Warren Spector

Spector grew up in Manhattan, which he described as a sometimes hostile environment where "short, pudgy, Jewish kids didn't fare well". He showed an intense devotion to whatever topic became his focus at any given time, from dinosaurs and airplanes as a small boy, to an interest in law by the sixth grade. At age 13, Spector had decided he wanted to be a film critic, and by high school, his interests expanded to include cars and basketball.

Spector and game designer Greg Costikyan were friends since high school.{{Cite web |date=2003-04-07 |title=Games * Design * Art * Culture |url=http://www.costik.com/weblog/2003_03_01_blogchive.html#90613444 |access-date=2021-12-18 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030407062255/http://www.costik.com/weblog/2003_03_01_blogchive.html#90613444 |archive-date=7 April 2003 |url-status=dead}}

Spector attended Northwestern University in Illinois, still intending to become a film critic, stating that he "knew more about movies than a lot of my teachers". Spector earned his BS in Communications at Northwestern, and went on to earn his MA in Radio-TV-Film at the University of Texas at Austin in 1980. His thesis was a critical history of Warner Bros. cartoons.{{Cite web |date=September 6, 2007 |title=AGDC: The Warren Spector Interview |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/agdc-the-warren-spector-interview}}

All through college, Spector enjoyed gaming, and recalls that he "played Avalon Hill games mainly, and a lot of OGRE and G.E.V. games, and Rivets from Metagaming. It was all boardgames until I became friends with science-fiction writers who were into D&D games, so I gave the game a try. I was hooked." Spector taught several undergraduate classes at the University of Texas at Austin, on the history, theory, and criticism of film.

In 1983, after a job at the Harry Ransom Center as an archivist in charge of the David O. Selznick collection ended after a few months, Spector recalls that he "was sitting around, wondering how I was going to pay the next month's rent, when I got a call from Chris Frink. He was a writer for a weekly entertainment magazine I used to edit in college. Anyway, he said that he was now editor of Space Gamer magazine and asked if I wanted a job. So, in the fall of 1983, I started as an editor." Within a short time, Spector became the editor-in-chief for all Steve Jackson Games products, the company that owned and published Space Gamer magazine. Spector began producing role-playing games for the company, stating, "I supervised game development, typesetting, and the art and graphic departments." Greg Costikyan developed Toon (1984), based on an idea by Jeff Dee; Costikyan only intended the game to be an article in Fantasy Gamer magazine, but Spector liked the idea and expanded it into a complete role-playing system, publishing it as the first full role-playing game from Steve Jackson Games.{{Cite book |last=Shannon Appelcline |title=Designers & Dragons |publisher=Mongoose Publishing |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-907702-58-7}}{{rp|104}} Spector wrote the early Paranoia game supplement Send in the Clones (1985) with Allen Varney.{{rp|189}} Spector also worked on the GURPS role-playing game.{{Cite book |last=Spector |first=Warren |title=Hobby Games: The 100 Best |publisher=Green Ronin Publishing |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-932442-96-0 |editor-last=Lowder |editor-first=James |editor-link=James Lowder |pages=322–326 |chapter=Tikal}} In March 1987 he was hired by TSR, initially working on games such as Top Secret/S.I. and the Marvel Super Heroes role-playing game. He also worked on The Bullwinkle and Rocky Party Roleplaying Game, and the second edition AD&D rules set, as well as board games, choose-your-own-adventure books, and novels. Spector spent some time in TSR's research and development department, helping launch, among other things, Spelljammer.{{citation needed|date=July 2014}}

