Sid Meier
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{{Infobox Person
| name = Sid Meier
| image = Sid Meier cropped.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1954}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = [[Game designer]]
| spouse = Susan Meier
| children = Ryan Meier
}}
'''Sidney K. Meier''' (born 1954 in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[game programmer|programmer]] and [[game designer|designer]] of several popular [[video game|computer]] [[strategy game]]s. Meier has won accolades for both his contributions to the [[video game industry|computer games industry]] and for the titles that have gained huge commercial successes, such as a star on the [[Walk of Game]]. Sid Meier is a Director of Creative Development for computer game developer [[Firaxis Games]], which he co-founded with [[Jeff Briggs]] and [[Brian Reynolds]] in 1996.
==Career==
Sid Meier founded [[Microprose Software, Inc|MicroProse]] together with [[Bill Stealey]] in 1982. At MicroProse, Meier developed the game series for which he is most widely recognized, ''[[Civilization (computer game)|Civilization]]'', although he designed only the first installment. Meier eventually left MicroProse and in 1996 founded [[Firaxis Games]] along with veteran designer and gaming executive [[Jeff Briggs]]. Today Firaxis makes strategy games, many of which are follow-ups to classic Meier titles, such as ''[[Civilization IV]]'' and ''[[Sid Meier's Pirates! (2004)|Pirates!]]''.
In 1999, Meier became the second person to be inducted into the [[Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences' Hall of Fame]]. The first to receive that honor was [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] from [[Nintendo]].
Meier is not always the main designer on titles that carry his name. For instance, [[Brian Reynolds]] has been credited as the primary designer behind ''[[Civilization 2]]'', ''[[Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri]]'', and ''Sid Meier's Colonization'',<ref>[http://archive.gamespy.com/e32002/special/reynolds/ Interview with Brian Reynolds] from ''[[GameSpy]]''</ref><ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/features/sidlegacy/colon.html "The Sid Meier Legacy: ''Sid Meier's Colonization''"] from ''[[GameSpot]]''</ref> while [[Jeff Briggs]] designed ''[[Civilization III]]'' and [[Soren Johnson]] led ''[[Sid Meier's Civilization IV]]''. Currently Meier's role appears to be that of a creative director, simultaneously contributing to multiple projects.
Meier worked with a team on a [[dinosaur]] themed game starting early 2000, but announced in an online development diary on [[January 24]], [[2001]] that the game had been shelved. Despite trying various approaches, including [[turn-based]] and [[Real-time strategy|real-time]] gameplay, he said he found no way to make the concept fun enough. In August 2005, Meier said ''"We've been nonstop busy making other games over the past several years, so the dinosaur game remains on the shelf. However, I do love the idea of a dinosaur game and would like to revisit it when I have some time."''<ref>[http://www.firaxis.com/community/asksid_archive.php?n_id=1 Firaxis Games: Community: Ask Sid] from [http://www.firaxis.com/ Firaxis' official website]</ref>
In January 2008, [[CMP Game Group]] announced that Meier would be receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2008 [[Game Developer's Conference]].
Meier currently lives in [[Hunt Valley, Maryland]] with his wife, Susan, and son, Ryan.
He met his wife at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in [[Cockeysville, Maryland|Cockeysville]], where they both sing in the choir.<ref>[http://www.joabj.com/Balt/GameBoy.html "Game Boy"] article about Meier from ''Baltimore'' magazine ([http://www.joabj.com/Balt/Sid.pdf Typeset version] in [[Portable Document Format|PDF]])</ref>
==References to Sid Meier in games==
* Sid Meier's likeness is used in ''Sid Meier's Civilization'' and ''Sid Meier's Civilization III'' for the game's science advisor.
* The gameplay tutorial in ''[[Civilization IV]]'' is presented by a character modeled after Sid Meier and voiced by the man himself. In ''[[Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword]]'' he performs the narration for the six new technologies.
* In ''Civilization IV'', Sid Meier is "leader" of the barbarians.
* Civilization III has the hardest difficulty listed as 'Sid'.
