Overview
Chris Roberts wanted games to feel like movies. Starting with Times of Lore and Stryker’s Run, he developed increasingly cinematic ambitions that peaked with Wing Commander—a space opera that made players feel like action heroes. His later projects pushed budgets to unprecedented levels, culminating in Star Citizen’s record-breaking crowdfunding.
Fast facts
- Born: 1968, California.
- Company: Origin Systems, Digital Anvil, Cloud Imperium.
- Known for: Wing Commander series.
- Approach: Cinematic production values.
Wing Commander era
| Title |
Year |
Innovation |
| Wing Commander |
1990 |
Cinematic gaming |
| Wing Commander II |
1991 |
Enhanced narrative |
| Wing Commander III |
1994 |
FMV with Mark Hamill |
| Wing Commander IV |
1996 |
$12 million budget |
Production philosophy
| Principle |
Implementation |
| Movie-quality |
Hollywood actors |
| Immersion |
Player as protagonist |
| Technology push |
Hardware demanding |
| Storytelling |
Branching narratives |
Digital Anvil
| Title |
Year |
| Freelancer |
2003 |
| Starlancer |
2000 |
Film venture
| Project |
Result |
| Wing Commander (1999) |
Directed film |
| Reception |
Poor reviews |
| Budget |
$30 million |
Star Citizen
| Achievement |
Scale |
| Crowdfunding |
Record-breaking |
| Development |
Ongoing since 2012 |
| Scope |
Ambitious space sim |
| Controversy |
Development timeline |
See also