Will Wright

Profession: Video Game Designer

Biography: Will Wright is best known for creating SimCity and The Sims, a video games in which players manage simulations of individuals, families, and cities.

Wright's interest in games began in his youth with the strategy game Go, and this early fascination with complex systems emerging from simple rules shaped his future work. He studied various subjects in college but did not complete a degree, instead teaching himself programming and creating his first game, "Raid on Bungeling Bay" (1984).

In 1986, Wright met Jeff Braun at a party, leading to the formation of their company, Maxis, in 1987. Wright's breakthrough came with "SimCity" (1989), a game inspired by his enjoyment of creating levels for his previous game. The success of SimCity established Wright as an innovative new game designer.

The 1991 Oakland firestorm, which destroyed Wright's home, partly inspired his next major project. "The Sims" (2000) allowed players to create and control virtual people in a simulated world and became one of the best-selling PC games of all time.

Throughout Wright's career, his approach to game design has been to focus on creating what he calls "possibility spaces." This has led him to create games with simple rules that produce complex systems, allowing players to explore on their own terms and encounter novelty.

In 2009, Wright left Maxis to pursue other projects. He founded the Stupid Fun Club, an entertainment think tank, and later worked on projects like VoxVerse. His contributions to gaming were recognized in 2007 with a BAFTA Fellowship, the first given to a game designer.

Born: January 20, 1960
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Age: 64 years old

Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Pig
Star Sign: Aquarius