Will Wright

American game designer

Also known as: William Wright

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Last updated

July 19, 2026

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Will Wright is an American game designer known for creating influential simulation games. He is best known for designing SimCity (1989), a city-building and management game, and The Sims (2000), a life-simulation game. Wright's work often falls into the genre of electronic artificial life games, where players nurture or control simulated life forms. His games are characterized by open-ended gameplay, allowing players significant freedom in how they interact with and shape their virtual worlds. Wright's innovative designs have had a lasting impact on the video game industry.123

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electronic artificial life game
…and cofounder of Maxis Software William (Will) Wright is associated with the development of commercial A-life games. His first commercial A-life release was SimEarth (1990), a world-builder simulation for personal computers (PCs) in which players select from various landforms and climates for their planet, seed the planet with very primitive…
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…and cofounder of Maxis Software William (Will) Wright is associated with the development of commercial A-life games. His first commercial A-life release was SimEarth (1990), a world-builder simulation for personal computers (PCs) in which players select from various landforms and climates for their planet, seed the planet with very primitive…
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SimCity
…1989 by American game designer Will Wright and electronic game developer Maxis (now a division of Electronic Arts [EA]). SimCity is viewed as a quite original game, and it inspired an array of sequels, including the very successful series the Sims.
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…1989 by American game designer Will Wright and electronic game developer Maxis (now a division of Electronic Arts [EA]). SimCity is viewed as a quite original game, and it inspired an array of sequels, including the very successful series the Sims.
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