Jeff Tunnell
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Tunnell is a computer game producer
, programmer
and designer.
In 1984 he founded Dynamix
with Damon Slye
in Eugene
, Oregon
.
In 1990, Tunnell left Dynamix
to start Jeff Tunnell Productions. Tunnell would go on to create famous brands such as The Incredible Machine, Trophy Bass, and the 3D Ultra product line while at Jeff Tunnell Productions. These products were some of the most successful retail products to be published by Dynamix
.
In 1993, Sid & Al's Incredible Toons
earned Tunnell and Chris Cole a patent
for the game concepts.
In 1995, Tunnell returned to Dynamix
in a leadership role.
In 2001, after Dynamix was disbanded, Tunnell co-founded GarageGames
, an independent
video game publisher
, which is also the developer of the Torque Game Engine
.
In 2007, GarageGames
was acquired by InterActiveCorp, the media conglomerate founded by Barry Diller
. Tunnell remained on as Chief Creative Officer of GarageGames
. Tunnell was a contributor behind the vision of the original InstantAction
distribution platform.
In 2008, Tunnell left GarageGames
to pursue other interests.
In 2009, Tunnell founded PushButton Labs along with former partners and employees from GarageGames
and Dynamix
.
Game producer
A video game producer is the person in charge of overseeing development of a video game.The earliest documented use of the term producer in games was by Trip Hawkins, who established the position when he founded Electronic Arts in 1982...
, programmer
Game programmer
A game programmer is a software engineer, programmer, or computer scientist who primarily develops codebase for video games or related software, such as game development tools. Game programming has many specialized disciplines all of which fall under the umbrella term of "game programmer"...
and designer.
In 1984 he founded Dynamix
Dynamix
Dynamix, Inc. was an American developer of computer games from 1984 to 2001, best known for their flight simulator, Red Baron, the Front Page Sports series, Betrayal at Krondor, and their online multiplayer game, Tribes.-History:...
with Damon Slye
Damon Slye
Damon Slye is a computer game designer, director, and programmer.In 1984 he founded Dynamix with Jeff Tunnell in Eugene, Oregon. He is best known for creating a popular series of historic flight simulations that included Red Baron, A-10 Tank Killer, and Aces of the Pacific.Slye's first product...
in Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
.
In 1990, Tunnell left Dynamix
Dynamix
Dynamix, Inc. was an American developer of computer games from 1984 to 2001, best known for their flight simulator, Red Baron, the Front Page Sports series, Betrayal at Krondor, and their online multiplayer game, Tribes.-History:...
to start Jeff Tunnell Productions. Tunnell would go on to create famous brands such as The Incredible Machine, Trophy Bass, and the 3D Ultra product line while at Jeff Tunnell Productions. These products were some of the most successful retail products to be published by Dynamix
Dynamix
Dynamix, Inc. was an American developer of computer games from 1984 to 2001, best known for their flight simulator, Red Baron, the Front Page Sports series, Betrayal at Krondor, and their online multiplayer game, Tribes.-History:...
.
In 1993, Sid & Al's Incredible Toons
Sid & Al's Incredible Toons
Sid & Al's Incredible Toons is a puzzle video game developed by Dynamix and released by Sierra On-Line in 1993.-Summary:This video game is designed with the same style as that of The Incredible Machine, except that the game took place on a cartoon stage instead of a laboratory. The game focuses on...
earned Tunnell and Chris Cole a patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
for the game concepts.
In 1995, Tunnell returned to Dynamix
Dynamix
Dynamix, Inc. was an American developer of computer games from 1984 to 2001, best known for their flight simulator, Red Baron, the Front Page Sports series, Betrayal at Krondor, and their online multiplayer game, Tribes.-History:...
in a leadership role.
In 2001, after Dynamix was disbanded, Tunnell co-founded GarageGames
GarageGames
GarageGames is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, where it was moved after being acquired by IAC in 2007. As the makers of Torque game development technology, they have provided cross-platform technology and tools since 2000...
, an independent
Indie game
Independent video game development is the process of creating video games without the financial support of a video game publisher. While large firms can create independent games, they are usually designed by an individual or a small team of as many as ten people, depending on the complexity of the...
video game publisher
Video game publisher
A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a video game developer....
