Will Wright, Maxis' Chief Designer, co-founded Maxis with Jeff Braun in 1987. Wright began working on what would become SimCity-The City Simulator in 1985. SimCity was released in 1989, and within a few months became a hit. Wright's fascination with simulations was further explored in SimEarth, SimAnt, and the latest incarnation of SimCity, SimCity 3000 Unlimited. Wright's newest game, The Sims, puts players in charge of the lives of simulated people. Released in February of 2000, this wildly popular title has become a cultural phenomenon, not to mention the best-selling PC game of 2000.
Wright hosted a seminar discussing "Audience Developed Products - How to Involve the World."