. ↑ "RAY MUZYKA & GREG ZESCHUK RETIRE". BioWare. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 2013-09-06.
  8. ↑ "IGN - 28. Greg Zeschuk & Ray Muzyka". IGN. Archived from the original on 2014-04-20. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  9. 1 2 Fahs, Travis (21 January 2010). "IGN Presents the History of BioWare". IGN. Archived from the original on 2 January 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  10. 1 2 Crecente, Brian (28 January 2013). "The long, strange journey of BioWare's doctor, developer, beer enthusiast". Polygon. Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  11. 1 2 Keefer, John (31 March 2006). "GameSpy Retro: Developer Origins, Page 12 of 19". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 9 June 2007.
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