I cannot believe this! I was researching China Joy in the internet, because i wanted to write about it. Since i went to the China Joy party and the exhibition too. But as i browse through IGDA website, on their main page, it is written: "New IGDA Developer Memorials initiative recognizes passing of Erick Wujcik" . My heart thumping, i was nervous and shocked. No way, no way! I keep on murmuring to myself. My hands shake a little bit as i clicked on the picture of Erick. And it is true...i cannot believe it!
I just met him and talked to him on the internet not so long ago!
But i offer my deep condolences for Erick Wujcik, he is a great and charming guy. He looks like a big kind bear. Even though i did not get to know him, but my first meeting with Erick is memorable. He is the first game designer i ever met. And from there on, i start to get to know some more top game designers in the world.
If it is not because of Erick, I wouldn't have step my foot in Ubisoft Shanghai studio, and on that 2 hours interview, i learn a lot from Erick. He told me a lot of things about being a game designer. And i hold the 'key' of success. Thank you Erick! Because of your piece of advice, i know what the key is.
Below is the life story of Erick Wujcik, from IGDA (International Game Developer Association):
Biography
Beloved role-playing game designer, Erick Wujcik, passed away Saturday evening, June 7, 2008. He died from complications related to pancreatic and liver cancer. Kathryn Kozora, his sweetheart of over 30 years, and other loved ones were at his side.
Erick was diagnosed with cancer in late November, 2007 and given 6-8 weeks to live. True to Erick’s indomitable spirit and zest for life, he proved the doctors wrong by lasting more than six months. Most of that time was spent with friends and loved ones.
Erick Wujcik’s accomplishments are many.
To the role-playing game community, Erick is best known for his many RPG games and contributions to Palladium Books®, including The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles® RPG, several TMNT® sourcebooks, After the Bomb® RPG and sourcebooks for it, Ninjas & Superspies™, Mystic China™, Rifts® China One and Two, Revised RECON®, Wolfen Empire™ and many others. He is also famous for Amber® Diceless, the first truly “diceless” role-playing game, published under Erick’s own label, Phage Press. Erick also published Amberzine® and founded Ambercon™, a series of conventions celebrating gaming, friendship and the world of Amber, hosted at numerous locations around the world.
Erick Wujcik was also the founder, heart and soul of the Detroit Gaming Center, served as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Game Design at Hong Kong Polytechnic University (2003-2008), and worked in the videogame industry for the last several years, including UbiSoft China and most recently, as Senior Game Design/Writer at Totally Games, Novato, California.
Erick Wujcik’s greatest accomplishment, however, is his contagious joy for life and love of ideas and imagination that inspired people around the world. Whether they were his students at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, fellow game designers, or fans sitting in the audience at a convention or seminar listening to Erick speak, to those who had the pleasure of gaming with Erick (he loved to run games at conventions and everywhere he went), to those who knew him best, they couldn’t help but to love him. Even the millions who only knew him through his published works or communicated with him online, considered him a friend.
Erick is survived by Kathyrn Kozora, Kate’s granddaughter – his beloved Sara, mother Nora, sister Peggy, his Aunt Mary and Uncle Sam and Nancy, along with dozens of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Erick’s last months of life were the same as he had always lived, full of friendship, joy, grace and beauty. He went quietly into the night, like a snowflake falling gently from the heavens.
– Kevin Siembieda, Palladium Books®
© Copyright 2008 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.
Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Palladium Books®, Phase World®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Megaverse®, Nightbane®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars® and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. Heroes Unlimited, Beyond the Supernatural, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc., and Kevin Siembieda.
This press release may be reprinted, reposted, linked and shared. Original source
edit Works
edit Paper-based games
* The Palladium Book of Weapons and Assassins
* Dragons & Gods
* PFRPG Book 3: Adventures on the High Seas, Second Edition
* Wolfen Empire Adventure Sourcebook
* Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness
* Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness, Revised
* After the Bomb
* After the Bomb, Second Edition
* Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures!
* After the Bomb Book 2: Road Hogs
* Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Guide to the Universe
* After the Bomb Book 3: Mutants Down Under
* Transdimensional Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
* After the Bomb Book 4: Mutants of the Yucatan
* Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles RPG Accessory Pack
* After the Bomb Book 5: Mutants in Avalon
* Ninjas & Superspies
* Ninjas & Superspies, Revised
* Mystic China
* Deluxe Revised RECON
* The Revised RECON
* Advanced RECON
* Rifts World Book 24: China 1: The Yama Kings
* Rifts World Book 25: China 2: Heroes of the Celestial Court
* Rifts World Book 27: China 3: Masters of Magic
* Space Gamer / Fantasy Gamer #79 (August/September 1987 Issue) (Not a Palladium product)
(Information from Palladium Books Reference)
* Amber Diceless Role-Playing (Website)
edit Video games
* Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter (2006), Game Design Studio Manager
* Alter Echo (2003), Design and Level Scripting
* Raymond E. Feist's Return to Krondor (1998), Writer
Links
*Memorial site
*Erick personal website
*More links about Erick in IGDA