Christian Oberth

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

Programma International [3][4] Phasor Zap 3-D Docking Mission 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

Milton Bradley 1979-80 [3][4] Light Fight Finger Bowl Sky-Writer Alfie Stern Electronics 1981-83 [3][4] Anteater Minefield Rescue Tazmania 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Epyx 1985 Winter Games[4] Mindscape 1987-88, 1990 [4] Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Outrun Days of Thunder (unpublished version) Gametek 1992 American Gladiators[4] Incredible Technologies 1995-1997 [4] Time Killers BloodStorm ShuffleShot World Class Bowling Electronic Arts 2001 NBA Live 2001[4]

References

1. "Christian H. Oberth Obituary: View Christian Oberth's Obituary by Chicago Tribune". Legacy.com. 2012-07-16. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
2. Smith, Keith. "Programma International - Coin-Op Breeding Ground". The Golden Age Arcade Historian.
3. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers". Dadgum.com. 2012-07-16. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
4. "Interview with Programmer Christian Oberth (Part 3)". Retrogaming Times Monthly. No. 27 (My.stratos.net). Retrieved 2012-12-06.
5. "Interview with Programmer Christian Oberth (Part 2)". Retrogaming Times Monthly. No. 24 (My.stratos.net). Retrieved 2012-12-06.