View source for Fred Ford (programmer)

{{Short description|American video game programmer}}
{{Lead too short|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}

'''Robert Frederick Ford''' is an American [[video game programmer]]. He is the son of mathematician [[L. R. Ford Jr.]] A co-founder of the video game studio [[Toys for Bob]], he led the company from its inception until late 2020 with his co-founder [[Paul Reiche III]]. Ford is the co-creator, with Reiche III, of the ''[[Star Control]]'' universe. Ford did the programming, while Reiche was responsible for the [[game design]] and [[fiction]].<ref>''Star Control 2 Manual''</ref> Ford was also the [[lead programmer]] on ''[[The Horde (video game)|The Horde]]'' and ''[[Pandemonium (video game)|Pandemonium]]''.<ref>{{moby developer|id=683|name=Fred Ford's profile}}</ref>

== Career ==

=== Beginnings and ''Star Control'' ===
Ford attended the [[University of California, Berkeley]].<ref name="polygon4">{{cite web|last1=Campbell|first1=Colin|date=April 16, 2014|title=Toys for Bob and the story behind Skylanders|url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/4/16/5614716/skylanders-story-toys-for-bob-skylanders-swap-force|access-date=March 7, 2016|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]}}</ref> In the early 1980s, Ford began his [[video game industry|game career]] while in college, creating games exclusively for the [[Japanese video game|Japanese market]].<ref name="youtubex">{{cite web|author=Sean Dacanay, Marcus Niehaus|date=July 7, 2020|title=Star Control Creators Paul Reiche & Fred Ford: Extended Interview|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs8RY31Byzg|type=Transcript|access-date=October 21, 2020|website=YouTube|publisher=Ars Technica}} [https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/dfb8c8ea-86c6-46fe-a8e7-c15ac862285amezzanine.txt Alt URL]</ref> Working for a company called Unison World (later Magicsoft), he worked on his first games for a Japanese monochrome handheld, including a bowling game, a bi-plane flight game, and a tank game.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Szczepaniak|first=John|date=September 2009|title=Finaru Furantier|url=https://issuu.com/roylazarovich/docs/retro_gamer_067|access-date=October 21, 2020|website=Retro Gamer 067|language=en}}</ref> Soon after, he moved onto developing for the [[NEC]] [[PC-6000 series]], the [[MSX]], and [[Fujitsu]] systems, with titles such as ''[[List of MSX games|Pillbox]], Sea Bomber,'' and ''Ground Support.<ref name=":0" />''

Ford was working on an unreleased title, when Magicsoft ran out of money.<ref name=":0" /> This led Ford to transition to more corporate employment.<ref name="Barton20162">{{cite book|author=Matt Barton|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UV7OBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA203|title=Honoring the Code: Conversations with Great Game Designers|date=April 19, 2016|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-1-4665-6754-2|pages=203–}}</ref> He worked for graphics companies in [[Silicon Valley]], until he realized he missed working in the game industry.<ref name="youtubex" /> Ford told friends he was seeking a designer-artist to collaborate with, and his friends knew [[Paul Reiche III]] was seeking a programmer-engineer.<ref name="GDC201532">{{cite web|author=Fred Ford & Paul Reiche III|date=June 30, 2015|title=Classic Game Postmortem: Star Control|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Napx0MjivCM|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=[[Game Developers Conference]]}}</ref> Ford and Reiche had actually attended college together,<ref name="polygon4"/> and their friends arranged to re-introduce them at a game night hosted by game designer [[Greg Johnson (game designer)|Greg Johnson]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Sean Dacanay, Marcus Niehaus|date=July 7, 2020|title=Star Control Creators Paul Reiche & Fred Ford: Extended Interview|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs8RY31Byzg|type=Transcript|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=Ars Technica|quote='''Ford''': I went to the Silicon Valley and I worked for some graphics companies. I did that for a few years, I was in the wilderness and eventually I said, why am I not doing something I like versus something I think I should be doing? And so the company I worked that, there was a couple of mutual friends, two people who grew up with Paul, they knew I wanted to leave and they knew Paul needed a partner and so they introduced us to each other.{{br}} '''Reiche''': Yeah, we were going to a game night, board game night at Greg Johnson's house, and Greg's one of the designers of "Starflight" and "ToeJam & Earl" and "Orly Draw-Me-A-Story" and a ton of great games. Anyway, he had a regular game night at his house and so we sort of had a blind date there and decided, yeah, let's start working on this game.}} [https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/dfb8c8ea-86c6-46fe-a8e7-c15ac862285amezzanine.txt Alt URL]</ref> One of the friends who encouraged the get-together was [[fantasy]] artist [[Erol Otus]]<ref name="SC2team">{{cite web|author=Lee Hutchinson|date=October 26, 2018|title=Video: The people who helped make Star Control 2 did a ton of other stuff|url=https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/1e42a2c2-df36-44c3-8c94-b8c7994f7954mezzanine.txt|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=[[Ars Technica]]}}</ref>

