Brad Wardell

Brad Wardell
Born
Bradley R. Wardell

(1971-06-24) June 24, 1971 (age 53)[1]
Texas[2]
Alma materWestern Michigan University
Occupation(s)CEO, founder of Stardock Corporation
Websitehttp://www.littletinyfrogs.com

Bradley R. Wardell (born June 24, 1971[1]) is an American businessman, programmer, author and AI engineer. He is the founder, president, and chief executive officer[3] of Stardock, a software development and computer games company.

Career

Early career

Wardell graduated from Western Michigan University in 1994 with a degree in Electronic Engineering, specializing in Computer Engineering.[4][5]

Wardell was involved in the design and implementation of Galactic Civilizations for OS/2, one of the platform's few games.[6] He led development of OS/2 Essentials, followed by Object Desktop, a package of utilities and desktop enhancements.[7]

When the OS/2 market collapsed, he shifted Stardock to Windows, heading development of PC game Entrepreneur (now The Corporate Machine) while coordinating the creation of WindowBlinds and other Object Desktop components.

Wardell designed Galactic Civilizations for Windows and its sequel, which became GameSpy's Game of the Year.[8] He subsequently designed The Political Machine and Elemental, as well as two expansions (Dark Avatar and Twilight of the Arnor) to Galactic Civilizations II.[9] In the mid 2000s, Wardell continued to focused on the development of artificial intelligence and game mechanics for turn-based strategy games.[10] In 2012 he was the producer of Elemental: Fallen Enchantress.

Computer customization

Wardell is co-founder and webmaster of WinCustomize, a site specializing in the distribution of skins and themes for computer software. Wardell was a designer of OS customization programs such as WindowBlinds,[11] Fences (software), and Object Desktop.[12][13] He was a regular on the PowerUser.TV podcast,[14] run by WinCustomize and Neowin,[15] and organized the GUI Olympics (later GUI Championships), a semi-annual skinning competition starting in 2002.[16]

Video games

Wardell has programmed, designed or executive produced a substantial number of video games and is regularly interviewed by game industry sites regarding his views on technology, game publishing and trends.[17][18][19][20][21] His particular expertise has focused on parallel computing, AI, graphics APIs and strategy games.[22][23][24][25][26][27][28] He has also presented at the Game Developer's Conference several times on topics ranging from code optimization to disasters in publishing.[29][30][31]

Wardell takes an approach to game development allowing users to view and influence the process of making games.[32][33] Wardell is credited with multiple game projects either as a game designer or as an executive producer.[34] Wardell is also an advocate for consumer rights for software and game customers and published the Gamer's Bill of Rights.[35][36][37]

As designer

As Executive Producer

Digital Distribution

Wardell was an early pioneer of digital distribution of games and software, despite the potential for software piracy.[40] Wardell was an early adopter of digital distribution culminating with the Impulse (software) sales platform.[41] While recognizing copyright infringement as an issue, he felt that efforts to prevent it ended up making software more frustrating for legitimate customers.[42] To this end, Wardell created a "Gamers Bill of Rights," released at PAX 2008.[43][44][45] Gas Powered Games' Chris Taylor – who was working with Stardock on Demigod at the time – called the bill "an awesome framework for the industry to aspire to."[46] Later, his digital distribution platform, Impulse, was sold to GameStop in 2011.[47][48][49][41]

Co-Founder work

In mid 2013, Stardock announced that it had promoted Derek Paxton to succeed Wardell in the running of Stardock Entertainment in order for Wardell to have more time for other projects.[50] These other projects included co-founding new game studios[51] including Oxide Games and Mohawk Games with Soren Johnson.[52] Wardell's goal was to encourage innovation and empower a new generation of 4X game developers.[53] As part of this endeavor, Wardell founded the Stardock Staffing Company to allow developers and artists to work on projects between a coalition of game studios to provide better job security.[54][55][56]

Author

Wardell wrote the fantasy novel Elemental: Destiny's Embers, published by Del Rey to accompany Elemental: War of Magic. The book is set a thousand years after the Cataclysm, after the time of the game itself,[57] and involves the quest of a former messenger to save mankind from the Fallen.[58] The book came with a coupon to download an exclusive campaign for the game.[59]

