James M. WardDeveloper BIO
James M. Ward was born an May 23, 1951. He started out reading
Hardy Boys and
Tom Swift books and has since become a huge fan of science fiction and fantasy.
Gaming industry guru Jim Ward is an icon in the field of role-playing. He has been successful author and game designer since 1974. He created the first science fiction role playing game in Metamorphosis Alpha. He's written for Marvel, DC Comics, Random House, Del Rey, Bantam, and Western Publishing. In 1989 he was inducted into the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design Hall of Fame.
Ward is a 20-year veteran of
TSR and was formerly in charge of all product development. He has also done work with
Freelance and
SSI, among others. Ward, who was the former licensing director and world builder for TSR, is also co-author of
The Paladins and
The Heroes of Phlan trilogy in Forgotten Realms. He has just recently added the design of the
Dragonball Z collectible card game to his long list of accomplishments.
Jim got his start in role-playing with the design of
Metamorphosis Alpha, the first science-fiction role-playing game. He has been designing games and helping others to design them ever since. Jim Ward wrote the first post-apocalyptic roleplaying game: the award-winning
Gamma World. After
Gary Gygax left TSR in the '90s, Jim filled his shoes as the director of creative development, steering the company's game designs for over a decade. When
Wizards of the Coast bought TSR, Jim opted to remain in Wisconsin and work as a consultant in the gaming industry.
In 2002 James Ward became President of
Fast Forward Entertainment, a position he still holds in 2005.
Also Known As
Websites
Games CreditedStar Wars: Empire at War - Forces of Corruption (2006), LucasArts
Dragon Ball Z Collectible Card Game (2002), Infogrames, Inc.
Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor (2001), Ubi Soft Entertainment Software
AD&D Dark Sun Online: Crimson Sands (1996), Total Entertainment Network
Birthright: The Gorgon's Alliance (1996), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Blood & Magic (1996), Interplay Productions, Inc.
Al-Qadim: The Genie's Curse (1994), Strategic Simulations, Inc.
Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager (1994), Strategic Simulations, Inc.
Menzoberranzan (1994), Strategic Simulations, Inc.
Slayer (1994), Strategic Simulations, Inc.
Dark Sun: Shattered Lands (1993), Softgold Computerspiele GmbH
Eye of the Beholder III: Assault on Myth Drannor (1993), Softgold Computerspiele GmbH
Dungeons & Dragons: Warriors of the Eternal Sun (1992), SEGA Enterprises Ltd.
Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace (1992), Strategic Simulations, Inc.
Champions of Krynn (1990), Strategic Simulations, Inc.
Pool of Radiance (1988), Strategic Simulations, Inc.
