Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences' annual Pioneer Award going to Bill Budge

We're not sure why, but every year, the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) feels compelled to award one prominent contributor to the gaming industry with recognition for their proficiency with wild frontier survival. We're talking about raccoon cap-wearing, log cabin-living souls who, with little provocation, will load up their family's small Conestoga wagon and ship out for parts west, which -- wait, you mean the AIAS Pioneer Award has nothing to do with literal pioneering? We're a little disappointed, if we're being honest.

This year's pioneer award (which will be handed out during the DICE 2011 Interactive Achievement Awards on February 10) will go to Bill Budge, an illustrious creator of engines for other people to create their own games and experiences, such as the 3-D Game Tool and Pinball Construction Set -- one of EA's earliest titles. He's also done stints with Sony Computer Entertainment and EA, and he currently works at Google, helping to improve the world of browser-based gaming.

Also, he knows the proper way to open and neutralize a rattlesnake bite. We think. Probably.

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Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences' annual Pioneer Award going to Bill Budge originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 22 Jan 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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