Erick Wujcik
Encyclopedia
Erick Wujcik was an American designer of both pen-and-paper and computer
role-playing game
s, and co-founder of Palladium Books
.
, and then as a computer columnist for The Detroit News
where he wrote their weekly Computer Column from 1979 to 1981. That served to be a springboard for him to co-found Palladium Books alongside Kevin Siembieda
and work on developing numerous role-playing games and supplements for such settings
as Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game
, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness
, After the Bomb, Rifts
, and many others, including Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game
and Paranoia
.
Wujcik was also the director of the Detroit Gaming Center, and founder of the gaming convention
s known as Ambercon. In 1997 he went to work for Sierra Studios
and was lead game designer on the game Return to Krondor
. He also served as a game designer at Outrage Entertainment for the game Alter Echo
.
Wujcik served as chief editor of Amberzine, a fanzine
for the Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game, publishing the work of such notables as Ray Bradbury
, Henry Kuttner
, and Roger Zelazny
. He was also an editorial contractor for the Detroit Historical Museum
, and gave seminars on a wide range of topics related to the writing, design and development of role-playing games.
From 2004 to 2006, Wujcik was Game Design Studio Manager for UbiSoft
China, in Shanghai
.
Until his death in June 2008, Wujcik was Senior Game Designer and Writer for Totally Games
, located in Marin County, California
.
. The same day, Kevin Siembieda set up a website for well-wishers to leave Wujcik messages:
In his final months, chemotherapy treatments had failed to eradicate Wujcik's cancer and were halted. He entered hospice
care in his home in San Rafael, California
.
On June 6, 2008, Kevin Siembieda released an update on Erick's condition:
Erick Wujcik passed away the following day, June 7, 2008.
were given out during the awards ceremony at Gen Con
. Along with Dungeons & Dragons
creators Dave Arneson
and Gary Gygax
, Erick Wujcik was recognized for his contributions to the gaming industry. However, being aware of his diagnosis and uncertain of his prognosis, EN World decided to present Wujcik with his award on January 26, 2008, at a gathering of family and friends to celebrate his 57th birthday. Kevin Siembieda later offered remarks in remembrance of Wujcik at the official ceremony.
Wujcik was also inducted into the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design Hall of Fame by the Game Manufacturers Association
at the 37th Origins Award
s on June 25, 2011.
Role-playing video game
Role-playing video games are a video game genre with origins in pen-and-paper role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, using much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. The player in RPGs controls one character, or several adventuring party members, fulfilling one or many quests...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
s, and co-founder of Palladium Books
Palladium Books
Palladium Books is a publisher of role-playing games perhaps best known for its popular, expansive Rifts series . Palladium was founded April 1981 in Detroit, Michigan by current president and lead game designer Kevin Siembieda, and is presently based in Westland, Michigan...
.
Gaming career
Wujcik started off as head of the gaming society at Wayne State UniversityWayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
, and then as a computer columnist for The Detroit News
The Detroit News
The Detroit News is one of the two major newspapers in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan. The paper began in 1873, when it rented space in the rival Free Press's building. The News absorbed the Detroit Tribune on February 1, 1919, the Detroit Journal on July 21, 1922, and on November 7, 1960,...
where he wrote their weekly Computer Column from 1979 to 1981. That served to be a springboard for him to co-found Palladium Books alongside Kevin Siembieda
Kevin Siembieda
Kevin Siembieda is an American artist, writer, designer, and publisher of role-playing games, and the co-founder and president of Palladium Books....
and work on developing numerous role-playing games and supplements for such settings
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
as Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game
Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game
The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game is a game produced by Palladium Books. It is set in a unique world, called the Palladium World , with the primary setting being some 10,000 years after a great war between the elves and their dwarven allies...
, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness is a role-playing game based on the comic book created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. The core rulebook was first published by Palladium Books in September 1985 – a couple years before the Turtles franchise achieved mass popularity – and featured...
, After the Bomb, Rifts
Rifts (role-playing game)
Rifts is a multi-genre role-playing game created by Kevin Siembieda in 1990 and published continuously by Palladium Books since then. Rifts takes place in a post-apocalyptic future, deriving elements from cyberpunk, science fiction, fantasy, horror, western, mythology and many other genres.Rifts...
, and many others, including Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game
Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game
The Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game is a role-playing game created and written by Erick Wujcik, set in the fictional universe created by author Roger Zelazny for his Chronicles of Amber...
and Paranoia
Paranoia (role-playing game)
Paranoia is a dystopian science-fiction tabletop role-playing game originally designed and written by Greg Costikyan, Dan Gelber, and Eric Goldberg, and first published in 1984 by West End Games. Since 2004 the game has been published under licence by Mongoose Publishing...
.
Wujcik was also the director of the Detroit Gaming Center, and founder of the gaming convention
Gaming convention
A gaming convention is a gathering that centered on role-playing games, collectible card games, miniatures wargames, board games, video games, or other types of games. These conventions are typically two or three days long, and often held at either a university or in a convention center hotel...
s known as Ambercon. In 1997 he went to work for Sierra Studios
Sierra Entertainment
Sierra Entertainment Inc. was an American video-game developer and publisher founded in 1979 as On-Line Systems by Ken and Roberta Williams...
and was lead game designer on the game Return to Krondor
Return to Krondor
Return to Krondor is a computer role-playing game set in Raymond Feist's fictional fantasy setting of Midkemia. A sequel to 1993's Betrayal at Krondor, it was released for Windows 95 on the PC in time for the 1998 Christmas season...
. He also served as a game designer at Outrage Entertainment for the game Alter Echo
Alter Echo
Alter Echo is a third-person action game developed by Outrage Entertainment and published by THQ for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox platforms in 2003....
