Show Notes
Yesterday came the news that EA plans to close BioWare, the Edmonton studio behind Baldur’s Gate, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect and Dragon Age. I thought it was a good moment to revisit my conversation with Dr Greg Zeschuk, one of BioWare’s co-founders. We talk about the games that shaped him, and the long, remarkable journey of a studio that defined computer and console role-playing games for millions of people. Here’s my conversation with Greg Zeschuk.
[Original description] Greg Zeschuk is the co-founder of Bioware. While a medical student at the University of Alberta he told his future wife that, if he could, he’d make video games for a living. After he graduated, the dream came true when, in 1995, he and two friends y founded Bioware in his basement. The following year the trio released Shattered Steel and, two years after that, Baldur’s Gate, which revolutionised the world of computer role-playing games.
In the years that followed Bioware released a string of blockbuster hits, including Mass Effect, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. In 2007, just 12 years after its founding, the companywas sold to Electronic Arts as part of a deal worth $860 million. In recent years, my guest started a brewing company, Blind Enthusiasm, and today runs two microbreweries and a restaurant in Edmunton, where he has spent most of his life.
NOTES
Greg Zeschuk – BioWare & brewery Greg Zeschuk – Wikipedia Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Company – official site Blind Enthusiasm – The Monolith taproom, Edmonton Greg Zeschuk on BioWare’s closure – Wired
BioWare BioWare – Wikipedia Ray Muzyka – BioWare co-founder, Wikipedia Augustine Yip – BioWare co-founder, Wikipedia
Greg’s Perfect Console Adventure (Atari 2600, 1980) – Wikipedia Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (Apple II, 1981) – Wikipedia Dungeon Master (Atari ST, 1987) – Wikipedia Diablo (1996) – Wikipedia Elden Ring (2022) – official site Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC – Wikipedia
BioWare games discussed Baldur’s Gate (1998) – Wikipedia Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000) – Wikipedia Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003) – Wikipedia Star Wars: The Old Republic (MMO) – official site Jade Empire (2005) – Wikipedia Mass Effect trilogy – Wikipedia Dragon Age: Origins – Wikipedia Dragon Age: The Veilguard – Wikipedia MDK2 (2000) – Wikipedia Shattered Steel (1996) – Wikipedia Anthem (2019) – Wikipedia
Other games mentioned Baldur’s Gate 3 – Larian Studios Elden Ring – Wikipedia Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Pool of Radiance (1988) – Wikipedia Lords of the Fallen (2023) – Steam
Context and references mentioned EA Spouse – the 2004 open letter that sparked the games industry crunch debate Elevation Partners – Wikipedia (private equity firm that invested in BioWare) Interplay Entertainment – Wikipedia (early publisher partner) Blizzard North – Wikipedia (developers of Diablo) Order of Canada – Wikipedia (Greg was appointed in 2018) TSR, Inc. – Wikipedia (original owners of Dungeons & Dragons) Ian M. Banks – Culture series author, Wikipedia Alastair Reynolds – science fiction author, Wikipedia
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