Richard Garriott to Recieve Lifetime Achievement Award

GameDev.net has word that Ultima series creator Richard Garriott is set to recieve the Lifetime Achievement award at this year's GDC. From the article: "Son of Skylab and Spacelab astronaut Owen K. Garriott, Richard took an interest in computers at a young age. He began programming games in high school and produced his first published game, Akalabeth, at the age of 19. While attending the University of Texas at Austin, Garriott began developing one of the most successful, longest-running game series of all time: Ultima. Garriott and his brother formed Origin Systems, Inc. to begin publishing their own games, and the company was acquired by Electronic Arts (EA) in 1992."

Huh?

[Anonymous Coward]

He's still alive? I remember killing him a few times throughout the years, bad-ass though he might be.

Truly an American icon.

Bravo!

[Avatar8]

Just look at my handle and you'll get a hint at how much Ultima influenced my life. Garriott deserves this and so much more recognition. He truly was a pioneer and an inovator before all others in this industry.

I recall playing Ultima IV, my first Ultima, on an Apple ][. I created a notebook to keep up with clues. As later versions came out, I purchased them, played them and stored them away. I went back and found all the previous games (even an original) as well and played them. My wall is covered will all of the cloth maps from all of the Ultima games. I have a bag containing all the trinkets. All the boxes line my bookshelf. I have a certificate signed by Lord British himself stating that I was the first to complete Ultima VI. I'm even immortalized in Ultima VII. You can find my gravestone in Skara Brae stating (in Britannic runes of course)"Here lies Phaltran who is *my real name*."

Did I mention I'm an Ultima fanatic? I don't fawn over celebrities. When I met Leonard Nimoy, Walter Koenig and Robert Picardo, I was pleased but not awed. If I ever get to meet Richard in person, I'll likely sound like a blithering idiot for stating something similar to this post.

The Virtues of the Avatar changed my life. They gave me a belief system that I could never find in religion. Shortly after discovering Ultima, I discovered Renaissance Faires. They went hand in hand. I have several costumes and accessories modeled after Avatar outfits. I bring my Avatar to life when I'm at Faire. I view all of these as positive impact on my life and I thank Richard for creating worlds that provided this.

Congratulations, Lord British. Well deserved recognition. Kudos all around.

What would a /. post be without humor? -> I certainly hope at this moment some EA executive is kicking him/herself in the ass for letting Richard leave Origin, for letting UO sink into ruination and for lacking the vision and leadership skills that Richard Garriott possesses.