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The IGDA's First Penguin award celebrates the courage and bravery of a developer who is the first to test the proverbial waters, in the face of uncertainty of success or failure. Receiving a "penguin" serves as an inspiration and lesson to the community. Richard Allan Bartle, Ph.D, who has been at the forefront of the online gaming industry from its very inception, embodies the spirit of this award. As co-creator of the first virtual world MUDs in 1978 he paved the path for many of today's massively multiplayer online role-playing (MMORPG) and persistent-world games.

"I'm touched the IGDA thought of me for this award," Richard Allan Bartle said. "The fact that MUD's have a direct connection to the imagination is what hooked thousands; computer games will always innovate, as long as people have imagination."

More than 20 years have passed since Bartle fired the first neutron and the chain reaction shows no sign of stopping. With more than 1,670 MU* games in existence, Richard continues be an important player in the industry.

Bartle is currently a visiting professor in the Department of Electronic Systems Engineering at Essex University, Essex, United Kingdom. He is also a highly acclaimed writer on all aspects of virtual world design and development. He authored "Designing Virtual Worlds," which rapidly became the standard work for anyone developing persistent world games. His current musings can be viewed at his popular research blog Terra Nova.