Arcade Authorship – Excessive Rating Desk Credit – The Historical past of How We Play
It’s an open secret that with the appearance of the excessive rating desk in arcade video video games, designers would conceal their signatures in lieu of being straight credited for the video games themselves. The apply was birthed in a time each when displaying any however probably the most essential textual content on display was novel and the worth of individuals making the video games by the businesses themselves was poorly considered. Sneaking one’s identify into the sport had precedent earlier than excessive rating tables, but with their introduction it grew to become a subculture. Typically rebellious, typically intricate, and oftentimes serving as an aspiration for prime rating chasers, this phenomenon largely of the Eighties was one of many few methods recreation creators might sign themselves to recreation gamers.
The hotbed of excessive rating credit largely coincided with the Golden Age of Arcade Video Video games, from 1980 to 1983. After this level, the apply grew to become much less frequent, each on account of a deemphasis on excessive scores as a driving power in arcade video games and the looks of reputable credit sequences throughout the video games themselves. Nevertheless, the initials embedded in these video games proceed to offer ample thriller for many who play these video games these days. Who’re the folks behind every online game excessive rating desk?
This put up – to be frequently up to date – can be a useful resource to reply that query. The road-ups of “contemporary” excessive rating tables with embedded names can be collected right here, and makes an attempt made to decipher each two-to-three letter preliminary inside. It’ll solely checklist these acknowledged within the desk, not each one that labored on the mission. There are lots of quirks to this course of with about as many exceptions as there are primary guidelines, however this may hopefully make clear for the long run a few of the improvement background of every of those video games. I welcome updates, corrections, and additions of all kinds to assist make this a complete look into this subject!
Right here’s the checklist, the names, and the roles behind all of it (so far as presently understood).
Missile Command (June 1980)
DFT – Dave Theurer. Designer, programmer.
DLS – Dave Sherman. {Hardware} engineer.
SRC – Steve Calfee. Head of Software program Engineering, helped within the early thought stage.
RDA – Wealthy Adam. Programmer.
MJP – Mary Pepper. Electrical engineer at Atari.
JED – Jed Margolin. {Hardware} engineer.
DEW – Dave Wiebenson (Unsure). The identification is predicated on Tony Temple’s guess and Wiebenson was not concerned within the making of the sport.
GJL – Gerry Lichac. Created the trakball used on Atari’s video games, together with Missile command.
Battlezone
EDR – Ed Rotberg. Designer, programmer.
MPH – Morgan Hoff. Venture chief.
JED – Jed Margolin. {Hardware} engineer, programmer, sound engineer.
DES – Doug Snyder. {Hardware} engineer.
TKE –
VKB –
EL –
HAD – Howard Delman. {Hardware} engineer.
ORR – Owen Rubin. Artist.
GJR – Greg Rivera. Programmer at Atari, position unknown.
Defender (December 1980)
DRJ – Eugene Jarvis. Designer, programmer.
SAM – Sam Dicker. Programmer.
LED – Larry DeMar. Programmer.
PGD – Paul Dussault. Programmer.
CRB – Chuck Bleich. {Hardware} engineering.
MRS – Mike Stroll. Head of Engineering at Williams.
SSR – Steve Ritchie. An engineer at Williams primarily concerned in pinball, didn’t work straight on Defender.
TMH – Tom Hart. {Hardware} engineer.
Tremendous Missile Assault (Could 1981)
XMI – (Unknown)
DBM – Doug Macare. Designer, programmer.
SEG – Steve Golson. Designer, programmer.
LRD – Larry Dennison. {Hardware} engineer.
JT – John Tylko. Programmer.
KGC – Kevin Curran. Programmer.
CSR – Chris Rode. Audio engineer.
GCC – Standing in for the corporate identify, Basic Pc Company.
Centipede (June 1981)
EJD – Eric Durfey. Credited on different video games as a {hardware} technician, however Atari Compendium states he was a part of administration. Involvement unknown.
DFT – Dave Theurer. Programmer.
CAD – Chris Downend. Atari Compendium states he was the Venture Chief however he’s not been talked about by the designers in that capability. It might have been within the cupboard and {hardware} sense. Involvement unknown.
