"The really great make you feel that you, too, can become great..." - Mark Twain

In this business i often get accused of having a "disrespectful" attitude, but nothing could be further from the truth. While it's true that i have little to no respect for my fellow game developers, there are plenty of individuals elsewhere in the world that inspire me. Some call them "heroes" or "idols", but i call them "blueprints". The people that set an example, raise the bar, and encourage you to do the same. Here are several such personalities that influence my work...

Michael Jackson
He always said he wanted his life to be "the greatest show on Earth" - and he certainly succeeded in that respect! So much so that it's easy to forget that his act really was the "greatest show on Earth" for decades. His mesmerizing performances, flawless voice, and versatile writing made sure of that - and seal his place as a creative genius. A true "one man show" if ever there was one, but also a master innovator that revolutionized his profession - setting records and trends that are imitated to this day. Unfortunately, his eccentric personal life has practically erased that incredible legacy and makes him an easy target for some. Yes, he lives in his own little world. Funny thing is, his is better than ours...

Eminem
Talk about going from one extreme to the other! Back in the real world, this controversial rapper is upholding a different kind of creative genius. He's famous for his more childish songs, but it's the gritty down-to-earth material that commands most respect. After several years of incredible success, Marshall Mathers is still perfectly in touch with the real world from whence he came. He's brutally honest about everything, from his own life to the outside world, and delivers with flawless lyrics. Even more impressive is that he combines it all with a lethal sense of humour. So much so that you feel sorry for anybody that gets on the wrong side of him! His detractors would have you believe that he's a menace, but there's actually a lot of integrity on display. He ridicules the lazy, the dishonest, the shallow - and lest we forget, bad parents. All the time standing by his convictions so vehemently that even the Oscars couldn't tempt him to "sell out"...

Jay-Z
Despite being one the biggest, this rap entrepreneur was the last to grab my attention. It's a good job that he finally did though, because it turns out we've got a lot in common! When narrow-minded labels wouldn't give him a deal, our man was forced to publish himself - and the result is a certain $500m empire called Roc-a-fella Records. Ever since i heard that story, Jay-Z has been my symbol for writing your own destiny, proving other wrong - and bragging when it happens! The talent he used to do it is the most mesmerizing part of the legacy. A naturally gifted lyricist that doesn't even need to write down his rhymes, he's the ultimate example of mastering your craft. His mind-boggling work (and success) rate speaks for itself. The fact that he's surprisingly humble at heart seals the deal...

P Diddy
They're both New Yorkers, they were both touched by Biggie, and they've both achieved Blueprint status for similar reasons! Like Siamese twins, the parallel lives of Shawn Carter and Sean Combs makes it hard to separate them - so i won't. Although infinitely less talented on the mike, P Diddy's imperial ambitions warrant a mention. In an industry where black artists had long been taken advantage of, this one refused to play by the rules and wrote his own destiny with the Bad Boy label. Like Jay-Z, he too has amassed a considerable $500m fortune - and successfully ventured into fashion and acting too. All the time remaining a God-fearing antidote to the more hostile rappers; boasting a sense of optimism as contagious as his beats...

The Rock
The Rock was always destined for greatness, but i'm always impressed with how respectful he is about it. Far from his arrogant persona, Dwayne Johnson frequently demonstrates the utmost respect for the wrestling business and its fans. He puts noticeable effort into bettering himself and his character, and is only too happy to elevate new talent (a notoriously rare quality in wrestling!). Proof of his passion can be found at the end of his infamous Wrestlemania X8 match against Hulk Hogan. Before leaving through the curtain he looks at the ground with a glazed look, contemplating what he just took part in. Such moments of sincerity are the few in wrestling that aren't "fake" - and he's responsible for a lot of them. All of the above could be considered irrelevant since he left for Hollywood, but we can safely assume that he's keeping those qualities alive in his new role...

Bret Hart
The Rock might be one of the great "spectacles" of wrestling, but it's legitimate athletes like Bret Hart that uphold the sport's fine tradition. Born into the genuinely tough world of Stu Hart and his "dungeon", this one's credentials can never be doubted. He was turned inside out en route to becoming one of the greatest wrestlers of all time - which is no mean feat considering that his "route" was longer than most! He floundered on the sidelines for almost a decade before getting a chance to prove himself at the top level. When he finally did though, he popularized the convincing, hard-hitting style that revolutionized the business. The fact that he did it without injuring a single opponent, or missing a single date, are qualities so rare that we haven't seen them before or since. The "excellence of execution" certainly practised what he preached...

