Bruce Carver
Encyclopedia
Bruce E. Carver was a co-founder of video game developer
Access Software (later re-named Indie Built
) in 1982. It began by producing titles for 8-bit computers, including Beach-Head, Beach Head II: The Dictator Strikes Back
, Raid over Moscow
and many others.
With his brother, Roger Carver, he created the influential Links
golf game
series, beginning with Leader Board and World Class Leader Board. The Links games defined golf video games and simulations. In 1997, PC Gamer
named him one of the "Gods of Gaming".
Access was sold to Microsoft
in 1999 and, as a result, several people were let go. Carver paid generous golden parachute
s to several of these people out of his own pocket. He continued to work on games until 2003 when he left to create a construction company, Carver Homes, and collaborate with other former Access employees in the golf simulator company TruGolf. He was most active with his construction company, which built award-winning luxury houses to order. The homes were often outfitted with the TruGolf system.
In December 2005, Carver unexpectedly died of cancer
. He is survived by six children (three sons and three daughters), his wife, Lenna, his mother, Mary, and 16 grandchildren. His funeral
was held in Salt Lake City, Utah
.
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...
Access Software (later re-named Indie Built
Indie Built
Indie Built, Inc. was a Salt Lake City, Utah based video game developer founded in 1982 by Bruce Carver as Access Software.They are popular for creating the golfing Links series and also for creating the video game detective series based on the character Tex Murphy.In 1987, Access announced The...
) in 1982. It began by producing titles for 8-bit computers, including Beach-Head, Beach Head II: The Dictator Strikes Back
Beach Head II: The Dictator Strikes Back
Beach-Head II: The Dictator Strikes back is 1985 computer game, a sequel to Beach-Head. It was developed and published by Access Software. It was designed by Bruce Carver and his brother, Roger, and was released for the Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit , Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum.The spelling...
, Raid over Moscow
Raid over Moscow
Raid Over Moscow is a computer game for the Atari 8-bit family, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, ZX Spectrum, Enterprise 128 and Apple II family by Access Software published in Europe by U.S. Gold...
and many others.
With his brother, Roger Carver, he created the influential Links
Links (computer game)
Links was the name of a series of golf simulation computer games, first developed by Access Software, and then later by Microsoft Game Studios after Microsoft acquired Access Software. The line of golf games was a flagship brand for Access, and the series spanned several years: from 1990 to 2003...
golf game
Sports game
A sports game is a computer or video game that simulates the practice of traditional sports. Most sports have been recreated with a game, including team sports, athletics and extreme sports. Some games emphasize actually playing the sport , whilst others emphasize strategy and organization...
series, beginning with Leader Board and World Class Leader Board. The Links games defined golf video games and simulations. In 1997, PC Gamer
PC Gamer
PC Gamer is a magazine founded in Britain in 1993 devoted to PC gaming and published monthly by Future Publishing. The magazine has several regional editions, with the UK and US editions becoming the best selling PC games magazines in their respective countries...
named him one of the "Gods of Gaming".
Access was sold to Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
in 1999 and, as a result, several people were let go. Carver paid generous golden parachute
Golden parachute
A golden parachute is an agreement between a company and an employee specifying that the employee will receive certain significant benefits if employment is terminated. Sometimes, certain conditions, typically a change in company ownership, must be met, but often the cause of termination is...
s to several of these people out of his own pocket. He continued to work on games until 2003 when he left to create a construction company, Carver Homes, and collaborate with other former Access employees in the golf simulator company TruGolf. He was most active with his construction company, which built award-winning luxury houses to order. The homes were often outfitted with the TruGolf system.
In December 2005, Carver unexpectedly died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. He is survived by six children (three sons and three daughters), his wife, Lenna, his mother, Mary, and 16 grandchildren. His funeral
Funeral
A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from interment itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor...
was held in Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
.