Greg Zeschuk

What Greg Zeschuk is

BioWare's own account of its origins names Greg Zeschuk alongside Ray Muzyka and Augustine Yip. The studio's about page states that the three met in medical school, and that Ray and Greg started programming medical education software for the University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine in 1994 during their residency in family medicine. The trio's first project, the Acid-Base Simulator, was completed while they were still in residency. The same page states that BioWare Corp. became a reality on February 1, 1995 in a small room in Greg Zeschuk's basement.

Electronic Arts' account of the studio's acquisition records the titles he later held. The press release of January 7, 2008 that announced EA's completion of its purchase of VG Holding Corp. states that Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk of BioWare Corp. had each been named a Vice President of EA and a Co-General Manager of BioWare Corp. The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences profile of Zeschuk in its Hall of Fame section states that in June 2010 he was named General Manager of BioWare Austin, overseeing development of Star Wars: The Old Republic, and describes him as a retired physician who also completed an executive MBA at the Queen's School of Business.

Quick facts

BioWare's about page gives February 1, 1995 as the date the company became a reality, naming Greg Zeschuk, Ray Muzyka and Augustine Yip, and records that he and Muzyka began writing medical education software for the University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine in 1994 during their residency. EA's press release of January 7, 2008 named him a Vice President of EA and Co-General Manager of BioWare Corp. The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences profile states that in June 2010 he became General Manager of BioWare Austin. The BioWare Blog announced the retirement of both co-founders on September 18, 2012.

Why did Greg Zeschuk leave BioWare?

On September 18, 2012 the BioWare Blog announced that co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk were retiring from BioWare and linked to statements written by both. In his own note Zeschuk wrote that after nearly twenty years at BioWare he had decided it was time to move on and pursue something new, and that he had reached a point where he no longer had the passion he once did for the company, for the games, and for the challenge of creation. He wrote that the decision came with significant pain and regret, and that he was making it for himself and his family.

Zeschuk wrote that his passion for the people he had worked with burned as brightly as it did on the day they started, and he thanked Muzyka, calling him the most amazing business partner he could have asked for. He thanked the studio's fans and thanked Electronic Arts for its support, naming John Riccitiello, Frank Gibeau and Peter Moore. He added that he had full confidence in the studio's leadership team to guide BioWare after his departure.

What did Greg Zeschuk do after BioWare?

In the same note Zeschuk wrote that he was not going to be working in games for a while and that there was a strong possibility he would not return. He wrote that he planned to spend significant time with family and friends and to pursue personal projects related to craft beer. The main project he named was The Beer Diaries, described in his note as a web-based interview show in which he interviews notable brewers and showcases their beers. He wrote that if things went well he would work on other beer-related shows, apps and projects.

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