DCB – Dona Bailey. Designer and Programmer.
ED – Ed Logg. Designer and Programmer.
DEW – Dave Wiebenson. {Hardware} technician at Atari, involvement unknown.
DFW – Don Wrightnour. Administration at Atari, involvement unknown.
GJR – Greg Rivera. Programmer.
Enterprise (July 1981)
DJS – Dave Staugas. Programmer.
VIC – Vic Tolomei. Programmer.
MCH – Michael Cooper-Hart. Artist.
MRK –
HAI – Howell Ivy. Designer, {hardware} engineer.
Tempest (October 1981)
EJD – Erik Dufrey. {Hardware} technician.
DES – Doug Snyder. {Hardware} engineer.
RRR – (Unknown) Probably only a placeholder.
MPH – Morgan Hoff. Venture Chief.
DFT – Dave Theurer. Designer, programmer.
SDL – Sam Lee. {Hardware} engineer.
MJP – Marry Pepper. {Hardware} technician.
BEH –
Stargate (November 1981)
DRJ, EPJ – Eugene Jarvis. Designer, programmer.
LED – Larry DeMar. Programmer.
SAM – Sam Dicker. Programmer at Williams, didn’t work at Vid Kidz on the time. That is possible a leftover from the Defender excessive rating bundle.
SSR – Steve Ritchie. Engineer at Williams, didn’t work on the sport.
JER –
Eliminator (December 1981)
MLH – Mike Hendricks. Programmer.
MEX – Medo Moreno. Programmer. Largely labored on the appeal to display.
LBC – Larry Clague. Programmer.
SRH – Steve Hostetler. Programmer.
THE KID –
AND is used as a separator, simply which means “and”.
Area Duel (February 1982)
ORR – Owen Rubin. Programmer.
SRC – Steve Calfee. Programmer.
DES – David Shepperd. Programmer.
JMR – John Ray. {Hardware} engineer.
Robotron 2084 (March 1982)
DRJ – Eugene Jarvis. Designer, programmer.
LED – Larry DeMar. Designer, programmer, artist.
EPJ – Eugene Jarvis.
JER –
KIS –
MLG –
SSR – Steve Ritchie
UNA –
JRS – John Seldrake. Artist.
CJM – Constantino Mitchell. Cupboard artist.
Tron (June 1982)
JP – John Pasierb. Head of Engineering at Halfway.
BA – Invoice Adams. Designer, programmer.
GG – George Gomez. Designer, artist, industrial designer. Answerable for the joystick on the sport, first used on Gorf.
EV – Earl Vickers. Audio engineer, composer.
AG – Atish Ghosh. {Hardware} engineer.
JM – John Marcus. Programmer.
TL – Tom Leon. Designer, programmer. Primarily accountable for the tank stage.
SB –
MJ – Marsh Jordan. Artist.
JJ –
Area Dungeon (August 1982)
REX – Rex Battenberg. Designer, programmer.
AND –
DFB –
TGF – Tom Fosha. Sound engineer.
RJH –
DLP –
KJE –
TAI, TO, USA – The identify of the corporate, Taito America.
Zektor (August 1982)
MRB – Murphy Bivens. Designer and programmer.
CGW –
SLP – Sam Palahnuk. Programmer.
DPB –
BAC –
Gravitar (August 1982)
ACE –
SDM –
MEC – Mark Cerny. Programmer at Atari, position unknown.
RDA – Wealthy Adam. Programmer.
MLH – Mike Hally. Designer.
JOE – Joe Coddington. {Hardware} engineer, {hardware} technician.
ORR – Owen Rubin. Engineer at Atari, position unknown.
BRD – Bard Chaboya. Cupboard artist.
Joust (October 1982)
JRN – John Newcomer. Designer.
PFZ – Invoice Pfuzenreuter. Programmer.
KFL – Ken Lantz. Programmer.
CWK – Cary Kolker. Programmer.
JAN – Janice Hendricks. Artist.
MRS – Mike Stroll. Head of Engineering at Williams. Didn’t work straight on the sport.