Gamergate campaign

Wardell has endorsed several criticisms raised by the Gamergate campaign, stating that "anyone reading the gaming sites has seen the trend over the past few years of activist journalism creeping in".[60] In response to Ashes of the Singularity receiving a 4/10 from GameSpot and 69 out of 100 on Metacritic, Wardell accused journalists of having "some bone to pick with #gamergate", insisting that they "don't take it out on my game's metacritic score".[61][62] Political commentator Milo Yiannopoulos voiced his support for Wardell, describing the media's unfair treatment towards Wardell that eventually led up to Gamergate.[63] Gamergate pioneer James Desborough later noted how many game fans were primed to mistrust the media due to their biased reporting against Wardell, eventually leading to Gamergate.[64]

Awards

Wardell was a member of Crain's Detroit's 40 under 40 in 2003,[65] and has been a finalist for Ernst & Young's Michigan Entrepreneur of the Year in 2002-4 and 2007.[66]

References

  1. ^ a b Brad Wardell, Customize.org profile - Frogboy, archived from the original on 2007-03-17, retrieved 2010-03-21
  2. ^ Brad Wardell (2009-01-29), 25 random facts about me, retrieved 2010-03-21
  3. ^ "30 Stardock Management Page", Stardock, retrieved 2013-03-13
  4. ^ Stardock - Management, Stardock, retrieved 2010-03-21
  5. ^ "Binpress Podcast Episode 24: Brad Wardell of Stardock". binPress. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  6. ^ Andrew Cedotal, "30 Great Gaming Geeks", Geekosystem, archived from the original on 2010-02-16, retrieved 2010-03-03
  7. ^ Stardock's OS/2 history, 2000-10-26, retrieved 2010-03-23
  8. ^ GalCiv II Game of the Year?, GameSpy, archived from the original on 2008-04-08, retrieved 2010-03-24
  9. ^ "Bradley Wardell", MobyGames, retrieved 2010-03-24
  10. ^ Brad Wardell (2006-12-12), Gal Civ II: Dark Avatar AI: How smart can the competition get?, IGN, archived from the original on December 16, 2006, retrieved 2010-03-24
  11. ^ Interview Brad from Stardock at CES about VIsta, 6 January 2007, retrieved 2022-09-30
  12. ^ "EDM/2 - An Interview with Brad Wardell". www.edm2.com. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  13. ^ "Interview with Stardock's Brad Wardell – OSnews". www.osnews.com. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  14. ^ "Galactic Civilizations 3 preview: "We're making the GalCiv 2 that we always wanted"". PCGamesN. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  15. ^ PowerUser.TV (episodes from October 2005 to December 2006)
  16. ^ Brad Wardell (2002-02-02), GUI Olympics 2002 Officially Begins, OSNews, retrieved 2010-03-25
  17. ^ "GDC 2009: Stardock CEO says little games = big business". GameSpot. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  18. ^ "Stardock CEO: Xbox One 'Probably' Has More Than We Know, Excited About Microsoft's GDC Showcase". GamingBolt. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  19. ^ Orland, Kyle (2018-02-28). "War Stories: Brad Wardell on how poor memory management crippled Elemental". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  20. ^ Orland, Kyle (2011-03-01). "Interview: Stardock's Brad Wardell On Taking Impulse: Reactor Free-To". Game Developer. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  21. ^ Eric Caoili (2009-06-02), Wright, Meier, Wardell Added To Intel Game Contest Judges, Gamasutra, retrieved 2010-03-25
  22. ^ "The other Gabe: Stardock CEO Brad Wardell talks independence, feminism, and taking responsibility". PCGamesN. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  23. ^ "Brad Wardell Discusses DirectX 12, Xbox One 'Crumby' Bandwidth & Draw Calls". RedGamingTech. 2015-02-09. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  24. ^ "Stardock CEO Praises DirectX 12 & Mantle, PS4 Fans Will Have Something Exciting To Rejoice About Soon". GamingBolt. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  25. ^ Brad Wardell CEO StarDock Discusses Mantle & DX 12 - Talks Performance & Implementation, 24 June 2014, retrieved 2022-09-30
  26. ^ "News - Brad Wardell Claims DirectX 12 Will Usher In A New Era Of Gaming discussion page 2". Game-Debate. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  27. ^ Fifelski, Anna (March 26, 2024). "'We're the most famous company you've never heard of': A conversation with Michigan's oldest video game developer".
  28. ^ Takahashi, Dean (2024-09-04). "How The Political Machine lets you roll the dice on Kamala Harris vs. Donald Trump | Brad Wardell". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  29. ^ "2009 Independent Games Summit Announces First Speakers". Game Developers Conference. 2008-11-23. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  30. ^ "Stardock's Wardell: Hardcore PC Games Still Viable". Shacknews. 24 March 2009. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  31. ^ "(304) Stardock On The PC Hardcore Scene As Indie". www.gdcvault.com. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  32. ^ Brad Wardell (2006-03-14), Implementing feedback, retrieved 2010-03-23
