In Memoriam: Celebrating the Life of Alan Emrich, Visionary Sport Style Designer and Acclaimed Author
Alan Emrich, a game designer renowned for his work on the Master of Orion series, passed away earlier this week, according to sources from the ConsimWorld forums.
According to his profile on Board Game Geek, Emrich was instrumental in designing both digital and tabletop games. During his career, he established the board game company Victory Point Games, co-developed Totaler Krieg! World War II in Europe, and contributed significantly to numerous game conventions based in Los Angeles.
Emrich’s credits in the gaming industry include titles such as Warlords II, Empire Deluxe, and Castles II. His MobyGames profile also recognizes him as a consultant for the 2016 remake of Master of Orion.
Notably, Emrich coined the term “4X” (originally “quadruple-X”) to describe strategy games focused on exploration, expansion, extermination, and exploitation. This term was first used in his review of Orion in 1993, where he stated that it included “the essential four Xs of any good strategic conquest game.”
“Players must rise from modest origins, navigating the map while constructing the largest, most efficient empire possible,” his review stated. “Naturally, the other players will be striving to do the same, making their elimination a critical priority. A classic scenario indeed, and when the various elements are well-designed, the other Xs tend to follow.”
Before reviewing Master, Emrich collaborated with Tom Hughes to help refine the game’s design. The duo received credit and also contributed to the complete game’s strategy manual. Later on, Emrich authored guides for Empire Deluxe and Master of Magic, reuniting with Hughes on those projects.
Members of the wargaming community remembered Emrich as “a longstanding titan of the gaming world, both tabletop & digital. […] Alan’s impact will resonate throughout the hobby gaming arena for years to come, and his departure comes far too soon,” posted Armchair Dragoons.
About the Author
Contributing Editor, GameDeveloper.com
A native of Kansas City, MO, Justin Carter has contributed to various websites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can also be found on io9 at Gizmodo. Don’t ask him about the amount of gum he’s consumed, as the answer will likely exceed what he’s willing to disclose.