Bradley R. Wardell (born June 24, 1971) is an American businessman, programmer, author and AI Engineer. He is the founder,

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

, and

chief executive officer A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...

Stardock Stardock Corporation is a software development company founded in 1991 and incorporated in 1993 as Stardock Systems. Stardock initially developed for the OS/2 platform, but was forced to switch to Microsoft Windows due to the collapse of the OS/ ...

, a

software development Software development is the process of conceiving, specifying, designing, programming, documenting, testing, and bug fixing involved in creating and maintaining applications, frameworks, or other software components. Software development invol ...

and

computer games A personal computer game, also known as a PC game or computer game, is a type of video game played on a personal computer (PC) rather than a video game console or arcade machine. Its defining characteristics include: more diverse and user-deter ...

company. Wardell's specialty is the design and programming of

artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence (AI) is intelligence—perceiving, synthesizing, and inferring information—demonstrated by machines, as opposed to intelligence displayed by animals and humans. Example tasks in which this is done include speech re ...

and

game mechanics In tabletop games and video games, game mechanics are the rules or ludemes that govern and guide the player's actions, as well as the game's response to them. A rule is an instruction on how to play, a ludeme is an element of play like the L-shap ...

for

turn-based strategy game A turn-based strategy (TBS) game is a strategy game (usually some type of wargame, especially a strategic-level wargame) where players take turns when playing. This is distinguished from real-time strategy (RTS), in which all players play simu ...

Career

Early career

Wardell built PCs and worked as a check proofer while studying at

Western Michigan University Western Michigan University (Western Michigan, Western or WMU) is a public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was initially established as Western State Normal School in 1903 by Governor Aaron T. Bliss for the training of teachers ...

. He graduated in 1994 with a degree in

Electronic Engineering Electronics engineering is a sub-discipline of electrical engineering which emerged in the early 20th century and is distinguished by the additional use of active components such as semiconductor devices to amplify and control electric current ...

, specializing in

Computer Engineering Computer engineering (CoE or CpE) is a branch of electrical engineering and computer science that integrates several fields of computer science and electronic engineering required to develop computer hardware and software. Computer engineers ...

. Wardell was involved in the

design A design is a plan or specification for the construction of an object or system or for the implementation of an activity or process or the result of that plan or specification in the form of a prototype, product, or process. The verb ''to design'' ...

and implementation of ''

Galactic Civilizations ''Galactic Civilizations'' is a turn-based strategy video game developed by Stardock and released in March 2003. The game is a remake of an OS/2 series of the same name. An expansion pack entitled ''Altarian Prophecy'' was released in 2004. A se ...

'' for

OS/2 OS/2 (Operating System/2) is a series of computer operating systems, initially created by Microsoft and IBM under the leadership of IBM software designer Ed Iacobucci. As a result of a feud between the two companies over how to position OS/2 ...

, one of the platform's few games. He led development of ''OS/2 Essentials'', followed by ''

Object Desktop Object Desktop (OD; previously the Object Desktop Network or ODNT) is an online software subscription service created by Stardock for OS/2 and relaunched for Windows in 1997. Object Desktop includes most graphical user interface customization and ...

'', a package of

utilities A public utility company (usually just utility) is an organization that maintains the infrastructure for a public service (often also providing a service using that infrastructure). Public utilities are subject to forms of public control and r ...

and

desktop A desktop traditionally refers to: * The surface of a desk (often to distinguish office appliances that fit on a desk, such as photocopiers and printers, from larger equipment covering its own area on the floor) Desktop may refer to various compu ...

enhancements. When the OS/2 market collapsed, he shifted Stardock to

Windows Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...

, heading development of PC game ''Entrepreneur'' (now '' The Corporate Machine'') while coordinating the creation of ''

WindowBlinds WindowBlinds is a computer program that allows users to skin the Windows graphical user interface. It has been developed by Stardock since 1998, and is the most popular component of their flagship software suite, Object Desktop. It is also avail ...

'' and other ''Object Desktop'' components. Wardell designed ''Galactic Civilizations'' for Windows and its sequel, which became

GameSpy GameSpy was an American provider of online multiplayer and matchmaking middleware for video games founded in 1996 by Mark Surfas. After the release of a multiplayer server browser for the game, QSpy, Surfas licensed the software under the GameS ...

's Game of the Year. He subsequently designed ''

The Political Machine ''The Political Machine'' is a government simulation game from Stardock and the first game in the '' Political Machine'' series, in which the player leads a campaign to elect the President of the United States. The player accomplishes this goal b ...

