Brent Iverson
Encyclopedia
Brent Iverson is a programmer best known as a simulations
game developer
. Among his credits are the PC-DOS
version of Chuck Yeager's Air Combat
, LHX Attack Chopper
, and Jane's US Navy Fighters
, all published by Electronic Arts
.
. He liked working on computers but still planned to major in Art in college. However, after beginning his studies at the University of Michigan
he learned that even talented artists rarely make a good living with their art, but that computer programmer
s make more money as a general rule. As a result, he majored in Computer Science
.
and Senior Director of Development of Electronic Arts' Redwood Shores studio.
Iverson is highly respected as an expert in the programming field. In November 2002 he served as a judge in a competition among computer programming students at Stanford University
involving development of a 3-D video game. In November 2005 he participated on a panel of industry tech experts at an International Game Developers Association
panel. During that panel discussion, Iverson expressed his opinion of developing games within the limitations of marketing concerns:
Several of these games are very popular, but Yeager’s Air Combat in particular is respected as an exceptional flight simulation game with very realistic reactions to the controls. It has won awards for its high quality. This level of quality is considered to be a direct result of the fact that it was not only sponsored by Chuck Yeager
, but he actually served as an advisor during development of the game.
In addition to games, Iverson has developed graphics
programs, such as the IBM
and Apple IIgs
versions of Deluxe Paint
.
Game (simulation)
A simulation game attempts to replicate various activities in "real life" in the form of a game for various purposes: training, analysis, or prediction. Usually there are no strictly defined goals in the game, just running around, playing as a character...
game developer
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
. Among his credits are the PC-DOS
PC-DOS
IBM PC DOS is a DOS system for the IBM Personal Computer and compatibles, manufactured and sold by IBM from the 1980s to the 2000s....
version of Chuck Yeager's Air Combat
Chuck Yeager's Air Combat
Chuck Yeager's Air Combat is a 1991 computer aircraft simulation game produced by Electronic Arts. Famed pilot Chuck Yeager was a technical consultant in the game and his digitized voice is featured in the game, giving encouragement and praise before and after missions.The game is characterized for...
, LHX Attack Chopper
LHX Attack Chopper
LHX Attack Chopper is a 1990 war helicopter simulation game for the PC by Electronic Arts. The game was developed by Electronic Arts, Design and Programming led by Brent Iverson, also known for the PC-DOS version of Chuck Yeager's Air Combat, and US Navy Fighters.The game was originally for PC-DOS,...
, and Jane's US Navy Fighters
Jane's US Navy Fighters
Jane's United States Navy Fighters '97 frequently known as USNF '97 is a 1996 flight simulation video game developed by Electronic Arts. The game contains three campaigns: a Vietnam War-era campaign, a campaign involving a fictional Russian-Ukrainian war, and another fictional campaign detailing a...
, all published by Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
.
Background
Iverson's experience with computers began at the age of fifteen when he went to a friend's house to play games on an Apple IIApple II
The Apple II is an 8-bit home computer, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977...
. He liked working on computers but still planned to major in Art in college. However, after beginning his studies at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
he learned that even talented artists rarely make a good living with their art, but that computer programmer
Programmer
A programmer, computer programmer or coder is someone who writes computer software. The term computer programmer can refer to a specialist in one area of computer programming or to a generalist who writes code for many kinds of software. One who practices or professes a formal approach to...
s make more money as a general rule. As a result, he majored in Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
.
Career
Iverson has worked at Electronic Arts (EA) since 1986, he is now the Chief Technical OfficerChief technical officer
A chief technology officer is an executive-level position in a company or other entity whose occupant is focused on scientific and technological issues within an organization....
and Senior Director of Development of Electronic Arts' Redwood Shores studio.
Iverson is highly respected as an expert in the programming field. In November 2002 he served as a judge in a competition among computer programming students at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
involving development of a 3-D video game. In November 2005 he participated on a panel of industry tech experts at an International Game Developers Association
International Game Developers Association
International Game Developers Association is the professional society for over 10,000 video and computer game developers worldwide.It is incorporated in the United States as a non-profit organization....
panel. During that panel discussion, Iverson expressed his opinion of developing games within the limitations of marketing concerns:
"I think that technology and code you're given, design decisions you're given... aren't really limiters; they're actually enablers. If someone said, 'Make a great game,' and that's all the instructions you had, it would be pretty darn difficult to get started. But if somebody said, 'Make a great game about this movie that's coming out, or about dinosaurs, or pirates, that's a turn-based strategy game,' now all of a sudden you've got a lot of stuff that's laid out for you, and you don't have to think about those things anymore. Now you can say, 'How can I innovate in that space?'
"I think technology a lot of times has that same effect.... Now you can stop worrying about that stuff and you can say, 'Well, what do I do that's really interesting to the customer on top of that framework?'"
