Kevin Buckner

Developer BIO

Kevin Buckner started working in the game industry in the early 1980's when some computers came in kit form and most-other computers enjoyed less processing power than is evident in today's mobile phones. By the end of the decade, his programming career saw him work for a number of the big software developers of the time, most notably, Microprose Inc. where he spent two years in their US HQ followed by three years in their UK office. This era saw Kevin leading programming teams on projects such as Knights of the Sky, Gunship and F117A flight and air-combat simulators.

With the industry growing year on year, Kevin decided to transition into game production and project management; a move to Electronic Arts saw him Producing top-selling titles including the original FIFA Soccer game on the Sega Megadrive, Rugby World Cup, Syndicate, Magic Carpet and Theme Park.

The next big move for Kevin saw him leave EA for the challenge of setting up a new game publisher. As part of a management team of three, he helped launch Hasbro Interactive. Prior to the creation of the Interactive division, Hasbro had limited itself to licensing its catalog of IP to third parties. Kevin was responsible for all software development in Europe and was also actively involved in the development of the company’s products in the US and Japan. On the back of interactive products like Risk, Battleship, Monopoly, Scrabble, Frogger, Trivial Pursuit and Clue, Kevin helped lead the charge that saw HI rise to become a top-5 global publisher within two years of its creation.

In 1998, Kevin realised a life-long ambition to set up and run a game development house. Deep Red games was born and games such as Risk II, Monopoly Tycoon and Spring Break were launched to high critical acclaim around the world.

From 2002 to early 2006, Kevin branched out to provide a different service to the global industry; Design Games was a game design and project management consultancy that Kevin launched and managed. Working with publishers such as EA, Eidos, Empire and Konami, and a large array of developers and mobile content creators, start-ups and film directors, Kevin consulted to the industry's best.

These career highlights provide an overview of a career that has seen Kevin succeed in multiple contexts as a Developer, Publisher and Consultant, gain experience from many disciplines including Programming, Game Design, Authoring and Management and work in many different territories around the world, including the US, Eastern Europe, the UK, Australia, and more recently he's working on a next-generation MMO in Singapore.

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Games Credited

Vegas Tycoon (2003), Empire Interactive Entertainment
Monopoly Tycoon (2001), Infogrames, Inc.
Risk II (2000), MicroProse Ltd.
H.E.D.Z.: Head Extreme Destruction Zone (1998), Hasbro Interactive, Inc.
Beast Wars: Transformers (1997), Hasbro Interactive, Inc.
Boggle (1997), Hasbro Interactive, Inc.
FIFA Soccer Manager (1997), Electronic Arts, Inc.
Frogger (1997), Hasbro Interactive, Inc.
Scrabble (1996), Hasbro Interactive, Inc.
Ultimate Yahtzee (1996), Hasbro Interactive, Inc.
PowerMonger (1994), Electronic Arts, Inc.
FIFA International Soccer (1993), Electronic Arts Ltd.
Lotus: The Ultimate Challenge (1993), Electronic Arts, Inc.
Syndicate (1993), Electronic Arts, Inc.
Syndicate: American Revolt (1993), Electronic Arts, Inc.
Knights of the Sky (1991), MicroProse Software, Inc.
Sword of the Samurai (1989), MicroProse Software, Inc.
Danger Mouse in the Black Forest Chateau (1984), Creative Sparks