Tim Sweeney (game developer)
Tim Sweeney | |
---|---|
Sweeney presents at the 2016 Game Developers Conference | |
Born |
1970 (age 45–46) Potomac, Maryland, United States |
Occupation | Video game programmer and developer |
Known for | developing the Unreal series of engines |
Tim Sweeney (born in 1970)[1] is an American computer game programmer and the founder of Epic Games, being best known for his work on ZZT and the Unreal Engine.
Sweeney established Epic as a shareware company while he was a student majoring in mechanical engineering at the University of Maryland. He said that he had been interested in game development and computer programming since he was 10 years old,[2] and finally started making games out of his parents' basement where he lived.[3] Epic got its start when Sweeney created ZZT, the company's first game, released as a shareware in 1991. In interviews Sweeney has credited that game's success with fueling the early growth of his company.[4]
Sweeney worked on Epic's Unreal Engine, used in the Unreal series of first-person shooters and multiple other video games.[5][6]
In 2005, Sweeney attended Wake Tech Community College Digital Game Xpo as a guest speaker. He showed a demo of the Unreal Engine and talked about 3D Buzz's book "Mastering Unreal Technology: The Art of Level Design".[7]
On February 9, 2012, Sweeney was inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) Hall of Fame for his technological innovations in the gaming industry.[8][9][10]
On July 10, 2013, Tim and the co-founder of Epic Games, Mark Rein, were named Development Legends at the Develop Industry Excellence Awards.[11][12][13]
References
- ↑ "Features - From The Past To The Future: Tim Sweeney Talks". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
- ↑ "Features - From The Past To The Future: Tim Sweeney Talks". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
- ↑ "Features - From The Past To The Future: Tim Sweeney Talks". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
- ↑ Totilo, Stephen (12 July 2011). "The Quiet Tinkerer Who Makes Games Beautiful Finally Gets His Due". Kotaku. Retrieved 2014-09-06.
- ↑ DeMaria, Rusel; Wilson, Johnny L. (2003). High score!: the illustrated history of electronic games. Computer Games. McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 300. ISBN 0-07-223172-6.
- ↑ "Tim Sweeney is the "co-founder of Epic Games and the brains behind every iteration of the widely licensed Unreal series of 3D game engines"". Arstechnica.com. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
- ↑ "EPIC Games to Demo Unreal Engine 3 at Digital Game Expo in June". Prweb.com. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
- ↑ Epic Games (7 December 2011). "Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Inducts Epic Games' Tim Sweeney to Its Hall of Fame". Epic Games. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
- ↑ Bradford, Matt (8 December 2011). "Epic founder Tim Sweeney named AIAS Hall of Famer". GamesRadar. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
- ↑ "Tim Sweeney Inducted into AIAS Hall of Fame". A. James Clark School of Engineering. 27 January 2012. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
- ↑ Epic Games (23 June 2013). "Tim Sweeney and Mark Rein Named Development Legends at 2013 Develop Industry Excellence Awards". Epic Games. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
- ↑ Sarkar, Samit (27 June 2013). "Epic Games' Tim Sweeney, Mark Rein to receive Develop magazine's Development Legend awards". Polygon. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
- ↑ Freeman, Will (27 June 2013). "Epic's CEO and vice president set for recognition at 2013 Develop Industry Excellence Awards". Develop-Online. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
External links
Media related to Tim Sweeney at Wikimedia Commons
- ZZT group Interactive Fantasies interview with Tim Sweeney (November 17, 2000)
- MobyGames' rap sheet on Sweeney
- Article mentioning Tim Sweeney will be attending 2005 Digital Game Xpo (April 25, 2005)
- Tim Sweeney's talk at POPL06 (January 11-13, 2006)
- TeamXbox interview with Tim Sweeney (February 28, 2008)
- TG Daily interview with Tim Sweeney (March 10, 2008)
- Ars Technica interview with Tim Sweeney (September 14, 2008)
- From The Past To The Future: Tim Sweeney Talks (May 25, 2009)
- Discussion Panel with Tim Sweeney, John Carmack and Johan Andersson (Oct 18, 2013)