Developer Spotlight – Bethesda Softworks, LLC
By David on Tuesday, June 5th, 2007 at 10:32 PM PST In Bethesda
It’s easy to be critical about a game. Typing “THE GRAFIX SUKS” in all caps on a forum takes hardly any effort at all. What we sometimes do not realize is somewhere out there is a team of people that spent countless hours working to create those graphics. Even if the graphics are below average, an amazing amount of effort was put forth to produce them. I have had my hand in making games in the past, and I can be totally sympathetic to the challenges of the industry. But who are these mysterious developers? Where did they come from? What are they working on now? Those are the questions that I hope to answer.
Who are they? Bethesda Softworks, LLC
When were they founded? 1986
Where are they now? Rockville, Maryland
How do I know them? The Elder Scrolls Series [Previously listed Fallout series, but Bethesda has only been developing Fallout 3. Thanks for the heads-up]
What are they working on? The Elder Scrolls V, Fallout 3
Any media for those upcoming titles?
(Fallout 3 teaser here.)
Anything else we should know? Bethesda is credited with the creation of the first physics-based sports simulation (Gridiron) in 1986. That title led to Bethesda’s creation of the first John Madden Football game for Electronic Arts.
True Ed Fletcher / BS did create Gridiron which was published by EA. They also creates the first 5 v 5 fullcourt college basketball game, NCAA Raod to the Final Four – lead programmer / designer Eddie Dunbrower who did create Earl Weaver Baseball. BS also created Wayne Gretzky Hockey the 1st, well you know the drill.
Where did the Madden info come from? Never heard that before.
I made the correction to the article. That’s what I get for not double-checking my sources. Thanks for the heads-up, but let’s try to keep it a little more civil.
Re: Chris,
Just check wikipedia on bethesda softworks, or you can just google the history of the company. It’s pretty well documented, tho I had no idea prior to writing this piece.
Spot on! Patrick Stewart would be proud.