Tac/Scan (October 1982)
MCL –
DBM –
HAL –
WLS –
BCH –
It’s potential these all signify pseudonyms as they don’t signify the recognized names of anybody at Sega Electronics on the time.
Zzyzzyxx (November 1982)
MJK – Mike Knauer. Programmer.
ERO –
DGJ –
VEC –
MDF – Marty Foulger. Designer.
VAS –
SJP –
EDH –
AMS – The corporate Superior Microcomputer Methods.
Liberator (November 1982)
DEN NIS HRP DDH – Dennis Harper. Designer, programmer.
S L – Sam Ly. {Hardware} engineer.
PDM – Paul Mancuso. {Hardware} technician.
CAD – Chris Downend. Supervisor at Atari. Involvement unknown.
BFS – Barbara Singh. Artist.
MEC – Mark Cerny. Programmer.
MRB – Max Behensky. Programmer.
Millipede (November 1982)
BBM – Brian McGhie. Programmer.
FXL – Franz Lanzinger. Programmer.
MEC – Mark Cerny. Programmer.
ED – Ed Logg. Designer.
DUG – Doug Snyder. {Hardware} technician.
DCB – Dona Bailey. Programmer.
DEW – Dave Webienson. {Hardware} engineer.
DFW – Don Wrightnour. {Hardware} engineer.
Q*Bert (November 1982)
TJC –
JML, LEE – Jeff Lee. Artist.
JAH –
MJS –
ECW –
BLT –
BMW –
DMV –
FDA –
LMG –
DDT – Dave Thiel. Sound engineer, composer.
JCM –
ZAP –
NAB – Neil Burnstein. Programmer.
JUN –
HFR –
RON – Ron Waxman
FXS –
DLB –
CPB –
WBD – Warren Davis. Designer, programmer.
SAM –
Time Pilot (November 1982)
Okay.O, N.A, M.I – The identify of the corporate, Konami Industries.
O.O, Y.A – Hideki Ooyama. Artist.
Quantum (November 1982)
BET – Betty Tylko
DEC – Dan Cafferty
ART – Artwork Ng
KEV – Kevin Osbourne
DBM – Doug Macrae
MAH – Mike Horowitz
LRD – Larry Dennison
PRG – Patty Goodson
SEG – Steve Golson
Akka Arrh (Unreleased, 1982)
JFS – John Salwitz. Programmer.
MLH – Mike Hally. Designer, programmer.
DAR – David Ralston. Designer, programmer.
D H – Dennis Harper. Programmer.
B B –
D S –
MRB – Max Behensky. Programmer.
Nibbler (January 1983)
JHU – Joe Ulowetz.
MRS –
JMJ – John Jaugilas.
BAK – Joe Bak.
RMM – Robin Mueller.
LDR – Lonnie Ropp.
WHO –
JEJ –
PJS –
ILK –
Black Widow (February 1983)
The credit for this recreation are organized vertically on the highest row.
BRUCE – Bruce Merrit.
DENNIS – Dennis Halverson. {Hardware} engineer.
MORGAN – Morgan Hoff. Venture chief.
The others spell out BLACK WIDOW and ATARI GAMES.
Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator (February 1983)
SLP – Sam Palahnuk. Designer.
MRB – Murphy Bivens. Designer, programmer.
JDZ – Jonathan Zapp. Programmer.
DCC – David Conover. Artist. Largely the appeal to display.
CGW –
SRH – Steve Hostetler.
Meals Struggle (March 1983)
JAH – Jonathan Hurd. Designer.
TW –
RBJ – Roland Janbergs. Programmer.
BGB – Bruce Burns. Programmer.
LRD – Larry Dennison. {Hardware} engineer.
PRG – Patty Goodson. Composer.
ROY – Roy Groth. Sound engineer.
DEL – Dan Ludwig. {Hardware} engineer.
DOG –
AYN – Artwork Ng. {Hardware} engineer.
EDV – Ed Vallee. {Hardware} engineer.
MOE –
Sinistar (April 1983)
N-F – Noah Falstein
KJF – Ken Fedesna.