Sylvester Stallone
Like Michael Jackson, this guy's career has suffered at the hands of an unforgiving media - but his detractors would do well to remember that he's single-handedly responsible for one of the greatest movie franchises of all time. Indeed, the struggle to bring Rocky to the screen is almost as inspirational as the films themselves! It's been some 30 years since Stallone penned the classic first instalment in the solace of his dingy bedsit. The fact that he went on to star in it (despite strong opposition from the suits), and even directed many of the sequels, seals his place as a formidable Hollywood player. An achievement made all the more significant by the fact that he did it all despite a soul-destroying speech impediment. Indeed, his personality is as strong as any other part of his body. He's a notoriously "good interview" that demonstrates a more humble and self-deprecating attitude than his peers...

Tom Cruise
It's somewhat taboo to say they you respect a "heart throb" like Tom Cruise, but the truth is that he's dangerously close to topping this list. Far from the cocky Top Gun stereotype, the real Tom Cruise is a notoriously down-to-earth character. The familiar story of a missing father forced him to mature quickly, and instilled a ferocious work ethic that makes me look lazy! He approaches every movie role as if his life depended on it - genuinely becoming a fine pool player, bartender, pilot, driver, soldier, and most recently even a samurai?! All the time remaining an incredible actor in his own right, boasting an almost flawless filmography. His controversial Scientology religion teaches that "a man's capabilities are unlimited". We've certainly got evidence to support that theory! He refuses to accept the limitations of a human being - let alone those of his industry... 

Bruce Lee
Speaking of physical prowess, in jumps martial arts legend Bruce Lee. He's famous for his action-packed exploits in the movie industry - but, ironically enough, it's his mind that earns him a spot on this list. He was a great thinker, whose musings culminated in the revolutionary Jeet Kun Do martial art. It taught that the best "way" is "no way". The idea that you should be so versatile that you can take on any form and rise to any challenge. Like "water" that can "crash" or "flow", as he so often preferred to explain it. Having attained that status in the games industry, i can testify to its power! Our man also warrants a mention for his struggle. He was regularly persecuted by his peers for having the audacity to teach Eastern philosophies to the Western world. Not least because his accessible, down-to-earth methods achieved it so spectacularly...

Michelangelo
I can't claim to be an art connoisseur, but i have got a lot of time for Michelangelo's legacy. A "solo artist" in the most literal sense, he achieved spectacular results single-handedly. His versatility would make Bruce Lee proud - ranging from sculptures like David (above) to the miraculous painting of the Sistine Chapel. Both of which are feats that no man has been able to replicate since. Surely a true mark of genius. Indeed, the Sistine Chapel was supposed to be a "punishment" that couldn't possibly be achieved! He did it though, and it stands as the ultimate example of proving others wrong. His solo status is also inspiring. He was often ridiculed and labelled as "arrogant" for having the audacity to work alone. Never have critics been silenced so successfully...

Jesus Christ
Although people kill each other over it, whether or not he was the "Son of God" is quite irrelevant. The fact is that 2'000 years ago, a guy said and did a lifetime's worth of great things - making an impact so big that everybody in the civilized world measures the date by it! He had a way with words that was inspirational, motivational, and revolutionary. Unfortunately, centuries of human hands have tainted that most sacred of legacies - leaving us with more questions than answers. Just enough genius seeps through, though, to make it worth thinking about. In any case, the point is that (like all of the great prophets) he paid the ultimate price for his efforts. Anybody that dares to be different eventually answers to the corrupt world that they're trying to change. A depressing fact, but at least that common bond is encouraging...

Final Thought
Of course, you're not supposed to adopt these blueprints - but you are encouraged to discover your own. The reason people are called "stars" is because each one lights up another. We all bring our own achievements to the table, and they eventually shape the world. Like the pixels in my games, each one compliments the other and paints the bigger picture. Find your blueprints, build what they inspire you to build, and before you know it you're the architect of your own destiny...

"The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away..." - Joy J. Golliver