Mark Cerny joins AIAS Hall of Fame

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences has announced that it will induct Marble Madness creator Mark Cerny into its Hall of Fame at the DICE Summit next month.

Cerny currently works as a development consultant, contributing to a large number of Sony Computer Entertainment products, and has previously worked with SEGA on Sonic the Hedgehog 2, at Universal on Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon and with Insomniac and Naughty Dog on Jak & Daxter and Ratchet & Clank.

"The Cerny Method, with its emphasis on creative freedom and risk-taking, has really informed the debate on the proper role of pre-production in videogame development," 2009 AIAS Hall of Fame inductee Bruce Shelley said in a statement marking the announcement.

AIAS president Joseph Olin described Cerny as "the closest we have come to a modern-day Da Vinci", referring to his work in a variety of roles including designer, producer, programmer and technologist. "What he does isn't restricted to a single aspect of game creation, he really is a Renaissance man."

The other 12 members of the Hall of Fame are Trip Hawkins, Peter Molyneux, Yu Suzuki, Will Wright, John Carmack, Hironobu Sakaguchi, Sid Meier, Shigeru Miyamoto, Richard Garriott, Danielle Bunten Berry, Mike Morhaime and Bruce Shelley.

"I'm thrilled to accept this award, which clearly has a lot to do with the drive and talent of the many teams that I've had the pleasure to work with over the years," Cerny said in response. The Hall of Fame Award will be presented at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas on 18th February.