.
Wujcik served as chief editor of Amberzine, a fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
for the Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game, publishing the work of such notables as Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury
Ray Douglas Bradbury is an American fantasy, horror, science fiction, and mystery writer. Best known for his dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 and for the science fiction stories gathered together as The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man , Bradbury is one of the most celebrated among 20th...
, Henry Kuttner
Henry Kuttner
Henry Kuttner was an American author of science fiction, fantasy and horror.-Early life:Henry Kuttner was born in Los Angeles, California in 1915...
, and Roger Zelazny
Roger Zelazny
Roger Joseph Zelazny was an American writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels, best known for his The Chronicles of Amber series...
. He was also an editorial contractor for the Detroit Historical Museum
Detroit Historical Museum
The Detroit Historical Museum is located at 5401 Woodward Avenue in the city's Cultural Center Historic District in Midtown Detroit. It chronicles the history of the Detroit area from cobblestone streets, 19th century stores, the auto assembly line, toy trains, fur trading from the 18th century,...
, and gave seminars on a wide range of topics related to the writing, design and development of role-playing games.
From 2004 to 2006, Wujcik was Game Design Studio Manager for UbiSoft
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
China, in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
.
Until his death in June 2008, Wujcik was Senior Game Designer and Writer for Totally Games
Totally Games
Totally Games is an electronic game developer located in Marin County, California. Their titles included X-Wing, TIE Fighter, X Wing vs. TIE Fighter and X-Wing Alliance , a series of World War II Flight Simulator series, the most recent being Secret Weapons Over Normandy, and Bridge Commander based...
, located in Marin County, California
Marin County, California
Marin County is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2010, the population was 252,409. The county seat is San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is well...
.
Illness and death
On December 22, 2007, it was announced that Wujcik had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancerPancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
. The same day, Kevin Siembieda set up a website for well-wishers to leave Wujcik messages:
Erick Wujcik, age 56, is dying of cancer. Until a few weeks ago, Erick was healthy and doing fine. He was enjoying his work at Totally Games, a videogame company, when he thought he had come down with the flu. When he couldn’t shake it, he went to the doctors. The diagnosis was unexpected, to say the least. Pancreatic cancer that had spread to his liver. There was no advance warning. It was a shock. Erick presses forward with the willful exuberance he has exhibited all his life.
In his final months, chemotherapy treatments had failed to eradicate Wujcik's cancer and were halted. He entered hospice
Hospice
Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms.In the United States and Canada:*Gentiva Health Services, national provider of hospice and home health services...
care in his home in San Rafael, California
San Rafael, California
San Rafael is a city and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area...
.
On June 6, 2008, Kevin Siembieda released an update on Erick's condition:
I’m sorry to report that Erick is quite ill now and suffering from the consequences of a failing liver. His deteriorating condition is not a surprise, but it is unwelcomed. Erick has beat the odds and fooled the doctors – fooled everyone – by lasting as long as he has, but then Erick has always been full of surprises and magic. But even the power of the “Wuj” has its limits, and I fear it won’t be long now.
Erick Wujcik passed away the following day, June 7, 2008.
Awards and honors
In August 2008, the first – and, to date, only – Liftetime Achievement ENniesENnies
The Annual Gen Con EN World RPG Awards are annual, fan-based awards for role-playing game products and publishers hosted at Gen Con in Indianapolis, Indiana...
were given out during the awards ceremony at Gen Con
Gen Con
Gen Con is one of the largest and most prominent annual gaming conventions in North America. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card-style games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, board games, live action role-playing games, collectible card games, non-collectible...
. Along with Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
creators Dave Arneson
Dave Arneson
David Lance "Dave" Arneson was an American game designer best known for co-developing the first published role-playing game , Dungeons & Dragons, with Gary Gygax, in the early 1970s...
and Gary Gygax
Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
, Erick Wujcik was recognized for his contributions to the gaming industry. However, being aware of his diagnosis and uncertain of his prognosis, EN World decided to present Wujcik with his award on January 26, 2008, at a gathering of family and friends to celebrate his 57th birthday. Kevin Siembieda later offered remarks in remembrance of Wujcik at the official ceremony.
Wujcik was also inducted into the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design Hall of Fame by the Game Manufacturers Association
Game Manufacturers Association
The Game Manufacturers Association is a non-profit trade association based in Columbus, Ohio, dedicated to the advancement of the non-electronic social games industry - Board/Tabletop Games, Miniatures Games, Card Games, Collectable/Tradeable Card Games, Role-Playing Games, and Live-Action Role...
at the 37th Origins Award
Origins Award
The Origins Awards are American awards for outstanding work in the game industry. They are presented by the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design at the Origins Game Fair on an annual basis for the previous year, so the 1979 awards were given at the 1980 Origins.The Origins Award is commonly...
s on June 25, 2011.
After the Bomb
[Out of Print] [Out of Print] [Out of Print] [Out of Print] [Out of Print]Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game
[Out of Print] - "Tombs of Gersidi" adventure scenario [Out of Print] [Out of Print]Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
[Out of Print] [Out of Print] [Out of Print] [Out of Print]The Rifter
[Out of Print] [Out of Print] - Reprinted from Issues 1 and 2. - Special tribute issue.External links
- Erick Wujcik's Homepage
- Erick Wujcik: One of the Great Game Designers tribute page
- The Official Amber Diceless Role-Playing Game and Erick Wujcik Fanforum
- Places to Go, People to Be interview – "Jobs for the Boys: Roleplaying and Computing Careers"
- Guide du Rôliste Galactique: Encyclopédie—Biographie de l'auteur Erick Wujcik (French)