* Several of Sid Meier's most acclaimed games were inspired by board games designed by [[Francis Tresham (game designer)|Francis Tresham]] of Hartland Trefoil Ltd. The earliest editions of ''[[Railroad Tycoon]]'' and ''Civilization'' contained acknowledgements of these inspirations: Railroad Tycoon was inspired by a rail building board game "1829" by Tresham (the start of the [[18xx]] series), and ''Civilization'' by a board game of the same name also by Tresham. Tresham also designed a board game called "Spanish Main" which could have been an inspiration for ''Pirates!'', but there seems to be no written evidence for that. In 1998, [[Microprose Software, Inc|MicroProse]] purchased Hartland Trefoil Ltd., eliminating any risk of copyright conflicts.
* There is a hidden faction named Firaxis in ''[[Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri]]'' and the leader is Sid Meier, unlockable by opening a file with the faction editor.
* There is a hidden faction named Firaxians in ''[[Sid Meier's Alien Crossfire]]'' and the leader is Sid Meier or Brian Reynolds, unlockable by opening a file with the faction editor.
* In the baseball video game ''[[Major League Baseball 2K7]]'', there is a fielding coach named Sid Meier.
* In ''[[Sid Meier's Pirates!]]'', he can be seen on some occasions instead of the mysterious trader in the corner of the tavern.
== Games ==
Games that have been developed by Meier span three decades. Some of the more notable titles are listed below in chronological order.
{|
|-valign="top"
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*''[[Spitfire Ace]]'' (1982) — The first project in which Sid played a major role in the game creation stage.
*''[[HellCat Ace]]'' (1982)
*''[[Floyd of the Jungle]]'' (1982)
*''[[NATO Commander]]'' (1984)
*''[[Solo Flight]]'' (1984)
*''[[Kennedy Approach]]'' (1985)
*''[[F-15 Strike Eagle (video game)|F-15 Strike Eagle]]'' (1985) — one of the first combat flight simulators
*''[[Silent Service (video game)|Silent Service]]'' (1985), a [[World War II]] [[submarine]] [[vehicle simulation game|simulation game]], and Meier's first foray out of flight sims.
*''[[Sid Meier's Pirates!]]'' (1987)
*''[[F-19 Stealth Fighter]]'' (1988)
*''[[F-15 Strike Eagle II]]'' (1989)
*''[[Covert Action]]'' (1990)
*''[[Railroad Tycoon]]'' (1990), a [[business simulation game]] that paints the early development of [[railroad]]s in the [[United States]] and [[Europe]], a time when competition between railroad companies was very fierce. With the release of ''Sid Meier's Railroads!'', this series now has four installments.
*''[[Civilization (computer game)|Civilization]]'' (1991), Meier's most successful game to date. It has lived through several versions (see below) and sold over 6 million copies. This game is a turn-based strategy game.
*''[[Pirates! Gold]]'' (1993)
*''[[Colonization (computer game)|Colonization]]'' (1994), a turn-based strategy game themed on the early European colonization of the [[New World]], starting in 1492 and lasting until the age of independence in 1850. To achieve victory in this game, the player must declare independence, and win in a revolutionary war against their mother country in [[Europe]] ([[France]], [[England]], [[The Netherlands]], or [[Spain]]).
* ''[[Civilization II]]'' (1996) Follow-up to Sid Meier's successful ''Civilization''; [[Brian Reynolds]] was lead designer on the game.
*''[[Magic: The Gathering (MicroProse)|Magic: The Gathering]]'' (1997) This would be the last game that Sid Meier worked on for MicroProse.
*''[[Sid Meier's Gettysburg!]]'' (1997) Sid Meier's first [[real-time tactical]] game.
*''[[Sid Meier's Antietam!]]'' (1998) ''Sid Meier's Gettysburg'' and ''Antietam'' are part of his Civil War set.
*''[[Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri]]'' (1999) [[Brian Reynolds]] was lead designer on this adaptation of ''Civilization'' to an outer space theme. ''Alpha Centauri'' is set in a futuristic setting on an alien world, with ideological factions substituting for civilizations. This is a much more versatile version of ''Civilization'', featuring economics and unique military customization, as well as [[diplomacy]].
|
*''[[Sid Meier's SimGolf]]'' (2000) A [[golf]]ing simulation in which the player built their own [[golf course]] and played it, against computer players, co-created by [[Maxis]]. Not to be confused with Maxis' 1996 title ''[[SimGolf]]''.
