Chris Oberth
Chris Oberth | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 17, 1953 |
| Died | July 14, 2012 (aged 59)[1] |
| Occupation | Game programmer |
Notable work | Anteater Ardy the Aardvark |
Christian H. "Chris" Oberth (May 17, 1953 – July 14, 2012)[1] was a game programmer who created early titles for the Apple II family of personal computers, handheld electronic games for Milton Bradley, and games for coin-operated arcade machines published in the early 1980s. Though not a hit in arcades, Oberth's 1982 Anteater for Stern Electronics was an influential concept, cloned by a number of developers for 8-bit home computers, including Sierra On-Line as Oil's Well. The following year he wrote his own home version as Ardy the Aardvark (Datamost, 1983).
Oberth's first commercial games, Phasor Zap (1978) and 3-D Docking Mission (1978) for the Apple II, were published by Programma International, a company which also published games from future arcade game designers Bob Flanagan and Gary Shannon as well as rejecting the first effort from Mark Turmell.[2] His next thirteen Apple II games, in addition to Phasor Zap and 3-D Docking Mission, were published by The Elektrik Keyboard, a musical instrument and computer store in Chicago where Oberth was head of the computer department.[2]
Games[]
The Elektrik Keyboard 1978-79 [3][4]
- 3-D Docking Mission
- Cycle Jump
- Dart Room
- Deflectiom
- Demolition Derby
- Depth Charge
- Drawing Board
- Frustration
- Intercepter
- Kaleidoscope
- Moto-Cross
- Phasor Zap
- Recall
- RunAround
- Speed Racer
- Light Fight
- Finger Bowl
- Sky-Writer
- Alfie
Stern Electronics 1981-83 [3][4]
- Anteater
- Minefield
- Rescue
- Tazzmania
- Armored Car
Datamost 1983
- Ardy the Aardvark[3]
Microlab 1984
- Boulder Dash (ColecoVision port) [5][4]
- Dr. J and Larry Bird Go One on One (ColecoVision port) [5]
Epyx 1985
Mindscape 1987-88, 1990 [4]
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
- Out Run (C64 port)
Gametek 1992
Incredible Technologies 1995-1997 [4]
- Time Killers
- BloodStorm
- ShuffleShot
- World Class Bowling
Electronic Arts 2001
Unreleased
- Crypt (Stern, 1983) [6]
- Days of Thunder (unpublished version)[7]
- Power-Up Baseball (Incredible Technologies, Midway, 1996) [8]
References[]
- ^ a b "Christian H. Oberth Obituary: View Christian Oberth's Obituary by Chicago Tribune". Legacy.com. 2012-07-16. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
- ^ a b Smith, Keith. "Programma International - Coin-Op Breeding Ground". The Golden Age Arcade Historian.
- ^ a b c d e Hague, James (2012-07-16). "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers". Retrieved 2012-12-06.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Interview with Programmer Christian Oberth (Part 3)". Retrogaming Times Monthly. No. 27. My.stratos.net. Archived from the original on 2013-05-23. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
- ^ a b "Interview with Programmer Christian Oberth (Part 2)". Retrogaming Times Monthly. No. 24. My.stratos.net. Archived from the original on 2013-05-23. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
- ^ "Crypt". Gaming History.
- ^ Carpenter, Nicole (June 1, 2020). "Video game preservationists reconstruct decades-lost, never-released NES game". Polygon. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- ^ "Baseball's Lost 'NBA Jam' Revealed". Video Game History Foundation.
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- Video game programmers
- 1953 births
- 2012 deaths
- Video game specialist stubs