Ed Boon

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Ed Boon
Ed Boon by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Boon in 2023
Born
Edward Boon

(1964-02-22) February 22, 1964 (age 60)
Chicago, Illinois
Occupation(s) Game programmer, director, philanthropist, voice actor and producer
Years active1987–present

EdwardBoon (born February 22, 1964) [1] is an American video game programmer, voice actor, and director. Boon was employed for over 15 years at Midway Games. Since 2011, he has worked for Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for one of its Subsidiaries, NetherRealm Studios.

Contents

Boon is best known for the widely popular Mortal Kombat series, which he created with John Tobias, and the Injustice series. In 2009, he was chosen by IGN as one of the top 100 game creators of all time. [2]

Life and career

Boon graduated from high school at Loyola Academy in Wilmette. Boon is of Hispanic descent, from the Dominican Republic. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and computer science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. [3] [4]

After graduation, he was employed by Williams Entertainment in their pinball department, working on approximately 20 pinball games over the next two years. During this time, he was called the Mortal Master, an early indicator towards a future creation. [5]

He is the co-creator of the Mortal Kombat fighting game series, along with John Tobias, [6] and served as the series' lead programmer, with Tobias as the lead designer, until their partnership dissolved with Tobias' departure from Midway in 2000. Boon named series characters Sonya and Tanya after his sisters Sonia and Tania, [7] while another character, Noob Saibot, was named after Boon and Tobias' reversed surnames. [8] Programmer Mike Boon is Ed's younger brother and has been a part of his team since Mortal Kombat 4 . [4] The Boons are Hispanic and Dominican by ethnicity. [1]

Boon was featured in IGN's 2009 list of "Top 100 Game Creators" for his involvement in the Mortal Kombat series. [2] He continues to be directly involved with the MK franchise and its multimedia side projects and has also provided voice acting and motion capture work for the games, most notably providing the voice for the "Come here!" and "Get over here!" catchphrases by Scorpion in several games of the series as well as the first two feature films Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat Annihilation . The 2008 edition of Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition consequently awarded him a world record for the "longest-serving video game voice actor." [9]

In 2018, Mortal Kombat was exhibited in an arcade cabinet at the Chicago New Media 1973–1992 exhibition, curated by jonCates. [10]

Works

Video games

YearTitleRole(s)
1990High Impact Football—
1991Super High Impact—
1992 Total Carnage Voice of General Akhboob
1992 Mortal Kombat Designer, programmer, voice of Scorpion, Reptile, Shang Tsung (announcer)
1993 Mortal Kombat II Designer, programmer, voice of Scorpion, Smoke, Noob Saibot, Liu Kang, and Jax
1995 Mortal Kombat 3 Designer, programmer, voice of Smoke, Liu Kang and Jax
1995 Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 Executive producer, designer, programmer, voice of Scorpion
1996 Mortal Kombat Trilogy Designer, programmer
1997 Mortal Kombat 4 Designer, programmer, voice of Johnny Cage, Raiden, Kai, Scorpion and Jax
1999 Mortal Kombat Gold Project lead, voice of Cyrax
2001 The Grid —
2002 Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance Team lead, game design, programming, voice of Scorpion
2004 Mortal Kombat: Deception Project lead, game design, programming, voice of Scorpion, Reiko, Sub-Zero and Noob Saibot
2005 Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks Executive producer, voice of Scorpion
2006 Mortal Kombat: Armageddon Creative director
2008 Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Creative director, team leader
2011 Mortal Kombat Team leader, creative director, additional voices
2011 Batman: Arkham City Lockdown Creative director
2013 Injustice: Gods Among Us Creative director, team leader
2013 Batman: Arkham Origins —
2015 Mortal Kombat X Creative director, team leader
2017 Injustice 2 Creative director, team leader
2019 Mortal Kombat 11 Creative director, team leader
2023 Mortal Kombat 1 Creative director, team leader

Pinball

YearTitleRole(s)
1987 F-14 Tomcat effects
1987Space Station: Pinball Rendezvoussoftware and effects
1988 Banzai Run effects
1988 Taxi software and effects
1989 Black Knight 2000 software and effects
1990 FunHouse voice of Rudy [11]

Media

YearTitleRole(s)Note(s)
1995 Mortal Kombat Scorpion (voice) [11]
1997 Mortal Kombat Annihilation
2006 Drawn Together Episode: "The One Wherein There Is a Big Twist: Part 2"
2011 Mortal Kombat: Legacy Ed Goodmancameo appearance in first-season episode "Johnny Cage"

Related Research Articles

<i>Mortal Kombat Annihilation</i> 1997 martial arts fantasy film

Mortal Kombat Annihilation is a 1997 American martial arts fantasy film directed by John R. Leonetti in his directorial debut. Based on the Mortal Kombat video game franchise, it is the second installment in the Mortal Kombat film series and a sequel to the original 1995 film, on which Leonetti served as cinematographer. Largely adapted from the 1995 video game Mortal Kombat 3, Annihilation follows Liu Kang and his allies as they attempt to prevent the malevolent Shao Kahn from conquering Earthrealm. It stars Robin Shou as Liu Kang, Talisa Soto as Kitana, James Remar as Raiden, Sandra Hess as Sonya Blade, Lynn “Red” Williams as Jax and Brian Thompson as Shao Kahn. Only Shou and Soto reprised their roles, with the other characters from the previous film being recast.