In 1989, Spector entered the video game industry and joined Origin, where he co-produced Ultima VI and Wing Commander and produced Ultima Underworld and Ultima Underworld II, Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle, System Shock, Wings of Glory, Bad Blood, Martian Dreams, and others.{{sfn|Spector|2000|p=50}} He later became general manager of Looking Glass Austin. He worked briefly on Dark Camelot, which later became Thief: The Dark Project.{{citation needed|date=July 2014}} However, Spector left Looking Glass soon afterward, just before Thief shipped, to pursue other interests.{{Cite AV media |last=G4Icons |title=G4 Icons Episode #30: Warren Spector |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUD12IjuVBc |via=YouTube |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/QUD12IjuVBc| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live |access-date=13 August 2015 }}{{cbignore}} According to Spector, his decision to dissolve the Austin branch was prompted by the company's ongoing financial struggles and the realization that "continued existence of the Austin Studio was going to jeopardise the existence of Looking Glass overall".{{Cite magazine |last=Lane |first=Rick |date=16 February 2018 |title=The History of Ion Storm |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-history-of-ion-storm/ |magazine=PC Gamer |access-date=8 February 2020}}

In 1996, Spector was about to sign a contract with EA to do an unannounced project (which was revealed to be a "Command & Conquer Role-Playing Game") when he got a call from John Romero to join him at Ion Storm; Romero persuaded Spector by offering him the chance to make the game of his dreams with no creative interference and a big marketing budget. Spector later agreed.{{Cite web |last=Game Informer |title=Replay - Deus Ex |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOPHmbulMp4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/HOPHmbulMp4| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|access-date=13 August 2015 |website=YouTube|date=August 18, 2012 }}{{cbignore}} In 1997 he founded Ion Storm's Austin development studio, and his "dream project" later became the award-winning action/RPG called Deus Ex.{{sfn|Spector|2000|p=50}} As Ion Storm studio director, he oversaw development of Deus Ex: Invisible War (2003) and Thief: Deadly Shadows (2004). In 2004, Spector left Ion Storm to "pursue personal interests outside the company".{{Cite web |last=Tor Thorsen |title=Warren Spector exits Eidos |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/11/08/news_6112661.html |access-date=2007-05-04 |website=GameSpot }} Ion Storm was closed by owners Eidos Interactive in February 2005.{{Cite web |last=Tor Thorsen |title=Ion Storm closes its doors |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ion-storm-closes-its-doors/1100-6118364/ |access-date=2007-05-05 |website=GameSpot }}

File:11.30.10WarrenSpectorPeterDavidByLuigiNovi.jpg at the November 30, 2010 Times Square Disney Store launch party for Epic Mickey for which David wrote two tie-in productsTong, Sophia. [http://www.gamespot.com/news/6270901.html "Peter David penning Epic Mickey digicomic, graphic novel"], Gamespot, July 24, 2010Gonzalez, Annette. [https://gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/07/25/epic-mickey-comics-unveiled.aspx "Peter David To Pen Epic Mickey Graphic Novel, Digicomic"], Game Informer, July 25, 2010{{Cite web|url=http://www.peterdavid.net/index.php/2010/11/30/note-the-lack-of-corner/comment-page-1/#comment-228067 | last = David | first = Peter | title= Note the Lack of Corner|publisher=Peterdavid.net |date=November 30, 2010}}]]

In 2005, it was announced that he had established a new studio Junction Point Studios.{{Cite web |last=Curt Feldman & Tor Thorsen |title=Warren Spector resurfaces at Junction Point |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/03/08/news_6119959.html |access-date=2007-05-05 |website=GameSpot }} Somewhere between the end of 2005 and mid-2007, Junction Point Studios and Warren worked on an additional Episode for Half-Life 2 that was ultimately cancelled by Valve.{{Cite web |last=Rick Lane |date=8 November 2017 |title=Warren Spector discusses his cancelled Half-Life 2 Ravenholm Episode |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/warren-spector-discusses-a-return-to-ravenholm-in-his-cancelled-half-life-2-episode/ |access-date=2017-11-08 |website=PC Gamer }} A job advertisement for the studio called for artists for a game that has "classic Hollywood cartoons" featuring "cartoon mice, cats and wabbits".{{citation needed|date=September 2014}} On July 13, 2007, it was announced that Disney Interactive had acquired Junction Point Studios.{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Matt |date=2007-07-13 |title=Disney swoops for Spector's Junction Point Studios |work=GamesIndustry.biz |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=26712 |access-date=2007-08-18}} His first project with Disney Interactive was a project involving Disney characters, titled Epic Mickey. The game is steampunk-themed and designed exclusively for the Wii;{{Cite web |last=Thomas M |title='Epic Mickey' Spector's first Disney effort? |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/blogs/rumor-control/909119209/26978344/epic-mickey-spectors-first-disney-effort.html |access-date=2009-07-29 |website=GameSpot }} the game was released in 2010.{{Cite web |title=Nintendo - Disney Epic Mickey |url=https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/osshDungP8SzxKw_vltZVsN0hPci9enp |access-date=19 May 2015 |website=Nintendo |ref=nintendoepicmickey |archive-date=May 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520110906/http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/osshDungP8SzxKw_vltZVsN0hPci9enp |url-status=dead }}