Reiche and Ford's first collaboration was ''[[Star Control]]'', with Ford focused on [[Game programmer|programming]], and Reiche focused on the [[game design]] and [[fiction]].<ref name="GDC201532"/> Originally called ''Starcon'', the game began as an evolution of the concepts that Reiche first created in ''[[Archon: The Light and the Dark]].''<ref name="Barton20162"/> ''Archon''{{'}}s strategic elements were adapted for ''Star Control'' into a [[Space opera|space]] setting, with one-on-one ship combat inspired by the classic 1962 game ''[[Spacewar!]]''.<ref name="HG101SC">{{cite web|author=Kurt Kalata|date=September 11, 2018|title=Star Control|url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/star-control/|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101}}</ref> As Ford and Reiche's workflow as a team was developing, the game took on a more limited scope compared to the sequel.<ref name="GDC201532"/> Upon its release in 1990, ''Star Control'' was voted the "Best Science Fiction Game" by ''[[Video Games and Computer Entertainment]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|date=February 1991|title=VG&CE's Best Games of 1990|publisher=VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, Issue 25}}</ref> Decades later, it is remembered as one of the greatest games of all time. "[A]s a melee or strategic game, it helped define the idea that games can be malleable and dynamic and players can make an experience wholly their own."<ref>{{cite web|author=Polygon Staff|date=November 29, 2017|title=500 Best Games of All Time|url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/11/29/16693094/polygon-500-best-games-of-all-time-300-201|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=Polygon}}</ref>

The success of their first game led to a more ambitious sequel in ''[[Star Control II]]''. Reiche and Ford aimed to go beyond ship combat to develop a "science fiction adventure role-playing game".<ref name="Barton20162"/> Their goal of creating a dynamic space adventure was largely inspired by ''[[Starflight]],'' created by [[Greg Johnson (game designer)|Greg Johnson]].<ref name="GDC201532"/> A few years earlier, Reiche had been friends with Johnson. During the game's creation, Reiche was inspired to offer creative input for Johnson's expansive science fiction game.<ref name="escapist-2010">{{cite web|last=Hoffman|first=Erin|date=January 19, 2010|title=When the Stars Align|url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_237/7041-When-the-Stars-Align|access-date=August 6, 2020|work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]|archive-date=December 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209022129/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_237/7041-When-the-Stars-Align|url-status=dead}}</ref> This friendship and mutual admiration led Reiche and Ford to hire Johnson for Star Control II. The duo later credited Johnson as one of the game's most significant contributors.<ref name="gamespotinterview">{{cite web|last=Kasavin|first=Greg|date=June 27, 2003|title=Greatest Games of All Time - Star Control II (Interview Feature)|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/greatestgames/starcon22.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050305195839/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/greatestgames/starcon22.html|archive-date=March 5, 2005|access-date=August 6, 2020|website=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref> ''Star Control''{{'}}s story and characters were vastly expanded from the story and characters in the first game.<ref name="Barton20162" /> As Reiche and Ford worked on the first version of the game's dialog,<ref name="GDC201532" /> they recognized they needed help with the writing and art and were forced to enlist the help of friends and family.<ref name="gamespotinterview" /> In addition to Johnson, they recruited long-time friend [[Erol Otus]], who contributed music, text, art, and illustrations for the game's manual, and (later) voice-acting.<ref name="GDC201532" /> Through mutual friends, they acquired the talents of famed [[fantasy]] [[artist]] [[George Barr (artist)|George Barr]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Lee Hutchinson|date=October 26, 2018|title=Video: The people who helped make Star Control 2 did a ton of other stuff|url=https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/1e42a2c2-df36-44c3-8c94-b8c7994f7954mezzanine.txt|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=Ars Technica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=GameSpy Staff|date=February 3, 2001|title=Interview with George Barr|url=http://starcontrol.classicgaming.gamespy.com/history/george_barr.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060313095138/http://starcontrol.classicgaming.gamespy.com/history/george_barr.shtml|archive-date=March 13, 2006|access-date=August 6, 2020|website=GameSpy}}</ref> The project eventually ran over schedule, and the budget from publisher [[Accolade, Inc.|Accolade]] ran out.<ref name="GDC201532" /> During the final months of development, Fred Ford supported the team financially.<ref name="pelit2">{{cite web|author=Pelit|date=March 21, 2006|title=Star Control - Kontrollin aikakirjat|url=https://www.pelit.fi/artikkelit/star-controlbrkontrollin-aikakirjat/|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=[[Pelit]]}}</ref>