Programming credits
Iverson is best known for developing simulator games, but he has developed many other types of games as well. His credits include:- Boom BloxBoom BloxBoom Blox is a puzzle video game for the Wii console, mobile devices and N-Gage 2.0 developed by EA Los Angeles in conjunction with film director Steven Spielberg. The game was released on May 6, 2008, in North America and on May 9, 2008, in Europe...
(EA, 2008) - MySimsMySimsMySims, formerly The Sims Wii and Nintendo Sims, is a video game developed by EA Redwood Shores and published by Electronic Arts as a spinoff to Maxis' The Sims franchise for the Nintendo DS and Wii in 2007, then re-released for Microsoft Windows and Mobile phone in 2008.It is the first game in the...
(EA, 2007) - The Godfather: The GameThe Godfather: The GameThe Godfather: The Game is an action-adventure video game developed and published by Electronic Arts. It is the second video game in the Godfather series and based upon the 1972 film of the same name. Originally released in March 2006 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Microsoft Windows, The Godfather...
(EA, 2006) - 007: Everything or Nothing (EA, 2004)
- The SimsThe SimsThe Sims is a strategic life-simulation computer game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. Its development was led by game designer Will Wright, also known for developing SimCity...
(EA, 2003) - 007: Nightfire (EA, 2002)
- Combat Medic: Special Ops (LI, 2002)
- FreekstyleFreekstyleFreekstyle is a motocross racing video game for the PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance and Nintendo Gamecube. There are four levels of gameplay, the circuit, a quick race, freestyle, and free run.-Courses:Race courses...
(EA, 2002) - Rumble RacingRumble RacingRumble Racing is a PlayStation 2 racing video game from Electronic Arts. It is based on EA's NASCAR Rumble, developed by the same team at EA's Redwood Shores location, which was released for the Sony PlayStation.-Gameplay:...
(EA, 2001) - Sub CommandSub CommandSub Command, subtitled Akula Seawolf 688 is a submarine simulator computer game designed by Sonalysts Combat Simulations and published for Windows systems by Strategy First in 2001.The player commands one submarine: a U.S...
(EA, 2001) - Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2001 (EA, 2001)
- Jane's Combat Simulations: WWII FightersJane's WWII FightersJane's WWII Fighters is a World War II era European Theater of Operations Combat flight simulation video game set during the U.S. American termed "Battle of the Bulge" in 1944 and 1945. The combat flight simulation was copyrighted in 1998 but was released in 1999...
(EA, 1998) - Jane's Combat Simulations: U.S. Navy Fighters '97Jane's US Navy FightersJane's United States Navy Fighters '97 frequently known as USNF '97 is a 1996 flight simulation video game developed by Electronic Arts. The game contains three campaigns: a Vietnam War-era campaign, a campaign involving a fictional Russian-Ukrainian war, and another fictional campaign detailing a...
(EA, 1997) - Marine Fighters (EA, 1995)
- U.S. Navy Fighters (EA, 1994)
- Bulls vs. Blazers and the NBA Playoffs (EA, 1992)
- Chuck Yeager's Air CombatChuck Yeager's Air CombatChuck Yeager's Air Combat is a 1991 computer aircraft simulation game produced by Electronic Arts. Famed pilot Chuck Yeager was a technical consultant in the game and his digitized voice is featured in the game, giving encouragement and praise before and after missions.The game is characterized for...
(EA, 1991) - PGA Tour Golf (EA, 1991)
- LHX Attack ChopperLHX Attack ChopperLHX Attack Chopper is a 1990 war helicopter simulation game for the PC by Electronic Arts. The game was developed by Electronic Arts, Design and Programming led by Brent Iverson, also known for the PC-DOS version of Chuck Yeager's Air Combat, and US Navy Fighters.The game was originally for PC-DOS,...
(EA, 1990) - SU-25 Stormovik (EA, 1990)
Several of these games are very popular, but Yeager’s Air Combat in particular is respected as an exceptional flight simulation game with very realistic reactions to the controls. It has won awards for its high quality. This level of quality is considered to be a direct result of the fact that it was not only sponsored by Chuck Yeager
Chuck Yeager
Charles Elwood "Chuck" Yeager is a retired major general in the United States Air Force and noted test pilot. He was the first pilot to travel faster than sound...
, but he actually served as an advisor during development of the game.
In addition to games, Iverson has developed graphics
Computer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....
programs, such as the IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
and Apple IIgs
Apple IIGS
The Apple , the fifth and most powerful model in the Apple II series of personal computers produced by Apple Computer. The "GS" in the name stands for Graphics and Sound, referring to its enhanced graphics and sound capabilities, both of which greatly surpassed previous models of the line...
versions of Deluxe Paint
Deluxe Paint
Deluxe Paint is a bitmap graphics editor series originally created by Dan Silva for Electronic Arts .The original version was created for the Commodore Amiga and was released in November 1985...
.