In January 2013, it was announced that Warren Spector had left Disney Interactive following the closure of Junction Point Studios.{{Cite web |last=Michael McWhertor |date=29 January 2013 |title=Warren Spector no longer with Disney after Junction Point closure |url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/1/29/3929010/warren-spector-no-longer-with-disney-after-junction-point-closure |access-date=2013-06-01 |website=Polygon}}

After leaving Disney Interactive, Spector worked with the University of Texas at Austin to build a new post-baccalaureate game development program – the Denius-Sams Gaming Academy. He worked with UT staff to create a curriculum and plan out courses and labs.{{Cite web |last=Spector |first=Warren |date=10 May 2007 |title=About 2 |url=https://warrenspector.wordpress.com/about-2/ |access-date=28 June 2015 |website=Gaming The System}}

In February 2016, Spector announced he had joined OtherSide Entertainment, a studio formed by Paul Neurath in 2014 and includes several previous Looking Glass developers, as their Studio Director, after having been in an advisory role from its inception. He will be helping the studio with their current development of System Shock 3 and Underworld Ascendant, the spiritual successor to Ultima Underworld which both Spector and Neurath worked on in the early 1990s.{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Adam |date=February 17, 2016 |title=Warren Spector Working On System Shock 3 |work=Rock Paper Shotgun |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/02/17/warren-spector-system-shock-3/ |access-date=February 17, 2016}} Though Spector had completed only two-and-a-half years of a three-year commitment to the University of Texas, he jumped at the chance to work on System Shock when Neurath approached him with the offer. He also believed the opportunity would help garner good favor from players that had been disappointed by his choice to work on Epic Mickey, even though he states that game had still been based on his past design philosophy used in the development of System Shock and Deus Ex.{{Cite magazine |last=Kohler |first=Chris |date=February 18, 2016 |title=How System Shock Lured Warren Spector Back To Making Games |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/02/warren-spector-system-shock-3/ |magazine=Wired |access-date=February 18, 2016}} OtherSide Entertainment announced in November 2022 that Spector is working on a multiplayer game with immersive sim elements entitled Argos: Riders on the Storm, based on an original intellectual property.{{Cite web |last=McCaffrey |first=Ryan |date=2022-11-04 |title=Legendary Designer Warren Spector on His Return to AAA Gaming With Argos: Riders on the Storm |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/legendary-designer-warren-spector-on-his-return-to-aaa-gaming-with-argos-riders-on-the-storm |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=IGN |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-03-12 |title=How Warren Spector got back to making his latest game |url=https://venturebeat.com/2022/03/12/how-warren-spector-got-back-to-making-his-latest-game/ |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}}

Spector met Caroline Skelley in 1984 at a comic book store in Austin, Texas, where she was employed. After Skelley got a job at Steve Jackson Games, she and Spector began a relationship. They were married on April 11, 1987. The couple sometimes worked together, such as on game supplements for the Marvel Super Heroes role-playing game. The two reside in Austin, Texas. Caroline is a fantasy writer.

