Jerry O'Flaherty
Jeremiah "Jerry" O'Flaherty is an American video game art director and filmmaker best known for his work on Gears of War, and as the director attached to a Thundercats feature film. He co-authored the book Destroyed Beauty: An Inside Look at Gears of War.
Personal life
O'Flaherty was born in Irving, Texas, and is the fourth of ten children. His father, James A. O'Flaherty, was a folk musician and immigrant from Listowel, Ireland.
Career
O'Flaherty began making video games at the age of sixteen. By 1994, he had partnered with fellow game developer Todd Porter, creating the company Distant Thunder and beginning work on G-Nome, a 3D mech simulator. In February 1995, before the game was completed, the two sold the company and its properties to publisher 7th Level for $1.5 million.[1]
Development of G-Nome continued at 7th Level, with O'Flaherty also working on Return to Krondor and Dominion: Storm Over Gift 3. The following year, in 1996, Porter was approached by John Romero with an opportunity to co-found a new development studio, having heard about Porter's lucrative sale of his previous company. Porter agreed on the condition that O'Flaherty be brought into the deal, and by the end of the year the three, along with Tom Hall — a former colleague of Romero's, founded Ion Storm.[1]
After the closure of Ion Storm's Dallas office in 2001, O'Flaherty went on to work at Westwood Studios in Las Vegas, contributing to Pirates: The Legend of Black Kat, Command & Conquer: Renegade, and Earth & Beyond. Westwood Studios would also be shuttered, and in 2003, O'Flaherty took on the position of Studio Art Director at Epic Games, handling the direction of Gears of War and Unreal Tournament 3. In the summer of 2007, O'Flaherty moved to California and signed on to direct an animated Thundercats feature film under development at Warner Bros.[2]
Awards
- Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
- Outstanding Achievement in Animation, 2007: Gears of War
- Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction, 2007: Gears of War
- Game Developers Conference Choice Awards [3]
- Visual Arts Award, 2007: Gears of War
Game credits
- Batman: Arkham Origins (2013), Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
- Medal of Honor: Warfighter (2012), Electronic Arts
- Army of Two: The 40th Day (2010), Electronic Arts
- Unreal Tournament 3 (2007), Midway Home Entertainment
- Gears of War (2006), Microsoft Game Studios
- Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict (2005), Midway Home Entertainment
- Unreal Tournament 2004 (2004), Atari
- Earth & Beyond (2002), Electronic Arts
- Command & Conquer: Renegade (2002), Electronic Arts
- Pirates: The Legend of Black Kat (2002), Electronic Arts
- Anachronox (2001), Eidos Interactive
- Daikatana (2000), Eidos Interactive
- Dominion: Storm Over Gift 3 (1998), Eidos Interactive
- Return to Krondor (1998), Sierra On-Line
- G-Nome (1997), 7th Level
- Eight Ball Deluxe (1993), Amtex
- Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds (1993), Origin Systems
- Maelstrom (1992), Ambrosia Software
- Aunt Arctic Adventure (1988), Mindware
References
- 1 2 Biederman, Christine (1999-01-14). "Stormy Weather". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
- ↑ Graser, Marc (2007-10-09). "O'Flaherty to direct 'Thundercats'". Variety. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
- ↑ "'Gears of War,' 'Okami' and 'Wii Sports' Lead the Recipients of the 7th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards" (Press release). San Francisco: CMP Game Group. PR Newswire. 2007-03-08. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
Further reading
- "From Gears to Thundercats", 360 Stylecast
- Xbox Interview with Epic's Mark Rein and Jerry O'Flaherty
- Now Toronto Interview
External links
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