Brian Moriarty
Encyclopedia
Brian Moriarty is an American
video game developer
who authored three of the original Infocom
interactive fiction
titles, Wishbringer
(1985), Trinity
(1986) and Beyond Zork: The Coconut of Quendor
(1987).
Two earlier games, Adventure in the 5th Dimension (1983) and Crash Dive! (1984), were published in the pages of ANALOG Computing
, a magazine for Atari
home computer enthusiasts.
He is probably best known for his first graphic adventure game, Loom, published in 1990 by Lucasfilm
Games. He also collaborated with Ron Cobb
on the design of Loadstar: The Legend of Tully Bodine (1994) for Rocket Science Games
, and worked on an unreleased incarnation of Steven Spielberg
's The Dig
(1995), some elements of which were included in the released version of the game.
In an interview with Adventure Classic Gaming Moriarty described his days at Infocom as among the greatest experiences of his life:
Moriarty now lectures as a Professor of Interactive Media and Game Development at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
. On occasion, he delivers public lectures, one of which has been turned into an amateur dramatics production
,
Infocom
, Lucasfilm Games/LucasArts
,
Rocket Science Games
and several other publishers.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
video 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...
who authored three of the original Infocom
Infocom
Infocom was a software company, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that produced numerous works of interactive fiction. They also produced one notable business application, a relational database called Cornerstone....
interactive fiction
Interactive fiction
Interactive fiction, often abbreviated IF, describes software simulating environments in which players use text commands to control characters and influence the environment. Works in this form can be understood as literary narratives and as video games. In common usage, the term refers to text...
titles, Wishbringer
Wishbringer
Wishbringer: The Magick Stone of Dreams is an interactive fiction computer game written by Brian Moriarty and published by Infocom in 1985. It was intended to be an easier game to solve than the typical Infocom release, and provide a good introduction to interactive fiction for inexperienced players...
(1985), Trinity
Trinity (computer game)
Trinity is an interactive fiction computer game written by Brian Moriarty and published in 1986 by Infocom. It is widely regarded as one of the company's best works....
(1986) and Beyond Zork: The Coconut of Quendor
Beyond Zork
Beyond Zork was an interactive fiction computer game written by Brian Moriarty and released by Infocom in 1987...
(1987).
Two earlier games, Adventure in the 5th Dimension (1983) and Crash Dive! (1984), were published in the pages of ANALOG Computing
A.N.A.L.O.G.
A.N.A.L.O.G. was an American computer magazine devoted to the Atari 8-bit home computer line. It was known for its "advanced" programs in comparison to most type-in magazines of the era, especially its main rival, ANTIC, another long-lived magazine devoted to the Atari 8-bit line...
, a magazine for Atari
Atari
Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in...
home computer enthusiasts.
He is probably best known for his first graphic adventure game, Loom, published in 1990 by Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm Limited is an American film production company founded by George Lucas in 1971, based in San Francisco, California. Lucas is the company's current chairman and CEO, and Micheline Chau is the president and COO....
Games. He also collaborated with Ron Cobb
Ron Cobb
Ron Cobb is an American cartoonist, artist, writer, film designer, and film director.By the age of 18, with no formal training in graphic illustration, Cobb was working as an animation "inbetweener" artist for Disney Studios in Burbank, California. He progressed to becoming a breakdown artist on...
on the design of Loadstar: The Legend of Tully Bodine (1994) for Rocket Science Games
Rocket Science Games
Rocket Science Games was a video game developer that created games for consoles and computers from 1993 to 1997. The company was responsible for games such as Obsidian, Rocket Jockey, and Loadstar.-History:...
, and worked on an unreleased incarnation of Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
's The Dig
The Dig
The Dig is a graphical adventure game developed by LucasArts and released in 1995, and a game based on an idea for an Amazing Stories episode by Steven Spielberg...
(1995), some elements of which were included in the released version of the game.
In an interview with Adventure Classic Gaming Moriarty described his days at Infocom as among the greatest experiences of his life:
Moriarty now lectures as a Professor of Interactive Media and Game Development at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private university located in Worcester, Massachusetts, in the United States.Founded in 1865 in Worcester, WPI was one of the United States' first engineering and technology universities...
. On occasion, he delivers public lectures, one of which has been turned into an amateur dramatics production
Primary works
Moriarty has developed games for ANALOG ComputingA.N.A.L.O.G.
A.N.A.L.O.G. was an American computer magazine devoted to the Atari 8-bit home computer line. It was known for its "advanced" programs in comparison to most type-in magazines of the era, especially its main rival, ANTIC, another long-lived magazine devoted to the Atari 8-bit line...
,
Infocom
Infocom
Infocom was a software company, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that produced numerous works of interactive fiction. They also produced one notable business application, a relational database called Cornerstone....
, Lucasfilm Games/LucasArts
LucasArts
LucasArts Entertainment Company, LLC is an American video game developer and publisher. The company was once famous for its innovative line of graphic adventure games, the critical and commercial success of which peaked in the mid 1990s...
,
Rocket Science Games
Rocket Science Games
Rocket Science Games was a video game developer that created games for consoles and computers from 1993 to 1997. The company was responsible for games such as Obsidian, Rocket Jockey, and Loadstar.-History:...
and several other publishers.
Infocom
- WishbringerWishbringerWishbringer: The Magick Stone of Dreams is an interactive fiction computer game written by Brian Moriarty and published by Infocom in 1985. It was intended to be an easier game to solve than the typical Infocom release, and provide a good introduction to interactive fiction for inexperienced players...
(1985) - TrinityTrinity (computer game)Trinity is an interactive fiction computer game written by Brian Moriarty and published in 1986 by Infocom. It is widely regarded as one of the company's best works....
(1986) - Beyond ZorkBeyond ZorkBeyond Zork was an interactive fiction computer game written by Brian Moriarty and released by Infocom in 1987...
(1987) - Timesink (unpublished)
Lucasfilm Games / LucasArts Entertainment
- Loom (1990)
- Young Indiana JonesThe Young Indiana Jones ChroniclesThe Young Indiana Jones Chronicles is an American television series that aired on ABC from March 4, 1992, to July 24, 1993. The series explores the childhood and youth of the fictional character Indiana Jones and primarily stars Sean Patrick Flanery and Corey Carrier as the title character, with...
at the World's Fair (unpublished) - The DigThe DigThe Dig is a graphical adventure game developed by LucasArts and released in 1995, and a game based on an idea for an Amazing Stories episode by Steven Spielberg...
(unpublished early version)
Rocket Science Games
- Loadstar: The Legend of Tully Bodine (with Ron CobbRon CobbRon Cobb is an American cartoonist, artist, writer, film designer, and film director.By the age of 18, with no formal training in graphic illustration, Cobb was working as an animation "inbetweener" artist for Disney Studios in Burbank, California. He progressed to becoming a breakdown artist on...
) (1994) - Darkride (unpublished)
External links
- A biography of Moriarty from infocom-if.org
- Brian Moriarty: Lectures & Presentations
- Brian Moriarty at La Isla del Mono (SpanishSpanish languageSpanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
) - Brian Moriarty's Home Page