Memorials/Bruce Carver

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Bruce Carver
b. 1948

-

d. December 28, 2005

Mobygames page

Game industry innovator and developer Bruce Carver died aged 57 of cancer on the 28th of December, 2005.

Table of contents

[edit] Biography

Bruce Carver was a longtime veteran from the early days of the video and computer game industry. A devoted family man as well as a skilled and innovative engineer who paid close attention to detail, he was 'always seeking the best solution to any problem,' which allowed him to produce many successful designs throughout his long career.

After graduating from Idaho State with a degree in Engineering, Bruce Carver launched Access Software in 1982, where he began developing games for the Commodore 64, starting with now-classic military strategy games like Beach Head. He is most well-known for his work on the pioneering Links golf series and its predecessor, Leader Board, renowned for its solid gameplay as well as its exact and detailed golfing landscapes. The Links series was incredibly influential as the first golf game to include a 'swing-o-meter', a design now standard to most golf and sports games. Access Software also produced several detective-themed graphical text adventure games including Under a Killing Moon (1994).

Microsoft acquired the Salt Lake City-based Access Software in 1999, and Carver continued to work there until 2003, producing Links games. He left to form Carver Homes, a construction company that built award-winning luxury houses to order, and also worked with TrueGolf, who produces large-screen golf simulations for homes. Access Software was sold by Microsoft to Take-Two in 2004 and is now known as Indie Built, Inc., the producers of Amped for the XBox 360.

Bruce Carver was blessed with a large extended family, including 6 children and 16 grandchildren, whom he always placed first before business. Many of his family members have been a part of his ventures, and have helped him produce computer games over the years, particularly Roger Carver, who worked on many games with Bruce since Beach Head II (1985). He also helped launch and foster the careers of many other developers, and was known for his generosity and kindness. Bruce was awarded as one of the 'Gods of Gaming' in a 1997 issue of PC Gamer for his long and influential career.

Bruce Carver died of cancer suddenly on 28th December 2005, at the age of 57. In addition to his children and grandchildren, he is survived by his mother Mary and his wife Lenna.

- Devin Monnens

[edit] Works

[edit] Video games

  • Links 2001 – game designer/creative director – (Microsoft Games, 2001)
  • Links LS 2000 – documentation – (Microsoft Games, 2000)
  • Overseer – production team (special thanks) – (Access Software, Inc., 1998)
  • Links LS 1998 Edition – executive producer, designer – (Access Software, Inc., 1997) Windows 9.x
  • Links LS 1997 – producer/designer – (Access Software, Inc., 1996)
  • Under a Killing Moon – documentation – (Access Software, Inc., 1994)
  • Links 386 Pro – graphics – (Access Software, Inc., 1992) DOS
  • Countdown – flashbacks – (Access Software, Inc., 1990)
  • Crime Wave – producer – (Access Software, Inc., 1990)
  • Links: The Challenge of Golf – graphics, course construction, title sequence, documentation – (Access Software, Inc., 1990) DOS
  • Mean Streets – producer, director, documentation – (Access Software, Inc., 1989) Commodore 64
  • Echelon – game design – (Access Software, Inc., 1987)
  • World Class Leader Board – designer – (Access Software, Inc., 1987)
  • 10th Frame – designer – (Access Software, Inc., 1986)
  • Leader Board – designer – (Access Software, Inc., 1986) Commodore 64
  • Beach Head II: The Dictator Strikes Back! - programming – (Access Software, Inc., 1985) Commodore 64
  • Raid Over Moscow – designer – (Access Software, Inc. 1985?) Commodore 64*
  • Beach Head – developer – (Access Software, Inc, 1983) Commodore 64
  • Neutral Zone – creator – (Access Software, 1983) Commodore 64

*this date is for the ZX Spectrum release

[edit] Middle Ware

  • Sprite Master (1984)

[edit] Awards

  • 'Gods of Gaming' – 1997, PC Gamer

[edit] Links

[edit] Comments

“[O]ne of the most genuinely honest people in the business”

“He took care of people. He loved detail, but he didn't micro-manage. A lot of people owe him their careers.”

“He was the classic engineer. Any type of engineering problem fascinated him. Pushing technological boundaries was his forte, and that's why he created so many innovations.”

- Quotes from former colleagues in PC Gamer Obituary

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