, which is also the developer of the Torque Game Engine
Torque Game Engine
The Torque Game Engine, or TGE, is a 3D computer game engine originally developed by Dynamix for the 2001 FPS Tribes 2. The Torque engine and its many derivative products are available for license from GarageGames, a company formed by many members of the Tribes 2 team at Dynamix...
.
In 2007, GarageGames
GarageGames
GarageGames is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, where it was moved after being acquired by IAC in 2007. As the makers of Torque game development technology, they have provided cross-platform technology and tools since 2000...
was acquired by InterActiveCorp, the media conglomerate founded by Barry Diller
Barry Diller
Barry Charles Diller is the Chairman and Senior Executive of IAC/InterActiveCorp and the media executive responsible for the creation of Fox Broadcasting Company and USA Broadcasting.-Early life:...
. Tunnell remained on as Chief Creative Officer of GarageGames
GarageGames
GarageGames is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, where it was moved after being acquired by IAC in 2007. As the makers of Torque game development technology, they have provided cross-platform technology and tools since 2000...
. Tunnell was a contributor behind the vision of the original InstantAction
InstantAction
InstantAction was a web gaming site and digital distributor featuring 3D, browser-based games.The site was created by game and technology developer GarageGames after its acquisition in 2007 and released a year later. InstantAction's goal was to allow publishers and developers the ability to embed...
distribution platform.
In 2008, Tunnell left GarageGames
GarageGames
GarageGames is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, where it was moved after being acquired by IAC in 2007. As the makers of Torque game development technology, they have provided cross-platform technology and tools since 2000...
to pursue other interests.
In 2009, Tunnell founded PushButton Labs along with former partners and employees from GarageGames
GarageGames
GarageGames is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, where it was moved after being acquired by IAC in 2007. As the makers of Torque game development technology, they have provided cross-platform technology and tools since 2000...
and Dynamix
Dynamix
Dynamix, Inc. was an American developer of computer games from 1984 to 2001, best known for their flight simulator, Red Baron, the Front Page Sports series, Betrayal at Krondor, and their online multiplayer game, Tribes.-History:...
.
Credited games
- Social City (20102010 in video gamingThe year 2010 has seen many sequels and prequels in video games, including several new titles.-Events:-Game releases:List of games scheduled for release in 2010 in North America....
), PushButton Labs, PlaydomPlaydomPlaydom is an online social network game developer popular on Facebook and on MySpace; it is currently the largest social game developer on MySpace and one of the larger ones on Facebook. The company was founded in the San Francisco Bay Area by University of California, Berkeley graduates Ling Xiao... - Grunts: Skirmish (20092009 in video gamingThe year 2009 saw the release of many video games, including several sequels.-Events:-Scheduled releases:List of games scheduled for release in 2009 in North America....
), PushButton Labs - Puzzle Poker (20062006 in video gaming-Events:* January 26, 2006 -- Nintendo announces its newly redesigned handheld, the Nintendo DS Lite. The new model is lighter, smaller, has configurable brightness and features an improved user interface.* January 26, 2006 -- Konami Corp...
), GarageGames, Inc.GarageGamesGarageGames is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, where it was moved after being acquired by IAC in 2007. As the makers of Torque game development technology, they have provided cross-platform technology and tools since 2000... - Rack 'Em Up Roadtrip (20062006 in video gaming-Events:* January 26, 2006 -- Nintendo announces its newly redesigned handheld, the Nintendo DS Lite. The new model is lighter, smaller, has configurable brightness and features an improved user interface.* January 26, 2006 -- Konami Corp...
), Oberon MediaOberon MediaOberon Media is a multi-platform casual games company, delivering casual games solutions across online, social, mobile/Smartphone, interactive TV and retail categories... - Marble Blast UltraMarble Blast UltraMarble Blast Ultra is a 3D puzzle/action game involving a marble developed by GarageGames. It was released on January 25, 2006 for the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade. It is the sequel to Marble Blast Gold. It features 60 brand new levels, enhanced graphics, 2 new power-ups and a multiplayer mode...
