Ralph 'Father of Video Games' Baer Honored with GDC Pioneer Award

The CMP 2008 Game Developers Choice Awards have announced that Magnavox Odyssey inventor Ralph Baer, commonly hailed as the father of video games, will receive the organization's Pioneer Award for his contribution to gaming.

"In the inaugural year of the Pioneer Award at the Game Developers Choice Awards, it felt natural to bestow that award on the man who established our entire industry," said Game Developers Conference executive director Jamil Moledina.

The award committee was comprised of editors from the CMP-owned gaming site Gamasutra, as well as distinguished industry figures from Ubisoft, Arae, BioWare, Harmonix, and Big Huge Games.

International Game Developers Association executive director Jason Della Rocca will also be honored at the proceedings, where he will be the recipient of the GDC's Ambassador Award.

"Jason Della Rocca continues to advocate for game developers on multiple vital levels, from quality of life through crediting and beyond," said Gamasutra editorial director Simon Carless. "The Advisory Committee felt it was high time to recognize him as a true Ambassador to our industry."

Both Baer and Rocca will receive their awards on Wednesday, February 20, during a special GDC 2008 presentation at San Francisco's Moscone Center.