Press Release, 20/6/2023
February 2024 will mark thirty-one years in the games industry for me, but I also reach retirement age here in the UK.
I have been giving this a lot of thought over the last few months and have decided that I will retire from working on video games from that point on.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working on a huge variety of projects over the years, so it’s not a decision I’m making lightly. However, I find I’m increasingly drawn to writing books, particularly children’s books, and hope that those who wish to support my work in the future will read my stories.
Games have developed unbelievably in the last three decades since I began working for Revolution Software on Beneath a Steel Sky in 1993, but as much as I appreciate the advances and increased sophistication, I must admit that I struggle to keep up with everything.
I’m also a little concerned about the threat of AI and I fear that it may undermine the careers of many writers (and other creatives) in the games industry and beyond. So it may well be a good time to retire for this reason alone.
There have been so many people I’ve worked with over the years who have made working on video games pleasurable, rewarding, exciting and challenging. Many of them have made me a better writer, artist or game designer in the process and I truly appreciate that.
But I’d particularly like to thank the founders of Revolution – Charles Cecil, Tony Warriner, David Sykes and Noirin Carmody – for giving me my initial break. Without that I may never have had such a rich career.
I have many more years of creativity ahead of me but my days of working on video games are drawing to a close.
Thank you.