'' and ''

Elemental An elemental is a mythic being that is described in occult and alchemical works from around the time of the European Renaissance, and particularly elaborated in the 16th century works of Paracelsus. According to Paracelsus and his subsequent fo ...

'', as well as two expansions ('' Dark Avatar'' and '' Twilight of the Arnor'') to ''Galactic Civilizations II''. In 2012 he was the producer of '' Elemental: Fallen Enchantress''.

Computer customization

Wardell is co-founder and webmaster of

WinCustomize WinCustomize is a website that provides content for users to customize Microsoft Windows. The site hosts thousands of skins, themes, icons, wallpapers, and other graphical content to modify the Windows graphical user interface. There is some p ...

, a site specializing in the distribution of skins and themes for computer software. Wardell was a designer of OS customization programs such as

Fences (software) Fences is a utility for Windows that helps to organize icons on the desktop. It is developed by Stardock and distributed as part of their Object Desktop suite. Version 1 was freeware after which it has become a commercial product. Functionality ...

, and

. He was a regular on the ''PowerUser.TV''

podcast A podcast is a program made available in digital format for download over the Internet. For example, an episodic series of digital audio or video files that a user can download to a personal device to listen to at a time of their choosing ...

, run by WinCustomize and Neowin, and organized the ''GUI Olympics'' (later ''GUI Championships''), a semi-annual skinning competition starting in 2002.

Video games

Wardell has programmed, designed or executive produced a substantial number of video games and is regularly interviewed by game industry sites regarding his views on technology, game publishing and trends. His particular expertise has focused on parallel computing, AI, graphics APIs and strategy games. He has also presented at the Game Developer's Conference several times on topics ranging from code optimization to disasters in publishing. Wardell takes an approach to game development allowing users to view and influence the process of making games. Wardell is credited with multiple game projects either as a game designer or as an executive producer. Wardell is also an advocate for consumer rights for software and game customers and published th
Gamer's Bill of Rights

As designer

* Galactic Civilizations for OS/2 (1994) * Star Emperor (1996) * Entrepreneur (1997) * The Corporate Machine (2001) *

(2003) *

(2004) *

Galactic Civilizations II ''Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords'' is a 4X turn-based strategy by Stardock for Microsoft Windows. It is the sequel to the 2003 game, ''Galactic Civilizations'', and was released at retail and on Stardock's online subscription service, Tot ...

(2006) * Elemental: War of Magic (2010) * Sorcerer King (2015) *

Ashes of the Singularity ''Ashes of the Singularity'' is a real-time strategy video game developed by Oxide Games and Stardock Entertainment. The game was released for Microsoft Windows on March 31, 2016. The game features massive battles involving thousands of units on ...

(2016) * Galactic Civilizations III: Crusade (2017)

As Executive Producer

* Havok (1995) * Trials of Battle (1996) * Avarice (1996) * Stellar Frontier (1997) * Links Golf for OS/2 (1998) *

Sins of a Solar Empire ''Sins of a Solar Empire'' is a 2008 science fiction real-time strategy video game developed by Ironclad Games and published by Stardock Entertainment for Microsoft Windows operating systems. It is a real-time strategy (RTS) game that incorporates ...

(2008) *

Demigod A demigod or demigoddess is a part-human and part-divine offspring of a deity and a human, or a human or non-human creature that is accorded divine status after death, or someone who has attained the "divine spark" ( spiritual enlightenment). A ...

(2009) * Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion (2011) * Elemental: Fallen Enchantress (2012) * Elemental: Fallen Enchantress - Legendary Heroes (2013) * Galactic Civilizations III (2015) * Star Control: Origins (2018)

Digital Distribution

Wardell was an early pioneer of digital distribution of games and software. Its digital distribution platform, Impulse, was sold to GameStop in 2011.

Co-Founder work

In mid 2013, Stardock announced that it had promoted Derek Paxton to succeed Wardell in the running of Stardock Entertainment in order for Wardell to have more time for other projects. These other projects included co-founding new game studios including

Oxide Games Oxide Games is an American video game developer based in Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland. The studio was founded in January 2013 by Brad Wardell and former Firaxis employees Dan Baker, Marc Meyer, Brian Wade, and Tim Kipp. History Oxide Games f ...

and

Mohawk Games ''Mohawk Games'' is an American video game developer based in Baltimore, Maryland, known for releasing the strategy video games ''Offworld Trading Company'' and ''Old World''. History Mohawk games was co-founded in 2013 by Firaxis veterans Soren ...

with

Soren Johnson Soren Johnson (born May 23, 1976) is an American video game designer and programmer. Johnson's games primarily belong to 4X strategy, with a number of his titles having been critically acclaimed. He is best known for his work as a lead designer ...