KAG – Ken Graham.
FRG – Wealthy Grande.
YAK – Jack Haeger.
JJK – John Kotlarik.
KFL – Ken Lantz.
PJM – Pierre Maloka.
DOC – Keith McMillen.
JLM – John Meissen.
E-Z – Michael Metz.
=M= – R. J. Mical. Programmer. He wrote the excessive rating desk.
TIM – Tim Murphy.
JRN – John Newcomer.
TOM – Tom O’Meara.
PFZ – Invoice Pfutzenreuter.
RTP – Rudy Plemich.
BFD – Dave Rzepka.
MBS – Marc Stanis.
MRS – Mike Stroll.
EJS – Ed Suchocki.
STU – Stewart West.
WIT – Richard Witt.
MOM – An ode to at least one’s mom.
FAC – Stands for Future Absurdity Fee, an in-joke.
GOD – Referring to the Almighty.
KAY – Kay Anderson.
HEC – Harry Cline.
SAM – Sam Dicker.
KVD – Kristina Donofrio.
Data taken from the Sinistar supply code posted on GitHub.
Cosmic Chasm (April 1983)
RES – Bob Skinner. Designer, programmer.
MWG – Mike Gomez. Designer, programmer.
DAD – David Dentt.
BLJ – Brooke Jarret.
SDB – Scott Boden. Beforehand a programmer and designer at Cinematronics, this was added as a tribute.
JMC – John Coughley.
SRK – Sue Kuereri.
MJN – Mike Nabholz.
GGC – Geoff Canyon.
RTP – Rob Patton.
KCR –
EKS – Earl Stratton.
SES –
Bubbles (April 1983)
JJK – John Kotlarik. Designer, programmer, sound engineer.
TIM – Tim Murphy. Programmer, sound engineer.
ANG – Python Anghelo. Designer, artist, cupboard artist.
BFD –
RON –
MRS – Mike Stroll. Head of Engineering at Williams, didn’t work straight on the sport.
Star Wars (Could 1983)
OBI, WAN – A reference to Obi-Wan Kenobi from the movies.
HAN – A reference to Han Solo from the movies.
GJR – Greg Rivera. Programmer.
MLH – Mike Hally. Venture chief, designer.
JED – Jed Margolin.
NLA – Norm Avellar. Programmer.
EJD – Eric Durfey.
EAR – Earl Vickers. Sound engineer, composer.
RLM – Rick Moncrief. {Hardware} engineer.
Crystal Castles (July 1983)
FXL – Franz Lanzinger. Designer, programmer, composer.
MFP –
EDG –
SMB – Susan McBride. Artist.
PCT –
DRR – Dave Ralston. Artist.
CTC –
GDS –
BEN –
RBD – Russell Dawe. Audio engineer.
REM –
STM –
BBM – Brian McGhie.
MEC – Mark Cerny.
BAS – Barbara Singh. Artist.
T W –
LEB – Larry Bryan. Designer, programmer, composer.
REX –
DAR – David Ralston.
DAT –
RAY – John Ray. Staff chief, supposedly distinct from the Venture chief position.
Discs of Tron (October 1983)
BD – Robert Dinnerman. Designer, programmer.
BC – Brian Colin. Artist.
AG – Atish Ghosh. {Hardware} engineer.
AW –
BL – Bob Libbe. Sound engineer.
DS –
GG – George Gomez. Designer, industrial designer. Answerable for the design of the brand new controls and the cupboard.
PF – Paul Faris.
Blaster (November 1983)
DRJ – Eugene Jarvis. Designer, programmer, sound engineer.
LED – Larry DeMar. Designer, programmer.
JRS – John Sheldrake. Artist.
KLR – Ken Roberts. Artist.
DJW –
PGD – Paul Dussault. Engineer at Williams, was indirectly concerned in Blaster’s improvement.
JER –
ALI –
MLG –
NHD –
Main Havoc (November 1983)
AVK –
ORR – Owen Rubin. Designer.
MEC – Mark Cerny. Programmer.
M H –
DES – Doug Snyder. {Hardware} engineer.
