In just a few weeks, The 13th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards (GDCAs) will honor two of the industries most successful co-founders. At the GDCAs this year Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk will both be honored with lifetime achievement awards. 
 
Both men are credited with co-founding BioWare studio, and will be awarded for their contributions to the art and science of games. The Game Developers Choice Awards ceremony takes place Wednesday, March 27th at 6:30 pm at the Moscone Convention Center during the 2013 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.
 
Tim Schafer, previously from LucasArts and current President and CEO of Double Fine Productions will host the event. Andy Schatz, from Pocketwatch Games will host the Independent Games Festival awards. Lifetime Achievement Award honorees Muzyka and Zeschuk met while in medical school at the University of Alberta where they learned they shared a passion for video game development.
 
The release of Baldur’s Gate put BioWare on the game development map and Neverwinter Nights, the third person role-playing game set in a fantasy world, further propelled the studio’s success; Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic solidified BioWare’s reputation as an RPG powerhouse, winning multiple GDCAs in 2004 including top honors for Best Game. That same year, The Doctors were co-recipients of the IGDA Ambassador Award for their contributions to the game development community and charities at large.
 
Electronic Arts acquired Bioware in 2008, where the studio created the ‘Mass Effect’ and ‘Dragon Age’ series. Most recently the Bioware has launched ‘Star Wars: The Old Republic’ which was the first MMO from the studio. This past September in 2012, the Doctors announced their retirement from games to pursue other passions.
 
Muzyka’s next chapter will involve mentoring and investing in technology, new media, medical innovation and social entrepreneurs, and impact investing at his new company Threshold Impact. Zeschuk recently debuted a new web-based documentary-interview series “The Beer Diaries” which will showcase craft breweries around the world.
 
“The BioWare Doctors are truly a unique breed. Not only have they created some of the most emotionally-engaging and beloved games ever made, they are two of the most passionate, engaging, just all-around nice guys anyone could be fortunate enough to meet. Anyone, be they a longtime colleague or a fan who’s met them only once at an event like GDC can tell you they treat everyone like a friend, and I am so pleased we can show them our deep appreciation this year with this award,” said Meggan Scavio , General Manager of all GDC events. “There’s no denying the deep footprint Ray and Greg have made, and how much their dedication and leadership will be missed in our industry. We’re proud to honor them with the Lifetime Achievement Award as they parlay into their next careers.”
 
Lifetime Achievement recipients are chosen by the Game Developers Choice Awards Advisory Committee, which includes game industry notables such as Doug Lombardi (Valve), Mark Cerny ( Cerny Games ), Harvey Smith (Arkane), Raph Koster (Playdom), Chris Charla (Microsoft), and John Vechey (PopCap).