''Star Control II'' became one of the best games of all time, according to numerous publications in the 1990s,<ref name=":3">{{plainlist|* {{Cite news|last=Staff|date=August 1994|title=PC Gamer Top 40: The Best Games of All Time|pages=32–42|work=[[PC Gamer|PC Gamer US]], Issue 3}}
* {{Cite news|last=Staff|date=April 1994|title=The PC Gamer Top 50 PC Games of All Time|publisher=[[PC Gamer]], Issue 5|pages=43–56}}
* {{cite magazine|last=Staff|date=November 1996|title=150 Best Games of All Time|pages=64–80|magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]]|url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1996&pub=2&id=148|access-date=March 25, 2016}}
* {{Cite news|last=Staff|date=February 1999|title=The Fifty Best Games of All Time|work=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]], Issue 50}}}}</ref> 2000s,<ref name=":4">{{plainlist|* {{cite web|author=Chris "shaithis" Buecheler|date=September 2000|title=The Gamespy Hall of Fame - Star Control 2|url=http://www.gamespy.com/legacy/halloffame/sc2_a.shtm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010430133458/http://www.gamespy.com/legacy/halloffame/sc2_a.shtm|archive-date=April 30, 2001|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=[[GameSpy]]}}
* {{cite web|author=Greg Kasavin|date=June 27, 2003|title=The Greatest Games of All Time - Star Control 2|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/greatestgames/p-7.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050814235252/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/greatestgames/p-7.html|archive-date=August 14, 2005|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=Gamespot}}
* {{Cite web|last=Staff|date=November 23, 2005|title=IGN's Top 100 Games of All Time (2003)|url=http://top100.ign.com/2003/51-60.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123024006/http://top100.ign.com/2003/51-60.html|archive-date=November 23, 2005|access-date=August 6, 2020|website=[[IGN]]}}
* {{Cite web|last=Staff|date=August 2, 2005|title=IGN's Top 100 Games (2005)|url=http://top100.ign.com/2005/011-020.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050802002523/http://top100.ign.com/2005/011-020.html|archive-date=August 2, 2005|access-date=August 6, 2020|website=IGN}}}}</ref> and 2010s.<ref name=":5">{{plainlist|* {{Cite news|last=Staff|date=February 19, 2011|title=The 100 best PC games of all time|language=en|work=PC Gamer|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-100-best-pc-games-of-all-time/5/|url-status=live|access-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219013135/http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/02/16/the-100-best-pc-games-of-all-time/5|archive-date=February 19, 2011}}
* {{cite web|last=Staff|date=December 5, 2015|title=HG101 Presents: The 200 Best Video Games of All Time|url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/books/hg101-presents-the-200-best-video-games-of-all-time/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029065018/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/books/hg101-presents-the-200-best-video-games-of-all-time/|archive-date=October 29, 2017|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101}}
* {{Cite news|last=Hamilton|first=Kirk|date=September 19, 2013|title=The Game That "Won" Our Classic PC Games List (If It Had A Winner)|language=en-US|work=[[Kotaku]]|url=http://kotaku.com/the-game-that-won-our-classic-pc-games-list-if-it-ha-1349952997|access-date=August 6, 2020}}}}</ref> It is also ranked among the best games in several specific areas, including: writing,<ref>{{plainlist|* {{cite web|last=Staff|date=March 2, 2000|title=GameSpot's Best 10 Endings|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_bestending/page8.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050219174742/http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_bestending/page8.html|archive-date=February 19, 2005|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=GameSpot}}
* {{cite web|last=Staff|date=March 1, 2000|title=GameSpot's Ten Best Endings: RC|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_readers_endings/5.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000301230429/http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_readers_endings/5.html|archive-date=March 1, 2000|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=GameSpot}}}}</ref> world design,<ref>{{plainlist|* {{cite web|title=8 Games That Capture the Infinite Potential of Space|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/8-games-that-capture-the-infinite-potential-of-space/|author=Patrick Lindsey|date=January 7, 2015|publisher=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste magazine]]}}