<i>Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance</i> 2002 video game

Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance is a 2002 fighting game developed and published by Midway for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Game Boy Advance. It was the first all-new Mortal Kombat fighting game produced exclusively for home consoles, with no preceding arcade release. It is the fifth main installment in the Mortal Kombat franchise and a sequel to 1997's Mortal Kombat 4. Its story focuses on the eponymous alliance between sorcerers Quan Chi and Shang Tsung and their schemes to revive an ancient army to conquer Outworld and Earthrealm. The game is the only main installment not to feature series protagonist Liu Kang as a playable character. It is also the first game in the canon series to not have the involvement of co-creator John Tobias, as he left Midway in 1999 to pursue other interests.

<i>Mortal Kombat 4</i> 1997 video game

Mortal Kombat 4 is the fourth main installment in the Mortal Kombat series of fighting games developed by Midway Games. Released to arcades in 1997, Mortal Kombat 4 is the first title from the series, and one of the first made by Midway overall, to use 3D computer graphics. It is also the last game of the series to have an arcade release. It was later ported to the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, PC, and Game Boy Color the following year, as well as an updated version titled Mortal Kombat Gold released exclusively for the Dreamcast.

Sub-Zero (<i>Mortal Kombat</i>) Mortal Kombat character

Sub-Zero is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. A warrior from the fictional Lin Kuei clan, he possesses ability to control ice in many forms. He is the only fighter to appear in every main installment of the series, along with the action-adventure spin-off Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero (1997).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Cage</span> Mortal Kombat character

Johnny Cage is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. Introduced in the original 1992 game, he is an action film star with an extensive martial arts background. The series depicts Cage as one of the primary heroes defending Earthrealm from various threats, as well as the comic foil. In the first rebooted timeline, Cage is also the love interest of Special Forces officer Sonya Blade and the father of their daughter Cassie.

Characters of the <i>Mortal Kombat</i> series

This is a list of playable and boss characters from the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise and the games in which they appear. Created by Ed Boon and John Tobias, the series depicts conflicts between various realms. Most characters fight on behalf of their realm, with the primary heroes defending Earthrealm against conquering villains from Outworld and the Netherrealm. Early installments feature the characters participating in the eponymous Mortal Kombat tournament to decide their realm's fate. In later installments, Earthrealm is often invaded by force.

<i>Mortal Kombat 3</i> 1995 video game

Mortal Kombat 3 is a 1995 fighting game developed and published by Midway Games for arcades. It is the third main installment in the Mortal Kombat franchise and a sequel to 1993's Mortal Kombat II. As in the previous games, it has a cast of characters that players choose from and guide through a series of battles against other opponents. The game avoids the tournament storyline of its predecessors, as various warriors instead fight against the returning Shao Kahn, who has resurrected his bride Sindel and started an invasion of Earthrealm.

Scorpion (<i>Mortal Kombat</i>) Mortal Kombat character

Scorpion is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. A ninja dressed in yellow, his primary weapon is a kunai rope dart, which he uses to harpoon opponents. Since his debut in the original 1992 game, Scorpion has appeared as a playable character in every main installment except Mortal Kombat 3 (1995).

<i>Mortal Kombat Trilogy</i> 1996 video game

Mortal Kombat Trilogy is a fighting game released by Midway in 1996 as the second and final update to Mortal Kombat 3 for the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Sega Saturn and PCs. Further versions were also released for the Game.com and R-Zone. It features a similar basic gameplay system and the same story as Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, but adds characters and stages restored from Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat II. New additions to the game included the "Aggressor" bar. The Brutality mechanic was introduced with this installment. The game was met with positive to mixed reviews upon release.

<i>Mortal Kombat II</i> 1993 video game

Mortal Kombat II is a fighting game originally produced by Midway for the arcades in 1993. It was ported to multiple home systems, including MS-DOS, Amiga, Game Boy, Game Gear, Sega Genesis, 32X, Sega Saturn, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and PlayStation only in Japan, mostly in licensed versions developed by Probe Software and Sculptured Software and published by Acclaim Entertainment.

Reptile (<i>Mortal Kombat</i>) Mortal Kombat character

Reptile is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. He debuted in the original 1992 game as a hidden opponent, establishing him as the first secret character in fighting game history. Reptile became playable in the follow-up Mortal Kombat II (1993) and has remained a mainstay of the franchise. As implied by his name, he is a Saurian, a fictional species of reptilian humanoids. One of the last surviving members of his race, he aligns himself with the series' primary villains in the hope his service will lead to the Saurians' revival.

