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Brenda Romero, Game Designer, Writer

Brenda Romero is a BAFTA award-winning game director, entrepreneur, artist and Fulbright award recipient and is presently studio director. As a game director, she has worked on 50 games and contributed to many seminal titles, including the Wizardry and Jagged Alliance series and titles in the Ghost Recon, Dungeons & Dragons and Def Jam franchises. Away from the machine, her analog series of six games, The Mechanic is the Message, has drawn national and international acclaim, particularly Train and Siochán Leat, a game about her family’s history, which is presently housed in the National Museum of Play. In addition to a BAFTA and a Fulbright, Romero is the recipient of multiple lifetime achievement awards, a Grace Hopper Award, a GDC Ambassador Award, and many of the games she has contributed to have won numerous awards. Romero is CEO and co-founder of Romero Games based in Galway, Ireland. 

Associations

  • Co-Founder of IMIRT: The Irish Game Maker's Association, 2015

  • Co-Chair, IndieCade - 2013

  • Board of Advisors, IndieCade - 2011 to Present

  • International Game Developers Association Chair of Women’s SIG - 2010 to Present

  • Game Developer Magazine - 2009 to Present

  • Board of Advisors, Strong Museum of Play - 2009 to Present

  • Smithsonian Board of Advisors for Game Exhibit (resigned due to removal of Apple II) - 2010

  • Board of Advisors, FantasicFest - 2009

  • International Game Developers Association Board of Directors - Elected March 2008

  • Women in Games International, Steering Committee Member - 2007

  • International Game Developers Association Savannah Chapter Co-Founder - 2007

  • International Game Developers Association Education SIG - Ad Hoc Committee Chair - 2008


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John Romero, Programmer and Game Designer

John Romero is an award-winning game designer, level designer and programmer whose work spans over 130 games, 107 of which have been published commercially, including the iconic works Wolfenstein 3D, DOOM and Quake. Romero has worked in the mobile, hardcore, mid-core, casual and MMO space. Romero has co-founded eight successful game companies including the likes of id Software, Gazillion Entertainment and, most recently, Romero Games which celebrated its 7th anniversary in 2022. He is considered to be among the world’s top game designers, and his games have won well over 100 awards. One of the earliest indie developers, Romero began working in the game space in 1979 on mainframes before moving to the Apple II in 1982. He is a completely self-taught programmer, designer and artist, having drawn his inspirations from early Apple II programmers. Romero co-owns Romero Games. 

Associations

  • BAFTA, Invited Member - 2012 to present

  • Board of Advisors, Strong Museum of Play - 2009 to Present

  • Smithsonian Board of Advisors for Game Exhibit (resigned due to removal of Apple II) - 2009

  • Chairman of the Advisory Board, Cyberathlete Professional League - 1997 to 2009

  • Co-Founder & Guildhall Master, Guildhall at SMU - 2002

  • Full Sail Advisory Board

Awards

Brenda Romero

Personal

  • 2018 – Bizkaia Lifetime Achievement, Fun & Serious Games Festival, Bilbao, Spain

  • 2017 – Brenda Romero – BAFTA Special Award

  • 2017 – John and Brenda Romero – Develop Legend award; Develop Industry Excellence Awards; Brighton, England

  • 2015 – Brenda Romero – GDC Choice Award, Ambassador Award

  • 2014 – Brenda Romero – Fulbright Scholar / Ireland (6-week commission to study Irish game industry)

  • 2014 – Brenda Romero – Business Insider, "The 100 Most Influential Tech Women on Twitter" (May)

  • 2013 – Brenda Romero – Top 10 Game Developers of 2013, Gamasutra

  • 2013 – Brenda Romero - Lifetime Achievement Award, Game Developers Conference, Women in Gaming

  • 2013 – Brenda Romero - Forbes “12 Women in Gaming to Watch”

  • 2013 - Lifetime Achievement Award, Game Developers Conference, Women in Gaming

  • 2013 - Forbes "12 Women in Gaming to Watch"

  • 2010 – Woman of the Year, Charisma+2 Magazine

  • 2010 – Microsoft 2010 Women in Games, Game Design Award, Nominee

  • 2009 – Train, Vanguard Award, IndieCade

  • 2009 – Train, IndieCade Finalist

  • 2008 – Women in Games: The Gamasutra 20, Recognized as one of the top 20 women in games

  • 2007 – Presidential Fellowship Award, Savannah College of Art and Design

  • 2007 – Next Generation, one of only six “outstanding female game developer[s]”

  • 2006 – Next Generation, “100 Most Influential Women in the Game Industry”

  • 2006 – New Radical, Radical Game Designer, Nerve Magazine, “The 50 artists, actors, authors, activists and icons who are making the world a more stimulating place”