G C –
BAW –
SYN –
Cloak & Dagger (December 1983)
RBD – Russel Dawe. Venture chief, programmer.
JMR – John Ray. Venture chief.
TYC –
SLW –
DP –
DAR – Dave Ralston.
LLB –
HAN –
FUN –
MAD –
FXL – Franz Lazinger.
OBI, WAN – Reference to Obi Wan from the Star Wars franchise.
DDD –
REC –
DIG, DUG – A reference to the sport Dig Dug, which Atari produced within the US.
LEB – Larry Bryan.
HAV, FUN – A message to the participant to “have enjoyable”.
XXX –
Snake Pit (December 1983)
YGP –
NOA –
ARM –
PDI –
MIE –
OVM –
CAP –
NNL –
GIE –
IRH –
SEE –
ENS –
DOA –
ESE –
MIL –
ARP –
These might all be psuedonyms.
Playball (Unreleased)
TND – Thomas Deaux.
WPB – Wayne Breivogel.
JEK – Joe Kaminkow.
Pig Newton (Unreleased)
WJB, LEW, ETT – Invoice Blewett. Designer, programmer.
EJB – The initials of Blewett’s first son.
MGM –
MES –
BLM –
PIG NEW TON – The secret.
Razzmatazz (Unreleased)
LEM –
BLM – Barbara Michaelec. Designer.
RJG –
BLE & WET – Invoice Blewett. Didn’t work on the sport, it seems to be a carryover from the excessive rating bundle he wrote.
CGW –
KES –
DAV –
LP –
AMM – Alissa Myerson.
RTN –
CAB –
Splat (Unreleased)
JRN – John Newcomer. Designer.
HEC – Harry Cline. Programmer, nevertheless it’s unsure if that is appropriate.
MBS – Marc Stannis. Programmer.
PFZ – Invoice Pfutzenreuter.
JIL – Jill Chittenden. Artist. Probably Jill Sprenger?
CWK – Cary Kolker.
Inferno (1984)
PVA – Python Anghelo. Designer, artist, cupboard artist.
PFZ – Invoice Pfutzenreuter.
PAR – Invoice Parod.
EJS – Ed Suchocki.
ML – Mark Loffredo.
LOU – Lou Ibitz.
Spy Hunter (January 1984)
TFL – Tom Leon. Designer.
KO – Kevin O’Connor. Artist.
GG – George Gomez. Designer, artist, industrial designer.
AG – Atish Ghosh. {Hardware} engineer.
RML – Bob Libbe. Sound engineer.
SP – Sharon Perry. Designer, artist.
SV – Silvija Vitrungs. Definitely unsure.
BFC – Brian Colin. Artist.
JCK – John Kubik. {Hardware} engineer.
SJU – Steve Ulstad. Designer, artist.
Mystic Marathon (April 1984)
KVD – Kristina Donofrio. Programmer.
JRN – John Newcomer.
PAM – Pam Erickson.
JIL – Jil Chittenden. Artist.
KAG – Ken Graham. Programmer.
JAN – Jan Hendricks.
I, Robotic (June 1984)
DAV – David Theurer. Designer, programmer.
DAV – Dave Ralston.
RUS – Russel Dawe. Venture chief, programmer.
PAU – Paul Manciso.
BAR – Barbara Singh.
MAR – Mark Cerny.
LIN – Linda Sinkovic.
CIN –
GAR –
VAN –
Turkey Shoot (July 1984)
JRN – John Newcomer. Designer.
TND – Thomas Deaux. Programmer.
WPB – Wayne Breivogel. Programmer.
CLS – Chris Simmons. Artist.
LEO –
DRY –
MRS – Mike Stroll.
RON –
JIL – Jill Chittenden. Artist.
JEH –
Freeze (December 1984)
RES – Bob Skinner. Designer, programmer.
RLL – Bob Loney.
KLH – Ken Hull.
BLJ – Brooke Jarret.
DAD – David Dentt.
SLM –
MRD – Mike Ditto.
MPB –
GFB –
Cerberus (March 1985)
SRH – Steve Hostetler. Designer, programmer.
