Paul Reiche III
Encyclopedia
Paul Reiche III is a game designer, particularly for computer games. Reiche is best known for being the co-creator, together with Fred Ford, of the Star Control
universe.
(D&D) artist Erol Otus
, Reiche became interested in gaming as a teen. He and Otus played role-playing game
s together and released a few small games in the genre. Eventually, both wound up at TSR
(the then publisher of D&D). They made contributions to the evolving game and other games by TSR, Otus with artwork, Reiche with game design (primarily on D&D and Gamma World
). Reiche's credits as developer include Isle of Dread
, Slave Pits of the Undercity and Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords
, and The Ghost Tower of Inverness, and he also contributed to Gary Gygax
's Legion of Gold for Gamma World. Reiche also invented the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons race of Thri-kreen
Mantis warriors, which debuted in the second set of Monster Cards
.
(EA). Reiche worked on Mail Order Monsters
, the Archon series and the Starflight
series of computer games. Reiche was one of the co-founders of Free Fall Associates
, the co-developer
of the Archon series of games.
After his stint at EA, Reiche formed Toys for Bob
with Fred Ford, and created Star Control
. While Reiche did the game design
and fiction
, Ford was responsible for the programming
. After publishing it, Accolade contracted with Reiche and Ford to develop the sequel, Star Control II
. Reiche's friend, Otus, provided at least one illustration for the sequel's manual.
Reiche is currently the CEO
and Director of Development of Toys For Bob
, which was acquired by Activision
in 2005. On February 12, 2011, it was revealed that Toys for Bob has been working on Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure
, with Reiche acting as Creative Director.
Reiche is listed in the credits for ToeJam & Earl
under "Invaluable Help", as well as in "Inspiration" section of credits for Strange Adventures in Infinite Space
.
Star Control
Star Control is a science fiction computer game that was developed by Toys for Bob and published by Accolade in the early 1990s. Star Control still enjoys a cult following...
universe.
Pen and paper RPGs
A childhood friend of early Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
(D&D) artist Erol Otus
Erol Otus
Erol Otus is an American artist and game designer, known internationally for his contributions to the fantasy RPG genre, most notably for the early Dungeons & Dragons franchise...
, Reiche became interested in gaming as a teen. He and Otus played role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
s together and released a few small games in the genre. Eventually, both wound up at TSR
TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
(the then publisher of D&D). They made contributions to the evolving game and other games by TSR, Otus with artwork, Reiche with game design (primarily on D&D and Gamma World
Gamma World
Gamma World is a science fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by James M. Ward and Gary Jaquet, and first published by TSR in 1978. It borrowed heavily from James M. Ward's earlier product, Metamorphosis Alpha.-Setting:...
). Reiche's credits as developer include Isle of Dread
Isle of Dread
The Isle of Dread is an adventure for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The adventure, module code X1, was originally published in 1981. Written by David "Zeb" Cook, and Tom Moldvay, it is among the most widely circulated of all Dungeons & Dragons adventures due to its inclusion as part of...
, Slave Pits of the Undercity and Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords
Scourge of the Slave Lords
Scourge of the Slave Lords is an adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published by TSR, Inc. in 1986...
, and The Ghost Tower of Inverness, and he also contributed to Gary Gygax
Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
's Legion of Gold for Gamma World. Reiche also invented the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons race of Thri-kreen
Thri-kreen
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the thri-kreen, or "mantis warriors", are an insect-like monstrous humanoid race. Thri-kreen are one of the primary player character races of the Dark Sun campaign setting, and have also appeared in the Spelljammer and Forgotten Realms campaign...
Mantis warriors, which debuted in the second set of Monster Cards
Monster Cards
Monster Cards is an accessory for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:The Monster Cards were a DM's aid, with each set containing twenty 3" by 5" cards, each with a color monster illustration on one side and statistics on the other side...
.
Computer RPGs
Eventually Reiche left TSR to work on computer games with Electronic ArtsElectronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
(EA). Reiche worked on Mail Order Monsters
Mail Order Monsters
Mail Order Monsters is a 1985 computer game created by Paul Reiche III, Evan Robinson and Nicky Robinson and published by Electronic Arts for the Commodore 64 and Atari 8-bit family home computers....
