The Commodore 64 was the only item left in an abandoned Dallas home when sixteen-year-old American McGee found his family gone and his living situation dissolved. That computer became the foundation for a career in software engineering, leading him from a Volkswagen repair shop to the inner circle of early game developers in the United States.
Early Career at id Software
At age 21, McGee met John Carmack while living in an apartment complex. This acquaintance secured him a technical support position at id Software. He quickly transitioned into roles as a level designer and music manager. During this period, he contributed to titles including The Ultimate Doom, Doom II, Quake, and Quake II. In 1998, internal politics and personal failings led to his departure from the studio.
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After id Software, McGee joined Electronic Arts to serve as creative director for American McGee's Alice, which he developed alongside Rogue Entertainment. Following the project, he founded Carbon6, later renamed The Mauretania Import Export Company. He directed a music video for the band dredg and collaborated with Trevor Chan’s Enlight Software to release Scrapland in 2004 and Bad Day L.A. in 2006.
The Shanghai Years and Spicy Horse
McGee moved to Shanghai in 2009 after a period in Hong Kong. He established the studio Spicy Horse, which developed American McGee's Grimm for GameTap and the sequel Alice: Madness Returns, released in 2011. The studio later launched a mobile-focused brand, Spicy Pony, creating titles such as DexIQ and Crooked House. The Mauretania Import Export Company was dissolved in 2010, with assets shifting to Spicy Horse.
Final Projects and Retirement
In 2017, McGee began a proposal for Alice: Asylum, intending to pitch the project to Electronic Arts. Despite crowdfunding efforts via Patreon to produce a design and financial model, Electronic Arts rejected the proposal in early 2023. Following this decision, McGee announced his retirement from video game development to focus on his family and their business.
Fast facts
- Born: 1972, Dallas, United States
- Occupation: Computer scientist, video game developer, video game director
- First studio: id Software
- Primary residence since 2009: Shanghai, China
- Notable franchise: Alice
- Retirement announcement: April 2023
- Citizenship: United States
- Religion: Atheism
Questions readers ask
What happened to the Alice: Asylum project?
After McGee and his team presented a formal pitch book to Electronic Arts in early 2023, the company declined to approve the game for production or licensing.
Is American McGee still developing video games?
No, he announced his retirement from the industry in April 2023 to dedicate his time to his family and their private business.
Achievements
- Worked as computer scientist, video game developer and video game director