POS – Phil Sorger. Designer, programmer.
MPB –
MRD – Mike Ditto.
TJW –
JFL –
TSC – Tom Carroll. Artist.
ARM – Alex McKay. {Hardware} engineer.
D V – Dan Viescas. Artist.
D C – David Cartt.
SLM –
GFB –
J W –
BLL –
BLJ – Brooke Jarret.
KLH – Ken Hull.
DAD – David Dentt.
RES – Bob Skinner. Programmer.
A D –
R B –
J P –
A R –
SVN –
KMG – Keith Gabryelski.
MQH –
MDR –
FLD –
BRT –
SPT –
Mayhem 2002 (July 1985)
RLL – Bob Loney.
KLH – Ken Hull.
DAD – David Dentt.
RES – Bob Skinner. Designer, programmer.
D C – Dana Christianson.
MRD – Mike Ditto.
D Y –
JFL –
TSC – Tom Carroll. Artist.
ARM – Alex McKay. {Hardware} engineer.
D V –
MPB –
SLM –
GFB –
J W –
BLJ – Brooke Jarret.
SRH –
POS – Phil Sorger. Designer, programmer.
A D –
R B –
J P –
A R –
MAL –
JAL –
FOX –
BON –
DIS –
ELU –
NAZ –
SUN –
Demolition Derby (April 1985)
JLN – Jeff Nauman.
TIN –
DLN –
MIN –
XXX –
DID –
ETE –
MIR –
DOB –
LNY –
Joust 2 (December 1986)
JRN – John Newcomer. Designer.
JOE – Joe Hellesen.
KVD – Kristina Donofrio.
WBD – Warren Davis.
ML –
C G – Chris Granner.
Hazard Zone (December 1986)
RLL – Bob Loney. Designer, programmer.
JAH – Jerry Huber.
RES – Bob Skinner.
POS – Phil Sorger.
KMG – Keith Gabryelski.
DPC –
DCC – David Cartt.
SRH – Steve Hostetler.
MEX – Medo Moreno.
ACE –
D.V – Dan Viescas.
DAD – David Dentt.
KLH – Ken Hull.
JPM – John Morgan.
ARM –
JMW –
ELH –
GFB –
SLM –
JDP –
SBS –
KEV –
MAL –
MAR –
DEE –
TIF –
RLM –
BBB –
S R –
JAL –
ATP –
LMG –
JLK –
MRD – Mike Ditto.
CDF –
M.R –
ALA –
NARC (1989)
JEH –
JRN – John Newcomber.
TJE –
LIN –
ML –
GWS – Glenn Shipp.
AL –
BLS – Brian Schmidt.
JRH –
J P –
DTW –
D P –
RAY –
WBD –
KJF –
NDN –
J R –
SSR –
MR, BIG –
Excessive Influence Soccer (1990)
JRN – John Newcomer.
EJB – Ed Boon.
TIM – Tim Coman.
EPJ – Eugene Jarvis.
JIM –
GNP – George Petro.
TRA – Todd Allen.
TMM –
MDP – Mark Penacho.
JPG – Jim Gentile.
DTW – Doug Watson.
DWF – Dan Forden.
SSR – Steve Ritchie.
SNO – Sheridan.
LOF –
MJT – Mark Turmell.
Smash TV (1990)
JON – John Tobias.
TIM – Tim Coman.
TJE – Tim Elliot.
LIP –
MLZ –
GWS – Glenn Shipp.
ALT –
BLS – Brian Schmidt.
JON, HEY – Jon Hey.
MJT –
DRJ –
DJT –
NLN –
MTN –
TLC –
FAW –
FOO –
BAT, MAN – A reference to Batman.
(EDIT #1 2023-05-14: Due to tweakbod for his assist in capturing the screenshots and Quarterpast for help in some titles!)
(EDIT #2 2023-05-14: Due to SynaMax (Sinistar), Jimmy Stones (Time Pilot), and Captain America (Black Widow) for some verifications!)
(EDIT #3 2023-05-27: Programmer Bob Skinner gave me some names so as to add to the Cinematronics video games. Thanks a lot!)