. Wardell's goal was to encourage innovation and empower a new generation of

4X game 4X (abbreviation of ''Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate'') is a subgenre of strategy-based computer and board games, and include both turn-based and real-time strategy titles. The gameplay involves building an empire. Emphasis is placed ...

developers. As part of this endeavor, Wardell founded the Stardock Staffing Company to allow developers and artists to work on projects between a coalition of game studios to provide better job security.

Author

Wardell wrote the fantasy novel ''Elemental: Destiny's Embers'', published by Del Rey to accompany '' Elemental: War of Magic''. The book is set a thousand years after the Cataclysm, after the time of the game itself, and involves the quest of a former messenger to save mankind from the Fallen. The book came with a coupon to

download In computer networks, download means to ''receive'' data from a remote system, typically a server such as a web server, an FTP server, an email server, or other similar system. This contrasts with uploading, where data is ''sent to'' a remote s ...

an exclusive

campaign Campaign or The Campaign may refer to: Types of campaigns * Campaign, in agriculture, the period during which sugar beets are harvested and processed *Advertising campaign, a series of advertisement messages that share a single idea and theme * Bl ...

for the game.

Views

Digital rights management

Wardell endorses

digital distribution Digital distribution, also referred to as content delivery, online distribution, or electronic software distribution, among others, is the delivery or distribution of digital media content (media), content such as Sound recording and reproductio ...

, despite the potential for

piracy Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and other valuable goods. Those who conduct acts of piracy are called pirates, v ...

. He believes that while copyright infringement is an issue, blaming it for poor sales – and insisting on "stupid" forms of

digital rights management Digital rights management (DRM) is the management of legal access to digital content. Various tools or technological protection measures (TPM) such as access control technologies can restrict the use of proprietary hardware and copyrighted works. ...

– "hides other underlying causes." Indeed, he argues that extreme anti-piracy measures ''result'' in poor sales:

The reason why we don't put
copy protection Copy protection, also known as content protection, copy prevention and copy restriction, describes measures to enforce copyright by preventing the reproduction of software, films, music, and other media. Copy protection is most commonly found on ...
on our games isn't because we're nice guys. We do it because the people who actually buy games don't like to mess with it. Our customers make the rules, not the pirates.

Wardell says any system of protection "should be completely invisible to the user," and that it is not enough to make a good product while disrespecting your customers:

Stardock is consumer friendly because we're a bunch of greedy capitalists who have recognized what should be an obvious truth: If you treat people as potential customers and not potential criminals you are likely to get more sales.

To this end, Wardell created a "Gamers Bill of Rights," released at

PAX Pax or PAX may refer to: Peace * Peace (Latin: ''pax'') ** Pax (goddess), the Roman goddess of peace ** Pax, a truce term * Pax (liturgy), a salutation in Catholic and Lutheran religious services * Pax (liturgical object), an object formerly kiss ...

2008.

Gas Powered Games Wargaming Seattle, formerly known as Gas Powered Games, was a video game developer located in Redmond, Washington. The development studio was started in May 1998 by Chris Taylor and several other ex-Cavedog Entertainment employees. In 2013 they ...

' Chris Taylor – who was working with Stardock on ''

'' at the time – called the bill "an awesome framework for the industry to aspire to."

Media bias

Wardell has commented on the

Gamergate controversy Gamergate or GamerGate (GG) was a loosely organized misogynistic online harassment campaign and a right-wing backlash against feminism, diversity, and progressivism in video game culture. It was conducted using the hashtag "#Gamergate" pri ...

, stating that "The media should acknowledge that there's a problem and that their customers are getting fed up with it" in response to a question about how the media should cover it.

Awards

Wardell was a member of

Crain's Detroit Crain Communications Inc is an American multi-industry publishing conglomerate based in Detroit, Michigan, United States, with 13 non-US subsidiaries. History Gustavus Dedman (G.D.) Crain, Jr. ( Gustavus Demetrious Crain, Jr.; 1885–1973), pre ...

's 40 under 40 in 2003, and has been a finalist for

Ernst & Young Ernst & Young Global Limited, trade name EY, is a multinational professional services partnership headquartered in London, England. EY is one of the largest professional services networks in the world. Along with Deloitte, KPMG and Pricewaterh ...

's ''Michigan Entrepreneur of the Year'' in 2002-4 and 2007.

Personal life

Wardell has three children with his wife Debbie Wardell.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wardell, Brad American video game designers American technology chief executives 21st-century American novelists American fantasy writers American male novelists 1971 births Living people Western Michigan University alumni People from Plymouth, Michigan Stardock 21st-century American male writers