(20062006 in video gaming-Events:* January 26, 2006 -- Nintendo announces its newly redesigned handheld, the Nintendo DS Lite. The new model is lighter, smaller, has configurable brightness and features an improved user interface.* January 26, 2006 -- Konami Corp...
), GarageGames, Inc.GarageGamesGarageGames is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, where it was moved after being acquired by IAC in 2007. As the makers of Torque game development technology, they have provided cross-platform technology and tools since 2000... - Chain Reaction (20032003 in video gaming-Events:*February 27 — Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences hosts 6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards; inducts Yu Suzuki of Sega to the AIAS Hall of Fame....
), Monster Studios - Marble Blast GoldMarble Blast GoldMarble Blast Gold is a 3D platformer game. It was pre-installed on some Apple Inc. computers like the iMac and iBook. It is also available for Windows operating systems as well as various Linux distributions...
(20032003 in video gaming-Events:*February 27 — Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences hosts 6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards; inducts Yu Suzuki of Sega to the AIAS Hall of Fame....
), GarageGames, Inc.GarageGamesGarageGames is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, where it was moved after being acquired by IAC in 2007. As the makers of Torque game development technology, they have provided cross-platform technology and tools since 2000... - Tribes 2Tribes 2-Legacy:On November 20, 2002, Sierra released an update for Tribes 2. This update contained two new game types, new maps and updates to address several issues. Sierra, which is now part of Vivendi SU, licensed the franchise to Irrational Games for a third installment; Tribes: Vengeance was...
(2001), Sierra On-Line, Inc. - 3-D Ultra Lionel Train Town Deluxe (20002000 in video gaming-Events:* May 11–13 — 6th annual Electronic Entertainment Expo ; the 3rd annual Game Critics Awards for the Best of E³* June 26 — International Game Developers Association renamed from Computer Game Developers Association...
), Sierra On-Line, Inc. - Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions (2000), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
- 3-D Ultra Minigolf (19981998 in video gaming-Events:*Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences hosts 1st Annual Interactive Achievement Awards; inducts Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo to the AIAS Hall of Fame*British Academy of Film and Television Arts hosts the 1st annual BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards...
), Sierra On-Line, Inc. - StarsiegeStarsiegeStarsiege is a mecha-style vehicle simulation game developed by Dynamix and released in 1999. Starsiege is set in the Metaltech/Earthsiege universe, which contains its predecessors Earthsiege , Battledrome , and Earthsiege 2 , as well as action game Hunter Hunted , strategy games Mission Force:...
(1998), Sierra On-Line, Inc. - Starsiege: TribesStarsiege: TribesStarsiege: Tribes is a sci-fi first-person shooter video game. It is the first of the Tribes video game series and follows the story from Earthsiege and Starsiege. It was developed by Dynamix and published by the company now known as Sierra Entertainment in 1998.-History:A sequel, Tribes 2, was...
(1998), Sierra On-Line, Inc. - Rama (19971997 in video gaming-Events:*October 4 — Gunpei Yokoi dies after a double car accident.*November – Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association launched.*3rd annual E3...
), Sierra On-Line, Inc. - 3-D Ultra Pinball: Creep Night3-D Ultra Pinball3-D Ultra Pinball is a series of pinball computer games developed by Sierra Entertainment's Dynamix.The games try to escape from the traditional, arcade pinball and feature animation, more than one table at once,...
(19961996 in video gaming-Notable releases:*January 29 — Duke Nukem 3D, successor to the simple side-scrolling originals, and a genre-redefining title for first person shooters....
), Sierra On-Line, Inc. - Hunter HuntedHunter Hunted (video game)Hunter Hunted is a side-scrolling action computer game developed by Sierra Entertainment and published on October 31, 1996. The player controls a humanoid creature who fights enemies, completes objectives, and tries to find the hidden exit in each level...
(1996), Sierra On-Line, Inc. - Lode Runner On-Line: The Mad Monks' Revenge (19951995 in video gaming-Events:*May 11 – Introduction of trade magazine GameWeek *May 11-16 — The 1st annual Electronic Entertainment Expo is held in Los Angeles, California...