* {{cite web|last=Staff|date=October 18, 2000|title=GameSpot's Top 10 Gameworlds|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_readers_worlds/p2_01.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050228215510/http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_readers_worlds/p2_01.html|archive-date=February 28, 2005|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=GameSpot}}
* {{cite web|author=Jeff Drake|date=November 10, 2019|title=The 10 Biggest Open World Games|url=https://gamerant.com/open-world-games-biggest-maps/|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=Game Rant}}}}</ref> character design,<ref>{{plainlist|* {{cite web|author=GameSpot Staff|date=October 13, 1999|title=The Ten Best Computer Game Villains - The Ur Quan|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_villains/page11.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020823223224/http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_villains/page11.html|archive-date=August 23, 2002|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=GameSpot}}
* {{cite web|author=GameSpot Staff|date=October 12, 1999|title=Reader's Choice: Best Villains - Villains 5-1|url=https://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_villains_rc/page8.html/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991012071819/https://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_villains_rc/page8.html/|archive-date=October 12, 1999|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=GameSpot}}}}</ref> and music.<ref>{{plainlist|* {{cite web |author=Brad Stabler |author2=John Twells |author3=Miles Bowe |author4=Scott Wilson |author5=Tom Lea |date=April 18, 2015|title=The 100 best video game soundtracks of all time|url=https://www.factmag.com/2015/04/28/the-100-greatest-video-game-soundtracks-best-ost/|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=[[Fact (UK magazine)|FACT]]}}
* {{cite web|last=GameSpot Staff|date=October 13, 1999|title=The Ten Best Game Soundtracks|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_music/page9.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030406171219/http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_music/page9.html|archive-date=April 6, 2003|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=GameSpot}}
* {{cite web|last=GameSpot Staff|date=September 1, 1999|title=The Ten Best Game Soundtracks: RC|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_soundtrack/page7.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991012094815/http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_soundtrack/page7.html|archive-date=October 12, 1999|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=GameSpot}}}}</ref> The game also influenced other titles, most notably the open-ended gameplay of [[Tim Cain]]'s [[Fallout (video game)|''Fallout'']],<ref>{{Cite book|last=Cain|first=Tim|author-link=Tim Cain|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pLrGxQEACAAJ|title=The CRPG Book: A Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games|date=September 2019|publisher=Bitmap Books|isbn=978-1-9993533-0-8|editor-last=Pepe|editor-first=Felipe|language=en|quote=Since its release in 1992, Star Control 2 has been considered one of the best computer game ever developed, and for me, it remains my favorite CRPG of all time. You can see its influence in the open-endedness of Fallout and Arcanum, and I will always remember this game fondly.}} [https://crpgbook.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/crpg-book-preview-2-1.pdf Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200315234922/https://crpgbook.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/crpg-book-preview-2-1.pdf |date=March 15, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Cain|first=Tim |author-link=Tim Cain|date=January 19, 2015|title=1992 – Star Control 2|url=https://crpgbook.wordpress.com/review-index/1992-star-control-2/|access-date=August 6, 2020|website=The CRPG Book Project|language=en}}</ref> the world design of [[Mass Effect (video game)|''Mass Effect'']],<ref>{{cite web|author=John Gaudiosi|date=November 20, 2007|title=Critically Acclaimed Mass Effect Powered by Unreal Engine 3|url=https://www.unrealengine.com/ko/blog/mass-effect?lang=ko|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=Unrealengine.com}}</ref> and the story events of ''[[Stellaris (video game)|Stellaris]]''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Alex Hamilton|date=June 11, 2016|title=Stellaris Interview|url=https://www.gamegrin.com/articles/stellaris-interview/|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=GameGrin}}</ref>

