Difference between revisions of "David Crane"

From TheAlmightyGuru
Jump to: navigation, search
(→‎Videos)
(8 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
[[Image:David Crane.jpg|thumb|256x256px|David Crane.]]
 
[[Image:David Crane.jpg|thumb|256x256px|David Crane.]]
  
−
'''''David Crane''''' is a pioneer video game designer and computer programmer best known for his games for the [[Atari 2600]] while at [[Activision]] in the early 1980s. Crane was born in 1953 in Nappanee, Indiana, United States. He graduated in 1975 with a bachelors degree of Science In Electrical Engineering from the DeVry Institute of Technology in Phoenix, Arizona and began designing circuits for National Semiconductor. Two years later, he began working at [[Atari]] as a game designer and programmer, but left in 1979 to co-found Activision where he created his most popular game [[Pitfall!]], one of the first platformers. In 1987, Crane became the director of technology at [[Hasbro]]. In 1988, Crane co-founded [[Absolute Entertainment]] where he designed another popular title, [[A Boy and His Blob: Trouble On Blobolonia]]. In 1995, Crane co-founded [[Skyworks Technologies]]. In 2009, Crane co-founded [[AppStar Games]]. Crane continues to be involved in the video game industry to this day. In addition to designing and programming games, Crane also designed two integrated circuits for video gaming.
+
'''David Crane''' is a pioneer video game designer and computer programmer best known for his games for the [[Atari 2600]] while at [[Activision]] in the early 1980s. Crane was born in 1953 in Nappanee, Indiana, United States. He graduated in 1975 with a bachelors degree of Science In Electrical Engineering from the DeVry Institute of Technology in Phoenix, Arizona and began designing circuits for National Semiconductor. Two years later, he began working at [[Atari]] as a game designer and programmer, but left in 1979 to co-found Activision where he created his most popular game ''[[Pitfall!]]'', one of the first [[platformers]]. In 1987, Crane became the director of technology at [[Hasbro]]. In 1988, Crane co-founded [[Absolute Entertainment]] where he designed another popular title, ''[[A Boy and His Blob: Trouble On Blobolonia]]''. In 1995, Crane co-founded [[Skyworks Technologies]]. In 2009, Crane co-founded [[AppStar Games]]. Crane continues to be involved in the video game industry to this day. In addition to designing and programming games, Crane also designed two integrated circuits for video gaming.
  
−
My first experience with Crane's work was from his Atari titles and seeing his picture at the back of the Pitfall! manual. I think I recognized his name when I first played A Boy and His Blob, but I'm not positive. Although David Crane's games have been hit-or-miss throughout his career, I especially admire how creative his games have been, often including elements that were never seen before.
+
==Personal==
 +
My first experience with Crane's work was from his Atari titles and seeing his picture at the back of the ''Pitfall!'' manual. I think I recognized his name when I first played ''A Boy and His Blob'', but I'm not positive. Although David Crane's games have been hit-or-miss throughout his career, I especially admire how creative his games have been, often including elements that were never seen before.
  
 
==Gameography==
 
==Gameography==
Line 16: Line 17:
 
| [[Boggle (2600 Game)|Boggle]] (Unreleased)|| 1978-08-07 || Entire Game ||  
 
| [[Boggle (2600 Game)|Boggle]] (Unreleased)|| 1978-08-07 || Entire Game ||  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Canyon Bomber]] || 1978-??-?? || Programmer || 8
+
| [[Canyon Bomber]] || 1978-??-?? || Programmer || 9
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Outlaw (2600 Game)|Outlaw]] || 1978-??-?? || Entire Game || 3
+
| [[Outlaw (Atari 2600)|Outlaw]] || 1978-??-?? || Entire Game || 3
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Slot Machine]] || 1979-??-?? || Entire Game ||  
+
| [[Slot Machine]] || 1979-??-?? || Entire Game || 11
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Dragster]] || 1980-??-?? || Entire Game || 9
+
| [[Dragster]] || 1980-??-?? || Entire Game || 10
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Fishing Derby]] || 1980-??-?? || Entire Game || 4
+
| [[Fishing Derby]] || 1980-??-?? || Entire Game || 5
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Freeway]] || 1981-??-?? || Entire Game || 5
+
| [[Freeway]] || 1981-??-?? || Entire Game || 6
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[Kaboom]] || 1981-??-?? || Graphics || -
 