), Sierra On-Line, Inc. - Bouncers (19941994 in video gaming-Events:*Nintendo calls this year "1994: The Year of the Cartridge".*Nintendo Australia Pty. Ltd, the Australian subsidiary of Nintendo Co., Ltd is established and opened by Hiroshi Yamauchi and effectively ends Mattel Australia's distribution of Nintendo's products throughout Australia.*"Project...
), SEGA Entertainment, Inc.Sega, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world... - The Incredible Machine 2 (1994), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
- The Incredible Toon MachineThe Incredible Toon MachineThe Incredible Toon Machine is a game from Sierra On-Line, and is the sequel to Sid & Al's Incredible Toons, also from Sierra. It is actually an extension of Sid & Al's Incredible Toons, with same levels and features.-Gameplay:...
(1994), Sierra On-Line, Inc. - Lode Runner: The Legend ReturnsLode Runner: The Legend ReturnsLode Runner: The Legend Returns is a 1994 sequel of the classic Lode Runner video game. It's available for Windows, Mac, and PlayStation.-Gameplay:...
(1994), Sierra On-Line, Inc. - Alien LegacyAlien LegacyAlien Legacy is a sci-fi strategy game developed by Ybarra Productions, Inc. and published by Sierra On-Line in 1994 for the DOS operating system on the PC.-Gameplay:...
(19931993 in video gaming-Events:*March — In Sweden, the Swedish video game magazine Super PLAY starts. The original name is Super Power.*Midway Games embroiled in controversy for its game Mortal Kombat from 1992 when the game is launched for video game consoles in 1993....
), Sierra On-Line, Inc. - Betrayal at KrondorBetrayal at KrondorBetrayal at Krondor is a DOS-based computer role-playing game developed by Dynamix and published by Sierra On-Line in 1993. Betrayal at Krondor takes place largely in Midkemia, the fantasy world developed by Raymond E. Feist in his Riftwar novels...
(1993), Sierra On-Line, Inc. - The Incredible Machine (1993), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
- Sid & Al's Incredible ToonsSid & Al's Incredible ToonsSid & Al's Incredible Toons is a puzzle video game developed by Dynamix and released by Sierra On-Line in 1993.-Summary:This video game is designed with the same style as that of The Incredible Machine, except that the game took place on a cartoon stage instead of a laboratory. The game focuses on...
(1993), Sierra On-Line, Inc. - Mega Math (19921992 in video gaming-Events:-Notable releases:* Gremlin Graphics releases Zool, Amiga's answer to Mario and Sonic. It goes on to become the best selling Commodore Amiga game, boosting the already popular computer to be the leading gaming machine in Europe....
), Sierra On-Line, Inc. - Quarky & Quaysoo's Turbo ScienceQuarky & Quaysoo's Turbo ScienceQuarky & Quaysoo's Turbo Science is an educational computer game developed by Jeff Tunnell Productions and published by Sierra On-Line for MS-DOS in early 1992. It was designed to teach scientific concepts to children....
(1992), Sierra On-Line, Inc. - The Adventures of Willy BeamishThe Adventures of Willy BeamishThe Adventures of Willy Beamish is a graphic adventure game developed by Dynamix, using their newly developed Dynamix Game Development System . It was published in 1991 by Sierra Entertainment. The player takes on the role of nine-year-old Willy Beamish in a humorous graphic adventure that is...
(19911991 in video gaming-Notable releases:*Microprose creates Civilization, Sid Meier's most successful game .*Electronic Arts releases James Pond 2 and Road Rash for Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, starting a series of games that were popular in the 1990s....
), Sierra On-Line, Inc. - Heart of ChinaHeart of ChinaHeart of China is a 1991 adventure computer game made by Dynamix. The game features the exploits of pilot Jake "Lucky" Masters as he tries to rescue nurse Kate Lomax from a ruthless warlord. The story and characters are similar to Indiana Jones.-Plot:...
(1991), Sierra On-Line, Inc. - Red BaronRed Baron (game)Red Baron is a video game for the PC, created by Damon Slye at Dynamix and published by Sierra Entertainment. It was released in 1990.As the name suggests, the game is a flying simulation set on the Western Front of World War I. The player can engage in single missions or career mode, flying for...