=== Toys for Bob ===
Ford and Reiche began branding themselves as Toys for Bob, with [[The Horde (video game)|''The Horde'']] as the studio's first official title.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Meston|first=Zach|url=https://archive.org/details/computer-player-vol.-2-issue-6-november-1995|title=Reboot - Mail Order Monsters|date=November 1995|publisher=Computer Player Vol 2 Issue 6|page=98}}</ref> By this point, Reiche and Ford were doing contract work for game publisher [[Crystal Dynamics]], with their three-person studio recruiting Fred Ford's brother, Ken.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Maher|first=Kathleen|url=https://archive.org/details/InterActivity01NovDec1994|title=Toys for Bob - A Virtual Studio|date=November 1994|publisher=InterActivity 01|pages=59–61}}</ref> ''The Horde'' was a [[fantasy]] [[Action game|action]]-[[Strategy video game|strategy]] hybrid game comparable to ''Star Control II,'' and was notable for including performances from actors [[Kirk Cameron]] and [[Michael Gregory (actor)|Michael Gregory.]]<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lombardi|first=Chris|url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_118|title=Bob's Your Bovine Uncle|date=May 1994|publisher=Computer Gaming World Issue 118|pages=108–110}}</ref>

=== Acquisition by Activision and ''Skylanders'' breakthrough ===
Toys for Bob secured [[Activision]] as their new publisher, thanks to an introduction from former Toys for Bob staff who had founded [[Shaba Games]] and been acquired by Activision.<ref name="youtubex3">{{cite web|author=Sean Dacanay, Marcus Niehaus|date=July 7, 2020|title=Star Control Creators Paul Reiche & Fred Ford: Extended Interview|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs8RY31Byzg|type=Transcript|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=[[Ars Technica]]}} [https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/dfb8c8ea-86c6-46fe-a8e7-c15ac862285amezzanine.txt Alt URL]</ref> The publisher offered Toys for Bob the [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] license for ''[[Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure]],'' which led to a 2003 game release.<ref name="polygon4"/> This successful relationship led to Toys for Bob being acquired by Activision in May 2005. The company became a wholly owned [[subsidiary]], and the management team and [[employee]]s signed long-term contracts under the new corporate structure.<ref name="Activision purchases Toys for Bob">{{cite web|last=[[Chris Pirillo]]|date=April 3, 2005|title=Activision purchases Toys for Bob|url=http://www.lockergnome.com/game/2005/05/03/activision-acquires-game-developer-toys-for-bob/|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=[[Chris Pirillo|Locker Gnome]]|archive-date=September 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928005154/http://www.lockergnome.com/game/2005/05/03/activision-acquires-game-developer-toys-for-bob/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="gamasutra2005">{{cite web|author=David Jenkins|date=May 3, 2005|title=Activision Acquires Toys For Bob|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/activision-acquires-toys-for-bob|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=[[Gamasutra]]}}</ref> Working with Activision, Toys for Bob continued to focus on licensed video games, such as [[Madagascar (video game)|''Madagascar'']].<ref name="polygon4"/> However, the market for these types of games began to dry up,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Hamza Aziz|date=October 21, 2012|title=Merging toys and videogames with Skylanders|url=https://www.destructoid.com/merging-toys-and-videogames-with-skylanders-236668.phtml|access-date=May 22, 2020|website=[[Destructoid]]|language=EN}}</ref> in part due to the negative reputation created by other licensed games.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hansen|first=Dustin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=62fZDAAAQBAJ&q=toys+for+bob+team&pg=PA321|title=Game On!: Video Game History from Pong and Pac-Man to Mario, Minecraft, and More|date=November 22, 2016|publisher=[[Feiwel & Friends]]|isbn=978-1-250-08096-7|language=en}}</ref>