  33. ^ Spencer Scott (2009-05-27), Demigod 108 Hour Work Week - Part 1, retrieved 2010-03-25
  34. ^ "Bradley Wardell". Moby Games. 29 December 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  35. ^ Remo, Chris (2008-08-29). "The Gamer's Bill Of Rights: Stardock's Wardell Explains". Game Developer. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  36. ^ Rosenberg, Dave. "The Gamer's Bill of Rights applies to software users as well". CNET. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  37. ^ Sherwood, James. "PC Gamers get Bill of Rights". www.theregister.com. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  38. ^ Frank, Annalise (May 2, 2024). "Real data backs Plymouth-made presidential campaign game". Axios. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  39. ^ Takahashi, Dean (May 8, 2024). "The Political Machine 2024 simulates the race for the White House". VentureBeat. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  40. ^ Christian Nutt (2008-04-07), "Q&A: Stardock's Wardell Talks Distribution Revolution With Impulse", Gamasutra, retrieved 2010-03-24
  41. ^ a b "Behind the pixels: Stardock portfolio grows with winning video games". The Blade. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  42. ^ Kris Graft (2008-10-24), "Stardock's Copyright Security Solution", EDGE, archived from the original on 2013-01-15, retrieved 2010-03-24
  43. ^ Brad Wardell (2008-09-04), The Gamers Bill, Stardock, archived from the original on 2010-03-27, retrieved 2010-03-24
  44. ^ Brad Wardell (2008-08-29), "The Gamer's Bill of Rights", EDGE, archived from the original on 2012-09-04, retrieved 2010-03-24
  45. ^ "Stardock Releases Gamer's Bill of Rights at PAX", GamePolitics.com, 2008-08-29, archived from the original on 2010-02-27, retrieved 2010-03-24
  46. ^ Michael Fahey (2008-08-29), "The PC Gamer's Bill of Rights", Kotaku, retrieved 2010-03-24
  47. ^ "Stardock's CEO on the Impulse/GameStop deal". Destructoid. 2011-04-09. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  48. ^ "Why Stardock Sold Impulse to GameStop". The Escapist. 2011-04-07. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  49. ^ "Stardock's Brad Wardell talks about selling Impulse to GameStop". Engadget. April 2011. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  50. ^ Leana Hafer (2013-09-09). "Interview: Derek Paxton, Stardock's new head of games development". PC Gamer.
  51. ^ "Oxide Games is a new studio of strategy veterans, with a new 64-bit engine". 2013-10-23.
  52. ^ Valdes, Giancarlo (2015-05-21). "Stardock CEO: In the future, publishers will be partners — and not owners". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  53. ^ "CEO Brad Wardell on Stardock's big picture: strategic development and rise of the managers". PCGamesN. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  54. ^ "Stardock creates staffing company to avoid cyclical layoffs". Engadget. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  55. ^ Graft, Kris (2013-12-05). "In the fight for job stability, Stardock finds its own solution". Game Developer. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  56. ^ "Stardock sets up talent sharing company". GamesIndustry.biz. 2013-12-05. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  57. ^ Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg (2010-03-01), "Random House Sets Out to Apply Storytelling Skills to Videogames", The Wall Street Journal, retrieved 2010-03-01
  58. ^ "Elemental - Purchase". Stardock. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  59. ^ Rainier (2010-08-24). "'Elemental: War of Magic' Free DLC With Novel Purchase". Worthplaying. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  60. ^ "Brad Wardell GamerGate Interview". The Escapist. Archived from the original on 2016-08-18. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  61. ^ Phil Owen (2016-04-25). "Bias, Video Game Reviews and 'Ashes of the Singularity'". Yahoo!.
  62. ^ Katherine Cross (2016-05-12). "Opinion: Death to review scores". Game Developer.
  63. ^ Milo Yiannopoulos (2017). Dangerous. Threshold Editions. ISBN 978-0-692-89344-9.
  64. ^ James Desborough (2017). Inside Gamergate : a social history of the gamer revolt. Lulu.com. pp. 126–131. ISBN 978-0-244-62772-0.
  65. ^ Andrew Dietderich (2003-09-29), "40 under 40", Detroit Business News, Crain Communications, retrieved 2010-03-21
  66. ^ Frank Maselli (July 2007), "2007 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Brad Wardell, Star Player", Smart Business Detroit, retrieved 2010-03-22[dead link‍]