Charles Cecil facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Cecil
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 11 August 1962 |
| Occupation | Video game designer |
| Known for | Revolution Software |
|
Notable work
|
Broken Sword, Beneath a Steel Sky |
| Spouse(s) | Noirin Carmody |
Charles Cecil (born 11 August 1962) is a British video game designer. He is also a co-founder of Revolution Software, a famous game company. He has created many popular adventure games. These include the Broken Sword series and Beneath a Steel Sky.
Cecil was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This award was for his great contributions to the video game industry.
Contents
Charles Cecil's Gaming Journey
Early Life and First Games
Charles Cecil was born in 1962. When he was very young, his family lived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His father worked there for a company called Unilever. They had to leave when Charles was two years old due to political changes.
He went to Bedales School in England. In 1980, he started studying engineering at Manchester University. There, he met Richard Turner, who invited him to write text adventure games. These were early computer games where you read text and typed commands.
Cecil needed money, so he agreed. His first game was Inca Curse (1981). He then made Ship of Doom (1982) and Espionage Island (1982). These games were very successful on popular computers like the Sinclair ZX81. After finishing his degree in 1985, he became a director at Artic Computing.
Starting Revolution Software
In 1990, Charles Cecil decided to start his own game company. He teamed up with Tony Warriner, David Sykes, and Noirin Carmody. Together, they founded Revolution Software. The company first started in Hull and later moved to York in 1994.
Cecil became the managing director. He focused on writing stories and designing games. They wanted to create adventure games that were fun but also had serious stories. Their first game was Lure of the Temptress (1992). For this game, they created a special game engine called Virtual Theatre. This engine helped make the game world feel more alive.
Famous Adventure Games
Revolution Software quickly became known for its adventure games. After Lure of the Temptress, they released Beneath a Steel Sky (1994). This game is still loved by many players today. Cecil even worked with comic book artist Dave Gibbons on its design.
Cecil loved using ideas from movies in his games. This was clear in Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars (1996). This game was a big success. It was a 2D point-and-click game, where you click on objects to solve puzzles. A sequel, Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror, came out soon after.
As the game world changed, Cecil moved Revolution into 3D games. In Cold Blood (2000) and Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon (2003) were 3D adventures. Fans were worried about the change, but Cecil believed 3D allowed for more exciting effects.
Challenges and New Beginnings
Around 2004, Revolution Software faced tough times. One project was cancelled, and Cecil had to let many staff members go. He decided to change how Revolution worked. They adopted a "Hollywood model." This meant they would bring together a team for each game, just like a movie studio.
For the fourth Broken Sword game, Broken Sword: The Angel of Death (2006), Revolution worked with another company, Sumo Digital. Players could now choose between point-and-click or direct control. This was a response to fan feedback.
Later, new technologies like broadband and app stores changed everything. Revolution could now publish their own games. This helped them connect directly with their players. In 2009, they released Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut for the Wii and DS. They also brought classic games like Beneath a Steel Sky to mobile devices.
Cecil said that the App Store really helped save Revolution. In 2011, Revolution Software was ranked among the top 50 game studios in the world. In 2012, they used Kickstarter to fund a new Broken Sword game, Broken Sword: The Serpent's Curse. This allowed them to control the game's development themselves.
Other Projects and Awards
Charles Cecil has also worked on games outside Revolution. He was a consultant for The Da Vinci Code (2006). He also helped design Disney's A Christmas Carol (2009). He was even the narrator's voice in that game.
He was an executive producer for the BBC's Doctor Who: The Adventure Games (2010). One episode, The Gunpowder Plot, won an award.
Cecil often talks about the video game industry. He shares his knowledge at events and teaches young game designers. In 2006, he was named a "Development Legend" by Develop magazine. In 2011, he received the MBE award for his services to the computer games industry.
Revolution's Game List
Revolution Software has created many successful adventure games. They have worked with big companies like Sony Computer Entertainment and Ubisoft.
- Lure of the Temptress (1992) - This game was number one in the UK charts.
- Beneath a Steel Sky (1994) - Another chart-topper across Europe.
- Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars (1996) - Won many awards for best adventure game.
- Broken Sword 2: The Smoking Mirror (1997) - Also received many awards.
- In Cold Blood (2000) - Focused on action and storytelling.
- Gold and Glory: The Road to El Dorado (2000) - Based on the DreamWorks film.
- Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon (2003) - The third game in the Broken Sword series, in 3D.
- Broken Sword: The Angel of Death (2006) - The fourth Broken Sword game.
- Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars – The Director’s Cut (2009) - A new version for Wii and DS.
- Beneath a Steel Sky – Remastered (2009) - A new version for iPhone.
By 2011, the Broken Sword games had been downloaded over 4 million times.
Personal Life
Charles Cecil is married to Noirin Carmody. They have two children, Ciara and David. His children are even mentioned in some of his games. Since his wife also works in games, their family life and work life are very connected. They even visit historical places on holidays that might inspire new games.
Cecil loves history and science. He also enjoys sports like rowing, football, and tennis.
Thoughts on Game Design
Cecil believes that designing games is different from writing a book. He says that game designers must think about the gameplay and the world first. Then they can develop the characters and story. He feels that a game's story should still be strong, even with the challenges of making it interactive.
He takes his research very seriously. He often visits real-world locations to make his games feel authentic. He once said that the name Broken Sword might be a symbol of peace. He also noted a statue of Constantine the Great in his city, York, which shows Constantine sitting on a broken sword. Cecil thought this was a fun coincidence.
|