* ''[[Civilization III]]'' (2001), [[Jeff Briggs]] designed the third installment of the series, with improved rules, graphics and gameplay. New features include expanded Diplomacy much like ''Alpha Centauri'', and also introduces "Culture" as a tool of domination, and "Strategic Resources" required for trade and to produce certain units. Sales of this installment makes the ''Civilization'' series the best selling PC series to date.
* ''[[Sid Meier's Pirates! (2004)|Sid Meier's Pirates!]]'' (2004), follow-up to the acclaimed ''[[Pirates game|Pirates!]]'' game from 1987, updating the graphics and featuring some entirely new gameplay elements and an all new ballroom dancing segment.
* ''[[Civilization IV]]'', Designed by [[Soren Johnson]] and released [[October 25]], [[2005]]. A full 3D engine replaces the [[Isometric projection|isometric]] maps of ''Civilization II'' and ''III''. This installment makes "Religion" (present in earlier versions only as a means of population pacification and control) a tool of domination, alongside the Culture and Diplomacy elements from previous incarnations.
*''[[Sid Meier's Railroads!]]'', released [[October 17]], [[2006]]. When [[Take 2]] shut down [[PopTop Software]] and folded it into [[Firaxis]], Meier once again became responsible for the ''Railroad Tycoon'' series, and this is billed as the sequel to ''[[Railroad Tycoon 3]]''.
*''[[Civilization Revolution]]'', announced on [[June 28]], [[2007]]. A [[seventh generation console]] edition of ''Civilization''.
*''[[Sid Meier's Civilization IV]]: War of Two Cities'', releasing in [[First quarter of a calendar year|Q1]], 2008. One of three Sid Meier properties to be launched by Oasys Mobile, this new Sid Meier property takes the major civilizations and pits them against one another in a real time one on one battle to take over the opponents major city. The game is being developed by Floodgate Entertainment.
*''[[Sid Meier's Pirates]] [[Mobile]]'', releasing in [[First quarter of a calendar year|Q1]], 2008. The game is being developed and published by Oasys Mobile and was led by one of the original programmers for [[Pirates! Gold]].
*''[[Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon]] [[Mobile]]'', releasing in [[First quarter of a calendar year|Q1]], 2008. Developed by [[Blue Heat]] and published by Oasys Mobile. This version is based on the Sid Meier classic game series, the mobile version allows players to build their own transportation empire.
*''[[Civilization IV: Colonization| Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization]]'', is a 2008 remake of the 1994 ''[[Colonization (computer game)|Colonization]]'', and is a stand alone game based on the ''Civilization IV'' engine.
|}
==References==
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
*{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6162633.html?q=Civilization |title=Q&A: Sid Meier chronicles Civilization |last=Torsen |first=Tor |work=GameSpot |month=December 1, |year=2006 |accessmonthday=February 28 |accessyear=2007}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/15most/html/mi_01.html |title=The Most Influential People in Video Gaming of All Time |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |accessdate=2007-06-09}}
</div>
{{reflist}}
== See also ==
* [[Will Wright (game designer)|Will Wright]]
== External links ==
{{wikiquote}}
* [http://www.firaxis.com/company/bios.php?bioid=56 Sid Meier's biography and his games history at Firaxis.com]
* {{moby developer|id=3|name=Sid Meier}}
* {{imdb name|id=1027075|name=Sid Meier}}
* [http://www.gamespot.com/features/sidlegacy/ "The Sid Meier Legacy"] from ''[[GameSpot]]''
{{Persondata
|NAME=Meier, Sid
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Meier, Sidney K
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=[[Game programmer]] and [[Game designer|designer]]
|DATE OF BIRTH=1954
|PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Detroit, Michigan|Detroit]], [[United States|U.S.]]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meier, Sid}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American Lutherans]]
[[Category:MicroProse]]
[[Category:American video game designers]]
[[Category:Video game producers]]
[[Category:Game programmers]]
[[Category:Early game industry moguls]]
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