Meier, Sid (1954-…), a Canadian-American computer game designer, is sometimes called the “father of computer gaming.” Meier’s most famous game, Sid Meier’s Civilization (1991), challenges players to control an entire civilization. The player directs the civilization’s development over thousands of years, competing against rival civilizations controlled by the computer. Meier helped popularize such strategy games, which put players in control of whole armies, systems, or organizations, rather than individual characters.
Sidney Kay Meier was born on Feb. 24, 1954, in Sarnia, Ontario. Meier drew inspiration for his games from his varied historical interests, which included pirates and trains. These subjects inspired some of his most famous games, including Sid Meier’s Pirates! (1987) and Railroad Tycoon (1990). Meier also drew inspiration from a 1984 strategy game called Seven Cities of Gold. That game put the player in the role of a Spanish explorer of the late 1400’s. Meier said the game taught him the importance of evoking a world in the player’s imagination, rather than focusing on detailed screen action.
Meier entered the computer game industry after meeting J. W. “Wild Bill” Stealey, a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot. Although Stealey was an experienced pilot, Meier easily beat him in a flight simulator arcade game. Meier then developed his own flight simulator game, which impressed Stealey. They started a company called MicroProse in 1982, selling games that Meier designed. In 1996, Meier helped found Firaxis games. He now serves as its director of creative development.