  • 2005 – GamerGod.com, Top 10 Most Interesting People of 2005, #3

  • 2005 – Guardian Unlimited, Top 10 Most Interesting People of 2005, #5

Ghost Recon

  • 2013 February - GANG Award for Berst Audio in a Casual, Indie or Social Game

  • 2012 – Golden Joystick, Nominee, Best Browser/Flash Games, September 2012

Ravenwood Fair

  • 2011 – Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, Nominee, Social Networking Game of the Year

  • 2011 – Game Developers Choice Online Award, Nominee, Best Social Network Game

  • 2011 – Game Developers Choice Online Award, Nominee, Best Online Game Design

  • 2011 – Game Developers Choice Online Award, Nominee, Best Audio Design

D&D Heroes

  • 2003 – Official Xbox Magazine’s Editors Choice Award

  • 2003 – Gamer’s Pulse Editor’s Choice Award

Wizardry 8

  • 2002 – Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, Finalist, Computer Role Playing Game of the Year

  • 2001 – Computer Games Magazine, 2001 RPG Game of the Year (Tie)

  • 2001 – GameSpot, Best Single Player RPG, Top Ten Best PC Games

  • 2001 – GameSpy, Runner Up - PC RPG of the Year

  • 2001 – Games Domain, Games Domain Highly Recommended Game

  • 2001 – RPG Vault, Lifetime Achievement Award, RPG of the Year: Honorable Mention

  • 2001 – GamePen, Best RPG of 2001, Best PC Game of 2001 Nominee

  • 2001 – GamePen, Editor's Choice Award

  • 2001 – ActionTrip, Editor's Choice Award

  • 2001 – FBI Reviews, Best RPG of 2001, Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence

  • 2001 – RPGDot, Best Single Player RPG in 2001


John Romero

Personal

  • 2019 – Lifetime Achievement, Wall of Fame, Sao Paulo, Brazil

  • 2017 – Bizkaia Lifetime Achievement, Fun & Serious Games Festival, Bilbao, Spain

  • 2017 – John and Brenda Romero – Develop Legend award; Develop Industry Excellence Awards; Brighton, England

  • 2015 – John Romero – Apple II Computer and Notebook inducted into the Strong National Museum of Play

  • 2015 – John Romero – DOOM inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame

  • 2013 – John Romero (sound design), Brenda Romero (lead design) - GANG Award for Best Audio in a Casual, Indie or Social Game, Ghost Recon Commander

  • 2012 July – Tech Hall of Fame, The Next Web

  • 2012 July – Apple II Forever Award, KansasFest

  • 2011 October – Most Influential Person in Facebook and Social Games (#1), AOL’s Games.com

  • 1999 – MIT Technology Review TR100, Innovators Under 35

  • 1998 – Time Magazine, CyberElite 50 (#36)

  • 1998 October – Entertainment Weekly, Power Issue, 101 Most Powerful People in Entertainment #95

  • 1998 September – Texas Monthly Magazine, Texas 20

  • 1997 – Time Magazine, CyberElite 50 (#40)

  • 1996 – Gamespot, The Most Influential People in Computer Gaming of All Time, #7

id Software Technology

  • 2007 – National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Emmy, User Generated Content, for technology developed in part during and by Mr. Romero while at id Software.

  • 2006 – National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Emmy, Development of 3D Software Engines, for technology developed in part during and by Mr. Romero while at id Software.

Ravenwood Fair

  • 2011 – Game Developers Choice Online Award, Nominee, Best Social Network Game

  • 2011 – Game Developers Choice Online Award, Nominee, Best Online Game Design

  • 2011 – Game Developers Choice Online Award, Nominee, Best Audio Design

  • 2011 – Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, Social Networking Game of the Year Nominee

Ghost Recon Commander

  • 2013 February - GANG Award for Berst Audio in a Casual, Indie or Social Game

  • 2012 September – Golden Joystick, Nominee, Best Browser/Flash Games

Hyperspace Delivery Boy

  • 2007 – Smartphone & Pocket PC Magazine, Best Software Awards > Touch Screen

Quake

  • 2012 November – Time Magazine, Top 100 Games of All Time

  • 2012 – Metacritic, 25 Best-reviewed PC Games of All Time (#11)

  • 2009 July – GameTrailers.com, Top 10 Breakthrough PC Games of All Time, #7

  • 2004 – GameSpot.com, Top 10 First Person Shooters

  • 2001 – GameSpy, Top 10 Games of All Time, #5

  • 2001 – Stomped, Reader’s Poll - Game of the Millenium

  • 2000 – GameSpot.com, Top Games List, #2

  • 1997 – Computer Game Developer’s Conference (CGDC), Spotlight Award - Best Online/Internet Game

  • 1997 – Computer Game Developer’s Conference (CGDC), Spotlight Award - Best Music Soundtrack

  • 1997 – Computer Game Developer’s Conference (CGDC), Spotlight Award - Best Sound Effects

