Tim LeTourneau, Former Producer at Maxis, Has Passed Away
Yesterday, via a social media post from Donna LeTourneau, wife of former Maxis producer Tim LeTourneau, she acknowledged the recent passing of her husband.
Tim LeTourneau was both a producer and executive producer at Maxis, making significant contributions to games such as The Sims, The Sims 2, and MySims, as well as numerous other games throughout his career. His influence has helped shape the franchise we love, and his legacy will live on in every sim we create and house we build.
A Legacy of Innovation
Tim LeTourneau began his journey with Maxis in its early days, working closely with Will Wright (Creator of The Sims) on SimCity 3000 in 1999, before moving on to The Sims Team before the game’s original launch in 2000.
Additions such as Cars in The Sims 2 Nightlife Expansion Pack are all thanks to Tim. In an interview with Gamespot in 2005 about the Expansion, Tim said “This [was] a feature that Sims players have been requesting for five years, so we have always wanted to add them. Then you design an expansion pack about “getting your sims out of the house and out on the town.” It’s just a natural thing to include.”
Some of you may not have heard Tim’s name until today. Some of you may have heard it without realising it. In The Sims 2, when playing ‘Marco Polo’ instead of saying “Marco” and “Polo”, Sims will instead say “TimLe” and “Tourneau”. This adorable easter egg will always be a reminder of how Tim helped shape the franchise. Thanks to Daniellebuilds on Facebook for sharing this. Check it out in action below!
Some of you may be familiar with Tim’s Wife, Donna LeTourneau, as she voiced both child and toddler Sims in The Sims 3, as well as babies and toddlers in The Sims 2, among others. Her most iconic role was the voice of the Sims community’s favourite prude, Agnes Crumplebottom, in The Sims 2 Nightlife.
Over on Reddit, a Maxis employee who goes by the name ‘vertexnormal’ shared this personal anecdote about Tim LeTourneau:
On a personal note, Tim hired me at the age of 23 with no experience and no professional training just a ton of passion for making games. He changed my life in an amazing way and so much of who I am now hinged on his decision to take a chance on a nervous kid who chewed on his tie,
There is a reason why I called it the Maxis family, because it has been that for most who work and worked there. A place where we could all contribute our skills, passion, and visions while keeping our humor, our energy, and our sanity. Tim was a true father of that family.
vertexnormal – r/thesims – Reddit
Final Words
The online community has taken to social media to share memories, tributes, and reflections on Tim’s impact. Tim LeTourneau helped make The Sims more than a game, it became a mirror for life. Today, we say goodbye to one of the visionaries who helped shape that mirror. Our heart goes out to Donna and her four children. From all of us here at Sims Community – thank you Tim.
