Chris Oberth

Christian H. "Chris" Oberth (died July 16, 2012)[1] was a video game programmer who began writing games for the Apple II in the late 1970s. He also developed handheld electronic games for Milton Bradley, arcade video games for Stern Electronics and other companies, and ported games to home computers and consoles.

Chris Oberth
Born1953
DiedJuly 16, 2012[1]
OccupationVideo game programmer
Notable workAnteater
Ardy the Aardvark
Rescue

Though not a hit in arcades, Oberth's 1982 Anteater, developed for Stern, was an influential concept, cloned multiple times for home computers, including Oil's Well from Sierra On-Line and Diamond Mine. The following year he wrote his own home version as Ardy the Aardvark (Datamost, 1983). He also wrote the twin-stick shooter Rescue (1982) and maze game Armored Car (1981) for Stern.

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]

The Elektrik Keyboard 1978-79 [3][4]

Milton Bradley 1979-80 [3][4]

  • Light Fight
  • Finger Bowl
  • Sky-Writer
  • Alfie

Stern Electronics 1981-83 [3][4]

Datamost 1983

Microlab 1984

Epyx 1985

Mindscape 1987-88, 1990 [4]

Gametek 1992

Incredible Technologies 1995-1997 [4]

Electronic Arts 2001

Unreleased

  • Crypt (Stern, 1983) [6]
  • Days of Thunder (unpublished version)[7]
  • Power-Up Baseball (Incredible Technologies, Midway, 1996) [8]

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. Hague, James (2012-07-16). "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers". Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  4. "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.
  5. "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.
  6. "Crypt". Gaming History.
  7. Carpenter, Nicole (June 1, 2020). "Video game preservationists reconstruct decades-lost, never-released NES game". Polygon. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  8. "Baseball's Lost 'NBA Jam' Revealed". Video Game History Foundation.


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