  • 1997 – PC Games, Editor’s Choice - Breakthrough Game

  • 1997 – Computer Gaming World, Action Game of the Year

  • 1997 – Computer Gaming World, Special Award for Technological Achievement

  • 1997 – Linux Journal, Reader’s Choice Awards, Most Played Linux Game

  • 1997 – Computer Gaming, Best Game of the Year

  • 1997 – Computer Gaming, Best Action/Adventure Game of the Year

  • 1996 – Gamecenter, Action Game of the Year

  • 1996 – Gamecenter, Game of the Year

  • 1996 – PC Computing Magazine, MVP Award - Best CD-ROM Game

  • 1996 – GameSpot, Editor’s Choice

  • 1996 – Computer Gaming World, 150 Best Games of All Time (#5)

  • 1996 – Next Generation Magazine, Top Games List, #9

  • 1996 – Computer Gaming World, Hall of Fame

DOOM II

  • 2012 – The Telegraph, The Best Violent Video Games of All Time

  • 2012 – G4TV, Top 100 Video Games of All Time #12

  • 2012 November – GamesRadar, The 100 Best Games of All Time, #57

  • 1995 – Software Publishers Association, CODIE award, Best Action/Arcade Program

  • 1995 – Mac User Editor’s Choice for Best New Action Game

  • 1994 – Computer Gaming World, Game of the Year

  • 1994 – Computer Games Strategy Plus, Action Game of the Year

  • 1994 – 33rd Annual Origins Awards, Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Computer Game

DOOM

  • 2015 May – Rock Paper Shotgun –"The 50 Best FPS Ever Made", #1

  • 2012 November – Time Magazine, Top 100 Games of All Time

  • 2012 November – ComplexGaming, The 50 Best PC Games of All Time, #18

  • 2009 July – Game Trailers, Top 10 Breakthrough PC Games of All Time, #1

  • 2009 – Game Informer Magazine, Top 10 Games of All Time, #6

  • 2009 – Empire Magazine, The 100 Greatest Games, #7

  • 2008 – Entertainment Weekly, Top Games List, #3

  • 2008 September – Stuff Magazine, 100 Greatest Games, #8

  • 2007 – Computer and Video Games Magazine, The 101 Best PC Games Ever, #8

  • 2007 – PC World, Best Tech Products of All Time

  • 2006 – GameSpot.com, The Greatest Games of All Time

  • 2005 – IGN.com, Top 100 Games of All Time, #39

  • 2005 – Game Informer, Top Games List, #5

  • 2004 – Gamespot.com, Top 10 First Person Shooters

  • 2004 – PC Gamer, Most Influential Game of the Decade

  • 2003 – Retro Gamer, Top Games List, #9

  • 2003 – Entertainment Weekly, Top Games List, #2

  • 2003 – IGN.com, Top 100 Games of All Time, #44

  • 2001 – GameSpy.com, Top 50 Games of All Time, #1

  • 2001 – GamesRadar.com, Top Games List, #5

  • 2001 – Game Informer, Top 100 Games of All Time #5

  • 2000 – GamesRadar.com, Top Games List #4

  • 2000 – GameSpot.com, Top Games List, #2

  • 1997 – Linux Journal, Readers Choice Awards, Most Played Linux Game (Runner Up)

  • 1996 – Computer Gaming World, 150 Best Games of All Time (#5)

  • 1994 – European Computer Trade Show, Computer Game of the Year

  • 1994 – PC Gamer, Game of the Year

  • 1994 – Computer Gaming World, Game of the Year

  • 1994 – PC Magazine, Award for Technical Excellence

  • 1994 – Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, Best Action Adventure Award

  • 1994 – Golden Triad Award, “In Recognition of the Product’s Superior Quality”

  • 1993 – GamesRadar UK, Platinum Choice Award and Game of the Year

  • Computer Gaming World, Hall of Fame

Wolfenstein 3D

  • 2012 – The Telegraph, The Best Violent Video Games of All Time

  • 2012 – G4, Top 100 Video Games of All Time

  • 2011 – Playstation Universe, Unforgettable Gaming Moments

  • 2009 – 1UP.com, Execptional Boss Fight

  • 2007 – IGN, Top 100 Games of All Time

  • 2006 – The Phoenix, 15th Greatest Videogame Boss in Videogame History

  • 2003 – IGN, Top 100 Games of All Time

  • 1996 – Computer Gaming World, 150 Best Games of All Time (#97)

  • 1993 – Best New Home/Hobby Entertainment

  • 1993 – Best Entertainment Software

  • 1993 – Software Publishers Association, CODIE award, Best Arcade/Action Game

  • 1992 – PC Gamer, Top 8 Games Ever

  • 1992 – Compute, Best Arcade/Action Game

  • 1992 – PC World, Most Popular Game

  • 1992 – VG&CE, Best Action Game

  • 1992 – VG&CE, Most Innovative Game

  • 1992 – Shareware Magazine, Editor’s Choice Award

  • 1992 – PC/Computing, Best Entertainment Software (Finalist)

  • 1992 – Computer Gaming World, Hall of Fame

Commander Keen

  • 1992 – Shareware Industry Awards, Best Action Game

  • 1992 – Shareware Industry Awards, Innovation