<i>Mortal Kombat: Deception</i> 2004 video game

Mortal Kombat: Deception is a 2004 fighting game developed and published by Midway. It is the sixth main installment in the Mortal Kombat franchise and a sequel to 2002's Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance. It was released for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in October 2004, for the GameCube in March 2005 and later ported for the PlayStation Portable under the title Mortal Kombat: Unchained in November 2006. Mortal Kombat: Deception follows the storyline from the fifth installment, Deadly Alliance. Its story centers on the revival of the Dragon King Onaga, who attempts to conquer the realms featured in the series after defeating the sorcerers Quan Chi and Shang Tsung, the main antagonists in the previous game, and the Thunder God Raiden, defender of Earthrealm. The surviving warriors from the previous titles join forces to confront Onaga.

<i>Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3</i> Fighting video game

Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 is a fighting game in the Mortal Kombat series, developed and released by Midway to arcades in 1995. It is a standalone update of 1995's earlier Mortal Kombat 3 with an altered gameplay system, additional characters like the returning favorites Reptile, Kitana, Jade and Scorpion who were missing from Mortal Kombat 3, and some new features.

<i>Mortal Kombat: Special Forces</i> 2000 video game

Mortal Kombat: Special Forces is a 2000 action-adventure beat 'em up video game developed and published by Midway for the PlayStation in 2000. A spin-off of the Mortal Kombat franchise, it is the second installment to not be a fighting game and the first 3D spin-off. Set before the first game Mortal Kombat, players control Jax as he pursues criminal leader Kano and his gang.

<i>Mortal Kombat Gold</i> 1999 video game

Mortal Kombat Gold is a 1999 fighting game in the Mortal Kombat series that was published by Midway Home Entertainment. It was developed by Eurocom and released exclusively on the Dreamcast as a launch title. It is an updated version of 1997's Mortal Kombat 4 and was the first game to appear on a sixth-generation platform as well as the only Mortal Kombat game to be released for the Dreamcast console. Critical reaction was mostly average due to the graphics being inferior to the arcade version, the weapons deemed boring or useless, and game-breaking bugs and glitches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Tobias</span> Co-creator of Mortal Kombat

John Tobias is an American comic book artist, graphic designer, video game designer and writer. Tobias is best known for creating the Mortal Kombat series along with Ed Boon, to whom he pitched the game concept.

<i>Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks</i> 2005 video game

Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is a 2005 action-adventure beat 'em up video game developed and published by Midway for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. A spin-off of the Mortal Kombat franchise, it is a retelling of the events of Mortal Kombat II (1993). Players control the eponymous Shaolin monks Liu Kang and Kung Lao in either single player or cooperative play as they protect Earthrealm from the forces of Outworld.

<i>Mortal Kombat</i> Video game series and multimedia franchise

Mortal Kombat is an American media franchise centered on a series of fighting video games originally developed by Midway Games in 1992. The original Mortal Kombat arcade game spawned a franchise consisting of action-adventure games, a comic book series, a card game, films, an animated TV series, and a live-action tour. Mortal Kombat has become the best-selling fighting game franchise worldwide and one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.

<i>Mortal Kombat 1</i> 2023 fighting video game

Mortal Kombat 1 is a 2023 fighting game developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Games. It is the twelfth main installment in the Mortal Kombat series, and serves as its second reboot after 2011's Mortal Kombat. The game was released on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on September 19, 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liu Kang</span> Mortal Kombat character

Liu Kang is a fictional character of the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. Depicted as Earthrealm's greatest warrior and champion, he debuted in the original 1992 game as a Shaolin monk with special moves, which were intended to be the easiest for players to perform. Since his introduction, Liu Kang has appeared as playable in every main installment except Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance (2002). He is also one of the protagonists of the action-adventure spin-off Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks (2005).

References

  1. 1 2 Shirley Gomez (October 13, 2023). "Meet Ed Boon: The Dominican-American visionary behind Mortal Kombat". ¡Hola! . Archived from the original on October 14, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "IGN - 100. Ed Boon". IGN. Archived from the original on April 20, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Universities of Missouri, Illinois hailed as tech's powerful colleges". St. Louis Business Journal. May 3, 2010. Archived from the original on April 11, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  4. 1 2 Borrelli, Christopher (May 1, 2013). "'Mortal Kombat' creator Ed Boon back with DC superhero game". Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Mortal's Master: Programmer Ed Boon". GamePro . No. 86. IDG. November 1995. pp. 38–40.
  6. ↑ Barton, Steve (June 10, 2010). "E3 2010: Mortal Kombat Returns! See the New Trailer!". Dread Central . Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Mortal Kombat X gets the Xenomorph, Leatherface, and a few old favourites". GamesRadar+ . December 4, 2015. Archived from the original on October 18, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  8. ↑ Michael McWhertor (April 19, 2021). "The origin of Noob Saibot". Polygon . Vox Media. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  9. ↑ Glenday, Craig (2008). Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition. Guinness World Records. p. 79. ISBN   978-1904994206.
  10. ↑ Cates, Jon (2018). Chicago New Media, 1973-1992. Illinois, US: University of Illinois. p. 9. ISBN   978-0-252-08407-2.
  11. 1 2 "Ed Boon | Behind The Voice Actors". Behind The Voice Actors (Check mark indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources). Archived from the original on July 27, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
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