|
Countdown to CGE 2007 ~ July 2007 ~ 28 JUL 2007 |
Classic Gaming Expo Distinguished Guest:
BOB WHITEHEAD
Bob
Whitehead was one of the original VCS programmers hired at Atari, where he wrote
a half-dozen titles - Blackjack, Home Run, Football,
Star Ship, Casino, and Video Chess. One of the programming
tricks he created, nicknamed "Venetian blinds", made Video Chess
possible. Blackjack also benefited from another innovative trick – it was the
first game to rewrite copied player graphics on the fly (this led to the
development of the first moving 6-character object). Both of these programming
“firsts” were used countless times afterwards by other programmers.
He later left Atari to co-found Activision, and helped design the development
system that was used to program all of their games, including a half-dozen more
of his own - Boxing, Skiing, Stampede, Chopper Command,
Sky Jinks, and Private Eye.
In 1985, he left Activision with Al Miller to start Accolade, and developed 2
titles for the C-64 (Hardball and 4th & Inches) before becoming
Vice President of Product Development.