The company searched for new opportunities.<ref name="polygon4"/> One such idea came from Toys for Bob character designer I-Wei Huang, who had been creating toys and robots in his spare time.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Robertson|first=Andy|date=May 23, 2012|title=FGTV Interviews I-Wei Huang, Hears How Skylanders Got Boys Playing With Girl Characters|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|url=https://www.wired.com/2012/05/fgtv-interviews-i-wei-huang/|access-date=May 22, 2020|issn=1059-1028}}</ref> The company saw the potential to adopt these toys and character designs into a game, with technical engineer Robert Leyland applying his hobby in building electronics.<ref name="polygon4" /><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Robertson|first=Andy|date=May 24, 2012|title=FGTV Interviews Robert Leyland, Creator of the Skylanders Portal of Power|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/2012/05/interview-robert-leyland/|access-date=May 22, 2020|issn=1059-1028}}</ref> Coincidentally, Activision merged with [[Vivendi Games]] in 2008, and asked Toys for Bob to create a new game around Vivendi's ''[[Spyro]]'' franchise.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|last=Evangelista|first=Benny|date=May 31, 2014|title=Toys for Bob, 'Skylanders' game creator, celebrates 25 years|url=https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/Toys-for-Bob-Skylanders-game-creator-5517943.php|access-date=May 6, 2020|website=SFGate}}</ref> The team saw the potential for [[Toys-to-life|toy-game interaction]] and suggested to Activision that it would be ideal for ''Spyro''{{'}}s rich universe of characters.<ref name=":02"/> Activision CEO [[Bobby Kotick]] responded well to the idea, and gave the team an additional year of development to better refine the technology, the manufacturing process, and the gameplay.<ref name="polygon4" /> Ford credits Activision for funding the expensive and risky development, "we could have thought of this idea as independents and never got it made."<ref name=":02"/> This culminated in the 2011 release of ''[[Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure]]'', which became a breakthrough success for the developer, their most notable game since ''Star Control''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Mike Fahey|date=October 21, 2012|title=Skylanders Giants: The Kotaku Review|url=https://kotaku.com/skylanders-giants-the-kotaku-review-5953530|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=Kotaku}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Anton Olsen|date=October 5, 2012|title=Toys for Bob: From Star Control to Skylanders Giants|url=https://www.wired.com/2012/10/toys-for-bob-skylanders-giants/|access-date=August 6, 2020|publisher=Wired}}</ref>

In October 2017 Fred Ford and Paul Reiche III announced they would be working on a direct sequel to ''Star Control II'' called ''Ghosts of the Precursors''.<ref>[https://dogarandkazon.squarespace.com/ dogarandkazon.squarespace.com] Ghosts of the Precursors announcement</ref>

=== Star Control intellectual property split ===
In 2018, Stardock sued Paul Reiche III along with Fred Ford in ''[[Stardock Systems, Inc. v. Reiche]]'', for trademark infringement of the "Star Control" trademark.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Courtlistener|date=August 12, 2017|title=Court Listener: Filing|url=https://www.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.320268/gov.uscourts.cand.320268.1.0.pdf}}</ref> During the course of the lawsuit, Stardock trademarked numerous alien names from Star Control 1 and 2. Reiche and Ford asserted that Atari only owned the game name, marketing content and the new aliens in Star Control 3,<ref name="Hutchinson">{{Cite web|last=Hutchinson|first=Lee|date=July 7, 2020|title=An extended interview with Star Control creators Fred Ford & Paul Reiche III|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/07/an-extended-interview-with-star-control-creators-fred-ford-paul-reiche-iii/|access-date=February 28, 2021|website=Ars Technica|language=en-us}}</ref> and that the in-game alien names to the first two games were never Atari's to sell.<ref name="Hutchinson"/> Litigation ended at June 2019 when both sides reached a settlement that involved the parties exchanging honey for mead and the parties agreeing that Stardock has exclusive rights of the Star Control name with a list of alien names from the first two games being for the exclusive use for Reiche and Ford.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 12, 2019|title=Stardock and Star Control creators settle lawsuits—with mead and honey &#91;Updated&#93;|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/06/stardock-and-star-control-creators-settle-lawsuits-with-mead-and-honey/}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.stanford.edu/group/htgg/sts145papers/yphu_2001_2.pdf Star Control development history]<!-- use for some info -->

{{Star Control}}
{{Toys for Bob}}

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[[Category:American video game programmers]]
[[Category:Star Control]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]