{{category see also|Warren Spector games}}

• Toon – Developer (1984), Steve Jackson Games
• Bullwinkle and Rocky Role-Playing Party Game – Editor (1988), TSR, Inc.
• Uncanny X-Men Boxed Set – Editor (1990), TSR, Inc.

• Double Agent: Royal Pain/The Hollow Earth Affair by Richard Merwin/Warren Spector {{ISBN|0-88038-551-0}}

• DuckTales – Boom! Studios – (2011)

• One Thing After Another – Puffin Books – (Marvel Super Heroes Gamebook #5){{Cite tweet |number=679371206995374080 |user=JoseZagal |title=Time to get back to the classics... :-) Thanks @Warren_Spector ! |author=Jose Zagal |date=22 December 2015}}{{Cite tweet |number=679646997645676544 |user=Warren_Spector |title=@JoseZagal Here's a picture of Stan Lee autographing a copy of One Thing After Another. A big, big moment for me! |author=Warren Spector |date=23 December 2015}}

On 2016, Spector won the Honorific Award at the Fun & Serious Game Festival.{{Cite web |date=December 2016 |title=Fun&Serious: las múltiples caras del videojuego |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/tecnologia/videojuegos/20161201/412310858846/fun-and-serious-2016-multiples-caras-del-videojuego-reportaje.html |access-date=8 July 2019}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{Cite journal |last=Spector |first=Warren |author-link=Warren Spector |date=November 2000 |title=Postmortem: Ion Storm's Deus Ex |url=http://twvideo01.ubm-us.net/o1/vault/GD_Mag_Archives/GDM_November_2000.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Game Developer |publisher=UBM TechWeb |pages=50–58 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928191910/http://twvideo01.ubm-us.net/o1/vault/GD_Mag_Archives/GDM_November_2000.pdf |archive-date=September 28, 2013 |access-date=July 4, 2014}}

{{Refend}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://junctionpoint.wordpress.com/ Junction Point Studios developer blog (usually Warren Spector, but sometimes other team members)]
• [http://www.junctionpoint.com/ Junction Point Studios, Inc. official website]
• {{MobyGames developer|id=127}}
• {{IMDb name|id=0998582}}
• {{cite magazine |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/6/3 |archive-date=April 27, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427054727/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/6/3 |title=Licensing: Live with it |first=Allen |last=Varney |authorlink=Allen Varney |magazine=The Escapist |volume=6 |issue=3 |language=en |access-date=7 July 2023 }}
• [http://www.gamespot.com/news/6139443.html Spector on Grand Theft Auto and video game violence]
• [http://www.bootstrike.com/Ultima7si/Online/spec.html Interview with Warren Spector about Ultima VII: Serpents Isle]
• {{cite interview |first=Warren |last=Spector |interviewer=Kristan Reed |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=65751 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011010236/http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=65751 |archivedate=2007-10-11 |title=Warren Spector on game development |work=Eurogamer |date=27 Jun 2006 |language=en |access-date=7 July 2023 }}
• {{Cite web |title=Warren Spector :: Pen & Paper RPG Database |url=http://www.pen-paper.net:80/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=919 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050310234402/http://www.pen-paper.net:80/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=919 |archive-date=2005-03-10}}
• {{Triangulation|1}}

{{Ion Storm}}

{{Looking Glass Studios}}

{{Ultima}}

{{Origin Systems}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spector, Warren}}

Category:1955 births

Category:20th-century American Jews

Category:20th-century American male writers

Category:20th-century American novelists

Category:21st-century American Jews

Category:American male novelists

Category:American video game designers

Category:American video game producers

Category:Designers from Manhattan

Category:Dungeons & Dragons game designers

Category:Game Developers Conference Lifetime Achievement Award recipients

Category:GURPS writers

Category:Living people

Category:Moody College of Communication alumni

Category:Northwestern University alumni

Category:Origin Systems people

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:Ultima (series)

Category:Writers from Manhattan