(19901990 in video gaming-Notable releases:*Bonk's Adventure is released for NEC's TurboGrafx-16 and is the first US appearance of Bonk, the mascot of the TurboGrafx-16.*February 12 — Nintendo releases the NES game Super Mario Bros. 3 in North America...
), Sierra On-Line, Inc. - Rise of the DragonRise of the DragonRise of the Dragon is a graphic adventure game that was released in 1990 for DOS and Macintosh and later remade for the Sega CD as well as the Amiga. It was one of the few adventure game titles developed by Dynamix, a company that was better known as an action and flight sim game developer...
(1990), Sierra On-Line, Inc. - Stellar 7Stellar 7Stellar 7 is a futuristic tank simulation computer game based on the arcade game Battlezone in which the player assumes the role of a tank pilot. The enemies include anything from other tanks to mechanical birds. Several years later a sequel game, Nova 9 was released...
(1990), Dynamix, Inc.DynamixDynamix, Inc. was an American developer of computer games from 1984 to 2001, best known for their flight simulator, Red Baron, the Front Page Sports series, Betrayal at Krondor, and their online multiplayer game, Tribes.-History:... - A-10 Tank KillerA-10 Tank KillerA-10 Tank Killer is a flight simulation computer game for Amiga and MS-DOS platforms. The game features an A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft. There was a 1.0 release and a 1.5 release in 1991. A mission pack called Extra Mission was released in 1995...
(19891989 in video gaming-Notable releases:* October 3, Brøderbund releases the Prince of Persia game, the first in a series of games, noted for its advancements in animation....
), Dynamix, Inc. - Caveman Ugh-Lympics (1989), Electronic Arts Inc.Electronic ArtsElectronic 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...
- David Wolf: Secret AgentDavid Wolf: Secret AgentDavid Wolf: Secret Agent is a computer game developed by Dynamix, Inc. in 1989 for the PC/MS-DOS.-Plot:The player is David Wolf, a secret agent who must stop a criminal organization called Viper from using a stealth fighter to deliver a nuclear bomb to Washington, D.C...
(1989), Dynamix, Inc. - DeathtrackDeathtrackDeath Track or Death Track Racing was a first person futuristic driving computer game produced for the PC by Dynamix and published by Activision in 1989...
(1989), Activision, Inc.ActivisionActivision is an American publisher, majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SA. Its current CEO is Robert Kotick. It was founded on October 1, 1979 and was the world's first independent developer and distributor of video games for gaming consoles... - Ghostbusters II (1989), Activision, Inc.
- MotocrossMotocross (video game)Motocross is a multiplayer sports video game produced by Mattel and released for its Intellivision video game system in 1983. The players each control a motocross bike in a race to the finish line.-Gameplay:...
(1989), GamestarGameStarGameStar is a monthly released PC computer game magazine, published by the IDG Entertainment Media GmbH in Germany. In 2008 it had an average monthly circulation of 250,000 copies and is therefore the best sold PC computer game magazine in Europe. It is also being published in Hungary, the Czech... - Project FirestartProject FirestartProject Firestart is a cinematic action/adventure game for the Commodore 64 computer system. It was designed by Jeff Tunnell and Damon Slye and published by Electronic Arts in 1989...
(1989), Electronic Arts Inc. - Skyfox II: The Cygnus Conflict (19871987 in video gaming-Notable releases:* January 14, Nintendo releases Zelda II: The Adventure of Link in January for the Famicom Disk System in Japan only. The game would go unreleased in America for nearly two years afterwards.* February 20, Konami releases Contra...
), Electronic Arts Inc. - ArcticfoxArcticfoxArcticfox is a computer game developed by Dynamix and published in by Electronic Arts. It was published in Europe by Ariolasoft.It was first developed for the Amiga, but was quickly ported to other popular platforms of the era such as the Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, PC and Apple IIe...
(19861986 in video gaming-Events:-Notable releases:*Namco releases Sky Kid Deluxe, Hopping Mappy, Toy Pop, The Return of Ishtar, which is the sequel to Tower of Druaga, Genpei Tōma Den, and Rolling Thunder....
), Dynamix, Inc.