Neal HallfordDeveloper BIO
Neal Hallford has been writing and designing computer games since 1990:
1990 - Joins New World Computing as a writer/designer and edits the text and writes the manual for Tunnels & Trolls: Crusaders of Khazan, as well as writing Dreams of the Dragon, a T&T hintbook. Following the completion of T&T, he begins the initial design for Might & Magic III: Isles of Terra.
1991 - Neal begins design on Planet's Edge. Might & Magic III: Isles of Terra released. Leaves in November to join Dynamix as a writer and co-designer on Betrayal at Krondor.
1992 - Planet's Edge released.
1993 - Betrayal at Krondor released. Begins writing and designing the sequel, Thief of Dreams.
1994 - A restructuring at Dynamix forces the closure of the role-playing department, effectively cancelling Thief of Dreams. Neal writes manual for Metaltech:Battledrome before leaving Dynamix. Begins consulting for 7th Level on the design and story of Return to Krondor.
1997 - 1998 co-creates the story and design of Elysium with John Cutter for Cavedog Entertainment.
1999 - Re-writes material for Amen: The Awakening for Cavedog Entertainment. Cavedog Entertainment folds. Writes the manual for Nox for Westwood Studios.
2000 - Contracted by Stormfront Studios as a writer for a Playstation 2 title that eventually becomes The Legend of Alon D'ar. Contracted by Gas Powered Games to create story and design for Dungeon Siege.
2001 - Prima Publishing publishes Neal Hallford's first book on game design, "Swords & Circuitry: A Designer's Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games."
2001 - Neal joins Rapid Eye Entertainment as a designer on an undisclosed MMO project for Sony Online Entertainment. Later is made lead designer on Lords of Everquest, an RTS set in the world of Norrath. During this time he also writes material for Snowblind Studios Playstation 2 RPG, Champions of Norrath.
2003 - Lords of Everquest ships. Rapid Eye Entertainment doesn't have a new project lined up and is forced to lay off half the staff. Neal leaves.
2004 - Neal suffers a serious back injury early in the year and walks on crutches for six months. Rapid Eye Entertainment folds. Champions of Norrath ships. Neal returns to Gas Powered Games to provide story and dialogue for their upcoming science-fiction RTS, Supreme Commander.
2005 - Contributes story and dialog to a Trolls related project for Blitz Games. Contracted by Sony Computer Entertainment America to provide scripting and design for the PSP game Neopets: Petpet Adventures: The Wand of Wishing.
2006 - Neopets: Petpet Adventures: The Wand of Wishing ships.
Also Known As
Websites
- The Many Worlds of Neal Hallford -- Background on Neal Hallford and the games he's worked on.
- Swords & Circuitry Studios -- A development studio based in San Diego specializing in writing, design and other creative services for the computer gaming, film, and television industries. (Owned and operated by Neal and Jana Hallford).
Games CreditedSupreme Commander (2007), THQ Inc.
Dungeon Siege II (2005), Microsoft Games Studios
Champions of Norrath (2004), Sony Online Entertainment Inc.
Lords of Everquest (2003), Sony Online Entertainment Inc.
Dungeon Siege (2002), Microsoft Corporation
Raymond E. Feist's Return to Krondor (1998), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Betrayal at Krondor (1993), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Planet's Edge: The Point of no Return (1991), New World Computing, Inc.
Tunnels & Trolls: Crusaders of Khazan (1990), New World Computing, Inc.
