Erik Simon

Developer BIO

Starting out as a gamer as early as 1979, Erik Simon has hands-on experience with every aspect of game development except hard-core programming. He worked as a Graphic Artist, Game Designer, Level Designer, and Project Lead on over a dozen of released titles and has been responsible as a Development Manager for many more. Most of his work has been done on home computer formats, although he’s been involved in console development. As a co-founder of Thalion Software in Gütersloh, Germany, Erik worked from ‘88 to ‘94 as a Graphic Artist, Game Designer, Project Lead and later Head of Development on a range of titles on Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, and PC.

From ‘94 to ’00 at Blue Byte Software in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, he’s been a Graphic Artist, Game Designer, and Project Lead there, taking on the role of Head of Development in 1998. There, he worked on titles like The Settlers III and IV.

From 2001 to 2003, Erik has been with JoWooD Productions as Head of Development where he's been responsible for over 100 in-house developers and the producing department that leads external teams. Well known games of this period are Gothic 2, The Guild and Spellforce.

As SUNFLOWERS' and Avator's Development Director he has been overseeing the creation Anno 1701 (1701 A.D.) and Paraworld.

Currently, Erik works as a freelance Management and Production Consultant.

Websites

• IES Interactive Entertainment Strategies -- Erik Simon's professional website

Games Credited

1701 A.D.: Dawn of Discovery (2007), Disney Interactive Studios
1701 A.D. (2006), Aspyr Media, Inc.
ParaWorld (2006), Deep Silver
Knights of Honor (2004), Sunflowers Interactive Entertainment Software GmbH
Against Rome (2003), JoWooD Productions Software AG
AquaNox 2: Revelation (2003), JoWooD Productions Software AG
Chaser (2003), JoWooD Productions Software AG
Cold Zero: No Mercy (2003), Deep Silver, JoWooD Productions Software AG
Gorky Zero: Beyond Honor (2003), Russobit-M
Itch! (2003), Bigben Interactive GmbH
Neighbors from Hell (2003), JoWooD Productions Software AG
Railroad Pioneer (2003), JoWooD Productions Software AG
S2: Silent Storm (2003), 1C Company
Wirtschaftsgiganten (2003), JoWooD Productions Software AG
Archangel (2002), JoWooD Productions Software AG
Arx Fatalis (2002), JoWooD Productions Software AG
Beam Breakers (2002), JoWooD Productions Software AG
Cultures 2: The Gates of Asgard (2002), JoWooD Productions Software AG
Europa 1400: The Guild (2002), JoWooD Productions Software AG
Far West (2002), JoWooD Productions Software AG
Gothic II (2002), JoWooD Productions Software AG
Hotel Giant (2002), JoWooD Productions Software AG
K. Hawk: Survival Instinct (2002), JoWooD Productions Software AG
Pusher (2002), JoWooD Productions Software AG
Soccer Manager (2002), JoWooD Productions Software AG
The Settlers: Fourth Edition (2001), Blue Byte Studio GmbH
Battle Isle: The Andosia War (2000), Blue Byte Studio GmbH
The Settlers: Smack a Thief! (2000), Blue Byte Studio GmbH
Stephen King's F13 (2000), Blue Byte Studio GmbH
The Settlers III (1998), Blue Byte Studio GmbH
Extreme Assault (1997), Blue Byte Studio GmbH
Incubation: Time is Running Out (1997), Blue Byte Studio GmbH
The Settlers II (Gold Edition) (1997), Blue Byte Software GmbH & Co. KG
Archimedean Dynasty (1996), Blue Byte Software GmbH
Albion (1995), Blue Byte Software GmbH
Rendering Ranger (1995), Virgin Interactive Entertainment, Inc.
Ambermoon (1993), Thalion Software
Amberstar (1992), Thalion Software
Lionheart (1992), Thalion Software
No Second Prize (1992), Thalion Software
Dragonflight (1990), Thalion Software
The Seven Gates of Jambala (1990), Grandslam Entertainments Ltd., Thalion Software
Wings of Death (1990), Thalion Software
Chambers of Shaolin (1989), Grandslam Entertainments Ltd.