, the Archon series and the Starflight
Starflight
Starflight is a computer game published by Electronic Arts and developed by Binary Systems in 1986. Originally developed for DOS and Tandy, it was later released for the Amiga, Atari ST, Macintosh and Commodore 64...
series of computer games. Reiche was one of the co-founders of Free Fall Associates
Free Fall Associates
Free Fall Associates was a computer game developer of the 1980s and early 1990s. It was founded in 1981 by Jon Freeman, his wife, game programmer Anne Westfall, and game designer Paul Reiche III...
, the co-developer
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
of the Archon series of games.
After his stint at EA, Reiche formed Toys for Bob
Toys For Bob
Toys For Bob is a small video game developer founded in 1989 by Paul Reiche III and Fred Ford. They are most known for creating Star Control and its sequel Star Control II: The Ur-Quan Masters, but they were not involved in the development of Star Control 3...
with Fred Ford, and created Star Control
Star Control
Star Control is a science fiction computer game that was developed by Toys for Bob and published by Accolade in the early 1990s. Star Control still enjoys a cult following...
. While Reiche did the game design
Game design
Game design, a subset of game development, is the process of designing the content and rules of a game in the pre-production stage and design of gameplay, environment, storyline, and characters during production stage. The term is also used to describe both the game design embodied in a game as...
and fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
, Ford was responsible for the programming
Game programmer
A game programmer is a software engineer, programmer, or computer scientist who primarily develops codebase for video games or related software, such as game development tools. Game programming has many specialized disciplines all of which fall under the umbrella term of "game programmer"...
. After publishing it, Accolade contracted with Reiche and Ford to develop the sequel, Star Control II
Star Control II
Star Control II: The Ur-Quan Masters is a critically acclaimed science fiction computer game, the second game in the Star Control trilogy. It was developed by Toys for Bob and originally published by Accolade in 1992 for PC; it was later ported to the 3DO with an enhanced multimedia presentation,...
. Reiche's friend, Otus, provided at least one illustration for the sequel's manual.
Reiche is currently the CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
and Director of Development of Toys For Bob
Toys For Bob
Toys For Bob is a small video game developer founded in 1989 by Paul Reiche III and Fred Ford. They are most known for creating Star Control and its sequel Star Control II: The Ur-Quan Masters, but they were not involved in the development of Star Control 3...
, which was acquired by Activision
Activision
Activision is an American publisher, majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SA. Its current CEO is Robert Kotick. It was founded on October 1, 1979 and was the world's first independent developer and distributor of video games for gaming consoles...
in 2005. On February 12, 2011, it was revealed that Toys for Bob has been working on Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure
Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure
Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure is a spin-off game in the Spyro series. It was published by Activision and developed by Toys for Bob. Vicarious Visions developed the Nintendo 3DS release. It was released on October 12, 2011 in Australia for the PC and October 13, 2011 on other consoles. The game was...
, with Reiche acting as Creative Director.
Reiche is listed in the credits for ToeJam & Earl
ToeJam & Earl
ToeJam & Earl is an action video game developed by Johnson Voorsanger Productions and published by Sega for the Mega Drive video game console. Released in 1991, it centers on the titular ToeJam and Earl—alien rappers who have crash-landed on Earth. As they attempt to escape the planet, players...
under "Invaluable Help", as well as in "Inspiration" section of credits for Strange Adventures in Infinite Space
Strange Adventures in Infinite Space
Strange Adventures In Infinite Space is a hybrid strategy/adventure computer game. It was created by the independent game development group Digital Eel. In the game players explore a "plausibly implausible" region of the Milky Way galaxy called The Purple Void.Unlike "one time through" story...
.
External links
- Reiche's profile on MobyGamesMobyGames-Platforms not yet included:- Further reading :* Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media; 2 edition , ISBN 0-07-223172-6...
- Everything to know about Reiche, from everything2.com
- Interview with Reiche by GameSpotGameSpotGameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
- Paul Reiche's feed on TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...