The Producers Guild of America will honor Will Wright, creator of The Sims, with the prestigious Vanguard Award, the first time a game designer has been so honored, the guild announced. On Jan. 20, Wright, who also created SimCity and next year’s SPORE, will be honored alongside some of Hollywood’s most recognized names, including producer Jerry Bruckheimer and Ron Meyer, president and chief operating officer of Universal Studios. The Vanguard Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement in new media and technology, will be presented to Wright at the 2007 Producers Guild Awards in Century City, Calif.

PGA Awards co-chairs Mark Gordon and Hawk Koch said in a statement: “Will Wright is the icon of the gaming industry and one of the great producers of entertainment content. His creations have transcended into feature films and continue to entertain a global audience. We are proud to have him be the first Vanguard recipient from the gaming universe.”

Source: SciFi Wire