Richard Garriott launched his career by selling a fantasy game titled Akalabeth in Ziploc bags, eventually earning $150,000 from the venture. This early success established the foundations for the computer role-playing game genre. Beyond his contributions to software design, he reached the International Space Station as a private astronaut, fulfilling a lifelong ambition hindered in his youth by eyesight complications.
Early Development and Gaming Roots
Born in Cambridge in 1961, Garriott discovered computers while attending Clear Creek High School. Through a self-directed programming course, he wrote numerous fantasy games on a teletype machine. His introduction to Apple computers in 1979 provided the visual tools necessary to shift his focus toward color graphics. Following the commercial distribution of Akalabeth, he enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin, where he continued to develop software.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Origin Systems and the Ultima Series
Garriott founded Origin Systems to manage the publishing of his titles, including the Ultima series. During the 1980s, he introduced the concept of an avatar in Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar to personalize player responsibility within virtual narratives. He maintained the fictional persona of Lord British throughout the series, supervising eleven main installments until 1999. Electronic Arts purchased Origin Systems in 1992 for $30 million.
MMORPG Innovation and Space Exploration
After leaving Electronic Arts, Garriott helped pioneer the massively multiplayer online role-playing game category. He later partnered with NCSoft as CEO of NC Interactive, where he oversaw the development of Tabula Rasa. In 2008, he flew to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz TMA-13 mission. During this trip, he filmed the science fiction movie Apogee of Fear, becoming the first American space traveler with a parent who had also served as an astronaut.
Later Professional Ventures
Garriott formed Portalarium in 2009, serving as the company's CEO and creative director for the project Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues. By 2018, he transitioned away from his leadership roles, eventually relinquishing all assets related to the project to Catnip Games in 2019. His contributions to the gaming industry were recognized in 2006 with a Game Developers Choice Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Fast facts
- Born: 1961, Cambridge
- Citizenship: United States; United Kingdom
- Education: Clear Creek High School; University of Texas at Austin
- First Published Game: Akalabeth: World of Doom (1979)
- ISS Mission: Soyuz TMA-13 (2008)
- Notable Awards: Game Developers Choice Award - Lifetime Achievement (2006)
Questions readers ask
Why is he associated with the name Lord British?
The name was assigned to him by friends during his early involvement with Dungeons & Dragons because he was born in the United Kingdom.
Did Richard Garriott work for NASA?
No, he pursued a career in software development after eyesight issues prevented him from becoming a NASA astronaut.
Achievements
- Educated at University of Texas at Austin and Clear Creek High School
- Worked as astronaut, engineer and programmer
