Greg Zeschuk
General manager at BioWare Austin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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] Zeschuk is also the chairman of the board of the smart playground technology startup, Biba Ventures based in Vancouver, BC.
Member of the Order of Canada, 2018[3]
Greg Zeschuk | |
|---|---|
Zeschuk in 2007 | |
| Born | Gregory Zeschuk 1969 (age 56–57) |
| 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
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 II 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 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
| 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]