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.
Greg Zeschuk | |
|---|---|
 Zeschuk in 2007 | |
| Born | Gregory Zeschuk 1969 |
| Known for | BioWare |
| Awards | Lifetime Achievement Award (Game Developers Choice Awards, 2013)[2] Member of the Order of Canada, 2018[3] |
In 2009, he was chosen by IGN as one of the top 100 game creators of all time alongside Ray Muzyka.[8]
Early life
editZeschuk 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 II computer with a group of his friends.[5]
Founding of BioWare
editZeschuk 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 US 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
edit| 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
editAt 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
edit- ^ a b "ON GREG". Greg Zeschuk Official. 18 September 2012. Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ a b Makuch, Eddie (11 February 2013). "BioWare founders getting Lifetime Achievement Award". Gamespot. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
- ^ a b "Governor General announces 103 new appointments to the Order of Canada". The Governor General of Canada. 21 December 2018. Archived from the original on 19 November 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Greg Zeschuk (2012-09-18). "FROM GREG ZESCHUK". BioWare. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
- ^ "RAY MUZYKA & GREG ZESCHUK RETIRE". BioWare. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 2013-09-06.
- ^ "IGN - 28. Greg Zeschuk & Ray Muzyka". IGN. Archived from the original on 2014-04-20. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
- ^ a b Fahs, Travis (21 January 2010). "IGN Presents the History of BioWare". IGN. Archived from the original on 2 January 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b Keefer, John (31 March 2006). "GameSpy Retro: Developer Origins, Page 12 of 19". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 9 June 2007.
External links
edit- Bioware website
- The Beer Diaries website Archived 2021-01-26 at the Wayback Machine
- Biba Ventures