Where are they now? - Chuck Bueche


Chuck Bueche

Back in 1987, Origin Systems released a post-apocalyptic sci-fi RPG called 2400 A.D. The game incorporated similar gameplay mechanics to the earlier Ultima games and you played the role of an underground resistance member trying to overthrow your robotic masters. It was probably one of the oldest RPGs I played as a kid and it's all thanks to Chuck Bueche, a former Origin Systems employee. As you can probably guess, Chuck happens to be the focus of today's Where are they now? post.

Back in the late 70s and early 80s, Chuck was a high school friend and uni roommate of the most famous of Origin's employees, Richard "Lord British" Garriott. Richard apparently introduced Chuck to computers and shortly after, Chuck formed his own company called Craniac Entertainment in 1981 (that exists to this very day).

In 1983, Chuck co-founded Origin Systems along with Richard Garriott, Robert Garriott and Owen Garriott, which was the same year that Ultima III would be released. Chuck ported the Commodore 64 version of Ultima III and would also provide additional programming for Ultima IV which was released two years later. Chuck also featured as one of the characters in the Ultima games as Lord British's court jester known simply as "Chuckles".

Another two years after that, 2400 A.D. was released and while Chuck was working on a sequel with the imaginative title of 2500 A.D., this was sadly cancelled in 1988 due to poor sales. It was also that year in which Chuck left Origin Systems and returned to the University of Texas in Austin to finish his electrical engineering degree. In 1990, he graduated and since that time has been holding various senior technology and management positions. While he's done a lot of coding in the background, some even to do with games sadly he hasn't developed any PC games outright since the early 90s (at least none to his name anyway). Apparently he's been working as an Interactive Software Consultant for Walt Disney Imagineering since 2006 - which means if you ever happen to visit the Epcot Center or Disneyland, you might find some interactive games designed by him.

[ LINK: Craniac Entertainment ]

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