p&p rpg designers to video game designers

[rogatny]

I just learned today that the Warren Spector that designed the Toon rpg and worked for TSR on MSHRPG and 2e (Spelljammer, etc.) is the same Warren Spector who was the lead designer on the Deus Ex series of video games, the Epic Mickey games, and was head of the Disney video game studio until it folded.

I feel the same way I did when I realized that all the D&Disms (drow, gelatinous cubes... Hell, the villain's name is literally "Kaos") in the Skylanders video games was probably because Paul Reiche III was the owner of the company that made the game and brought in his old TSR buddy, Erol Otus, to do some of the art design.

[thedungeondelver]

The crossover from table-top role-playing games to computer games (particularly considering TSR alumni) is actually quite large. Alan Hammack, Paul Jaquays and esteemed CHAOSIUM writer Sandy Petersen all contributed to iD SOFTWARE's excellent DOOM and QUAKE games.

Indeed, in correspondence with John Romero, formerly of that august software company, he confided that ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS greatly informed the creation of DOOM in some plot elements (as outlined in the excellent MASTERS OF DOOM, the story of iD SOFTWARE). He has stated that S1 TOMB OF HORRORS is his favorite module for AD&D and, given some of the certain-death situations the intrepid DOOM fan would find themselves in the original and it's sequel, it shows through!

[Zenopus Archives]

Lawrence Schick and Zeb Cook both work for the company, ZeniMax, that makes Elder Scrolls Online, and work on content for that game, of which I know nothing else.

Zeb Cook's wiki also says he worked on Fallout 2.

[Wheggi]

I believe that Erol Otus worked on the Skylander game in some capacity, though I may be wrong.

- Wheggi

[rogatny]

I believe that Erol Otus worked on the Skylander game in some capacity, though I may be wrong.

He worked on some of the art design. And it’s pretty obvious when you look at some of the creatures or even the color palette. (Also did some of the voices, as I understand it.)

[grodog]

I just learned today that the Warren Spector that designed the Toon rpg and worked for TSR on MSHRPG and 2e (Spelljammer, etc.) is the same Warren Spector who was the lead designer on the Deus Ex series of video games, the Epic Mickey games, and was head of the Disney video game studio until it folded.

Much more importantly (from my corner of reality), Spector was one of the driving forces behind the Thief video game series!

I believe that Erol Otus worked on the Skylander game in some capacity, though I may be wrong.

He worked on some of the art design. And it’s pretty obvious when you look at some of the creatures or even the color palette. (Also did some of the voices, as I understand it.)

Yes, Erol has said all of that to me in conversation, since my boys were hooked by Skylanders' first two or three releases. Toys for Bob downsized, however, after Skylanders' wave crested, so Erol was let go sometime in the second half of last year.

Allan.

[Melan]

Erol Otus was also involved in the excellent Star Control II (available for free as The Ur-Quan Masters).



That's our Erol all right!