Kevin Pickell: Difference between revisions
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== Other work == | == Other work == | ||
Beyond racing games, Pickell contributed to audio tech and platform support across EA titles in the 1990s, with credits on ''NBA Live 95'' (Genesis) and others; he also mentions ''Skitchin''' (1994) as a project whose sound impressed players. See [https://www.mobygames.com/person/971/kevin-p-pickell/credits/ MobyGames – credits by role] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skitchin%27 ''Skitchin''' (background)]. | Beyond racing games, Pickell contributed to audio tech and platform support across EA titles in the 1990s, with credits on ''NBA Live 95'' (Genesis) and others; he also mentions ''Skitchin''' (1994) as a project whose sound impressed players. See [https://www.mobygames.com/person/971/kevin-p-pickell/credits/ MobyGames – credits by role] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skitchin%27 ''Skitchin''' (background)]. | ||
== Interests == | |||
A [http://scale18.com/cgi-bin/page/kpickell.html porsche owner] (formerly a 911 cabrio) he owns a porsche 911 turbo and [http://scale18.com/ a 1/18 car model enthusiast sharing his passion on his website] | |||
== Selected credits == | == Selected credits == | ||
Latest revision as of 04:31, 17 August 2025
Kevin Pickell (also credited as Kevin P. Pickell) is a Canadian video game programmer best known as the lead programmer of Stunts (1990, also known as 4D Sports Driving) at Distinctive Software. Earlier he worked on the Test Drive series, and later contributed core technology and audio drivers to multiple Electronic Arts titles, including FIFA International Soccer (1993) and the Sega Genesis title Skitchin (1994).
Career
Pickell joined Vancouver-based developer Distinctive Software (DSI) in the mid-1980s and is credited on early racing titles including Test Drive (1987) and The Duel: Test Drive II (1989). See MobyGames – Kevin P. Pickell and the game pages for Test Drive and The Duel: Test Drive II.
In 1990 he served as programmer and co-designer on Stunts at DSI (published in North America by Brøderbund). Contemporary manuals and credits list him as programmer, and later interviews with the Stunts community describe him as the lead programmer on the project. See MobyGames – Stunts and an interview: ZakStunts – Interview with Kevin Pickell.
Following Electronic Arts’ acquisition of DSI (EA Canada), Pickell worked across multiple EA projects through the 1990s and early 2000s. On Sega Genesis he helped build a multi-sample sound driver used in several EA titles and contributed programming and “sound technology” to FIFA International Soccer (1993). See SegaRetro – FIFA International Soccer and MobyGames – FIFA (Genesis) credits.
From the early 2010s he worked in Vancouver’s AAA scene (including Capcom Vancouver), before retiring from professional game development in 2016. See ChoicestGames profile and personal page note.
Stunts (1990)
Community discussions and a 2003 Q&A with Pickell cover multiple aspects of Stunts development:
- Single-programmer core: Pickell stated he was the only programmer, creating many track pieces with a simple in-house 3D model editor before an artist joined. See Stunts.hu – “Sensation! Kevin is around us” and ZakStunts interview.
- Physics and quirks: He confirmed famous “bugs” (e.g., sixth-gear behaviour, mid-air braking and collision oddities) were known and in some cases left as-is because they made the game more fun. See interview.
- Average-speed math: Track length for average speed uses the centerline of the track pieces rather than assuming racing lines. See Q22 in the interview.
- Rendering and tools: polygon rendering in assembly with higher-level code in C; the track editor began as an internal tool and became a key feature. See Stunts article and the interview.
Other work
Beyond racing games, Pickell contributed to audio tech and platform support across EA titles in the 1990s, with credits on NBA Live 95 (Genesis) and others; he also mentions Skitchin (1994) as a project whose sound impressed players. See MobyGames – credits by role and Skitchin (background).
Interests
A porsche owner (formerly a 911 cabrio) he owns a porsche 911 turbo and a 1/18 car model enthusiast sharing his passion on his website
Selected credits
- Test Drive (1987) — Programmer. See MobyGames – game pages and TCRF note on C64 developer message.
- The Duel: Test Drive II (1989) — Programmer. See game page.
- Stunts / 4D Sports Driving (1990) — Lead programmer; design contributions. See MobyGames and interview.
- FIFA International Soccer (1993, Genesis) — Programming, sound technology. See SegaRetro and MobyGames credits.
- Skitchin' (1994, Genesis) — Sound driver / additional programming (audio tech). See VGMPF profile and MobyGames.
See also
Sources
- ZakStunts — Interview with Kevin Pickell (2003): link.
- Stunts.hu — “Sensation! Kevin is around us” (2003): link.
- MobyGames — Stunts page (credits): link.
- Stunts (Wikipedia) — development section (Pickell’s role): link.
- SegaRetro — FIFA International Soccer (Genesis credits): link.
- MobyGames — FIFA (Genesis) credits: link.
- VGMPF — Kevin Pickell (Genesis sound driver/tech): link.
- TCRF — Test Drive (C64) developer message naming Kevin P. Pickell: link.
- ChoicestGames — “Where are they now? Kevin Pickell” (Capcom Vancouver mention): link.
- Public page — personal note on retirement: link.
