Erik Bethke
Encyclopedia
Erik Bethke is a computer games designer.
Bethke worked on UV Spectrometer experiments under Dr. D.E. Shemanksy at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
and the University of Southern California
, but did not complete his PhD studies in Space Sciences.
He began a career in the games industry working on GoPets, GoDance, Star Trek: Starfleet Command
, Star Trek: Starfleet Command II: Empires at War and Star Trek: Starfleet Command: Orion Pirates
.
His first book, Game Development and Production, describing the methodology of creating games; was edited by Ray Muzyka
and Greg Zeschuk
, Co-CEOs of Bioware
. A sunsequent book, Settlers of the New Virtual Worlds, co-edited with Erin Hoffman, explored human and property rights in virtual worlds, and highlighted current End User License Agreements (EULAs).
In 2003 Bethke moved to Seoul, Korea and founded GoPets, Ltd., returning to the US after 5 years. He currently works for the social gaming company Zynga
on the game Mafia Wars
.
Bethke worked on UV Spectrometer experiments under Dr. D.E. Shemanksy at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center located in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The facility is headquartered in the city of Pasadena on the border of La Cañada Flintridge and Pasadena...
and the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, but did not complete his PhD studies in Space Sciences.
He began a career in the games industry working on GoPets, GoDance, Star Trek: Starfleet Command
Star Trek: Starfleet Command
Star Trek: Starfleet Command is a computer game based on the table-top wargame Star Fleet Battles. It simulates starship operations, and ship-to-ship combat and fleet warfare in the Star Trek universe....
, Star Trek: Starfleet Command II: Empires at War and Star Trek: Starfleet Command: Orion Pirates
Star Trek: Starfleet Command: Orion Pirates
Starfleet Command: Orion Pirates is a stand-alone expansion for the computer game Star Trek Starfleet Command II: Empires at War designed by Erik Bethke. The game adds eight separate playable pirate cartels based on the Orion Pirates, who had been frequently fought throughout the earlier games. It...
.
His first book, Game Development and Production, describing the methodology of creating games; was edited by Ray Muzyka
Ray Muzyka
Dr. Ray Muzyka is a Canadian entrepreneur. He is the CEO at BioWare Corp as well as a Senior Vice President and Group General Manager of the BioWare RPG/MMO Group of Electronic Arts at BioWare's parent company Electronic Arts.-Career:Muzyka co-founded BioWare in...
and Greg Zeschuk
Greg Zeschuk
Dr. Gregory P. Zeschuk is a VP and Group Creative Officer at BioWare Corp. and Electronic Arts. He co-founded BioWare in 1995 with BioWare’s other co-founder and Group GM/CEO, Dr...
, Co-CEOs of Bioware
BioWare
BioWare is a Canadian video game developer founded in February 1995 by newly graduated medical doctors Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuk, and Augustine Yip. BioWare is currently owned by American company Electronic Arts...
. A sunsequent book, Settlers of the New Virtual Worlds, co-edited with Erin Hoffman, explored human and property rights in virtual worlds, and highlighted current End User License Agreements (EULAs).
In 2003 Bethke moved to Seoul, Korea and founded GoPets, Ltd., returning to the US after 5 years. He currently works for the social gaming company Zynga
Zynga
Zynga is a social network game developer located in San Francisco, United States. The company develops browser-based games that work both stand-alone and as application widgets on social networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace....
on the game Mafia Wars
Mafia Wars
Mafia Wars is a multiplayer Social network game created by Zynga.In Mafia Wars the gamers play as gangsters building their own mafia. The players fight other players online and complete tasks to gain rewards and strength in the game. The game is a freemium game, meaning it is free to play normally...
.