Warren Spector Joins Two Studios: System Shock 3 & Underworld Ascendent
Warren Spector is now joining the Boston-based developer, OtherSide Entertainment, to take on the role of director for the successors of two of his most cherished titles: System Shock and Ultima Underworld.
One of these games, Underworld Ascendent, managed to raise an impressive $860,356 on Kickstarter last year. The Ultima Underworld designer, Paul Neurath, initiated this crowdfunding campaign last year for this contemporary successor to the 1992 first-person RPG. It will feature the original voice of Thief protagonist Garrett, Stephen Russell.
System Shock 3 was hinted at in December. Although not much is known about this sequel, OtherSide mentioned in its announcement that Spector will be leading the development of this highly anticipated project.
“Warren has been serving as a Creative Advisor to OtherSide since the studio’s establishment,” the developer stated about its new recruit. “After the end of this semester’s classes at UT Austin, he will shift into a full-time position as one of OtherSide’s Studio Directors. Warren will continue to contribute creatively to Underworld Ascendant and, later this year, increase his efforts and lead the team in developing System Shock 3.”
Last year, the developer Night Dive Studios obtained the rights to the System Shock IP and is currently working on a remake of the first game.
“When the opportunity arose to play a more significant part in bringing Underworld Ascendant to life, and to once again delve into the System Shock universe, helping to introduce these games to a 21st-century audience, I simply couldn’t refuse,” said Spector. “Working on System Shock was one of the most fulfilling experiences in my career, and it’s difficult to express just how much I’m looking forward to sharing with players what Shodan has been up to since the release of the last game.”
Spector’s most recent work in the video game industry was at Junction Point Studios, a now-disbanded Disney company that produced Epic Mickey and its musical sequel, Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two.