| [[Kaboom]] || 1981-??-?? || Graphics || -
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Laser Blast]] || 1981-??-?? || Entire Game || 7
+
| [[Laser Blast]] || 1981-??-?? || Entire Game || 8
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Grand Prix]] || 1982-??-?? || Entire Game || 6
+
| [[Grand Prix]] || 1982-??-?? || Entire Game || 7
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[Pitfall!]] || 1982-??-?? || Entire Game || 2
 
| [[Pitfall!]] || 1982-??-?? || Entire Game || 2
Line 40: Line 41:
 
| [[Pitfall II: Lost Caverns]] || 1984-??-?? || Entire Game ||
 
| [[Pitfall II: Lost Caverns]] || 1984-??-?? || Entire Game ||
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Ghostbusters (Video Game)|Ghostbusters]] || 1984-??-?? || Designer, Programmer ||  
+
| [[Ghostbusters (video game)|Ghostbusters]] || 1984-??-?? || Designer, Programmer ||  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[Little Computer People]] || 1985-??-?? || Programmer ||  
 
| [[Little Computer People]] || 1985-??-?? || Programmer ||  
Line 60: Line 61:
 
| [[The Simpsons: Bart vs. the World]] || 1991-12-?? || Designer, Programmer ||  
 
| [[The Simpsons: Bart vs. the World]] || 1991-12-?? || Designer, Programmer ||  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Amazing Tennis]] || 1992-10-?? || Designer, Programmer ||  
+
| [[Amazing Tennis]] || 1992-10-?? || Designer, Programmer || 4
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Toys (Video Game)]] || 1993-??-?? || Producer, Designer, Programmer ||  
+
| [[Toys (video game)]] || 1993-??-?? || Producer, Designer, Programmer ||  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[Home Improvement: Power Tool Pursuit]] || 1994-11-?? || Designer ||  
 
| [[Home Improvement: Power Tool Pursuit]] || 1994-11-?? || Designer ||  
Line 74: Line 75:
  
 
==Videos==
 
==Videos==
−
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBT1OK6VAIU youtube.com/watch?v=MBT1OK6VAIU] - Pitfall! postmortem.
+
{{#ev:youtube|TbQm5doF_Uc|256|inline|Pitfall! postmortem.|frame}}
−
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr-t9plOkHY youtube.com/watch?v=fr-t9plOkHY] - International Magic of the Atari 2600, 2015.
+
{{#ev:youtube|fr-t9plOkHY|256|inline|International Magic of the Atari 2600, 2015.|frame}}
−
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4rU9BjLOE0 youtube.com/watch?v=h4rU9BjLOE0] - Stella at 20.
+
{{#ev:youtube|h4rU9BjLOE0|256|inline|Stella at 20.|frame}}
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
−
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Crane_(programmer) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Crane_(programmer)] - Wikipedia.
+
{{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Crane_(programmer)}}
−
* [http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,24639 mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,24639] - MobyGames.
+
{{Link|MobyGames|http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,24639}}
−
* [http://www.dcrane.com dcrane.com] - Official Home Page.
+
{{Link|Official|http://www.dcrane.com}}
 +
 
 
* [https://www.atarimagazines.com/hi-res/v1n2/davidcrane.php atarimagazines.com/hi-res/v1n2/davidcrane.php] - Atari Magazines Interview.
 
* [https://www.atarimagazines.com/hi-res/v1n2/davidcrane.php atarimagazines.com/hi-res/v1n2/davidcrane.php] - Atari Magazines Interview.
 
* [https://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=7412 gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=7412] - Gamasutra Interview.
 
* [https://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=7412 gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=7412] - Gamasutra Interview.

Revision as of 12:50, 7 May 2020

David Crane.

David Crane is a pioneer video game designer and computer programmer best known for his games for the Atari 2600 while at Activision in the early 1980s. Crane was born in 1953 in Nappanee, Indiana, United States. He graduated in 1975 with a bachelors degree of Science In Electrical Engineering from the DeVry Institute of Technology in Phoenix, Arizona and began designing circuits for National Semiconductor. Two years later, he began working at Atari as a game designer and programmer, but left in 1979 to co-found Activision where he created his most popular game Pitfall!, one of the first platformers. In 1987, Crane became the director of technology at Hasbro. In 1988, Crane co-founded Absolute Entertainment where he designed another popular title, A Boy and His Blob: Trouble On Blobolonia. In 1995, Crane co-founded Skyworks Technologies. In 2009, Crane co-founded AppStar Games. Crane continues to be involved in the video game industry to this day. In addition to designing and programming games, Crane also designed two integrated circuits for video gaming.

Personal

My first experience with Crane's work was from his Atari titles and seeing his picture at the back of the Pitfall! manual. I think I recognized his name when I first played A Boy and His Blob, but I'm not positive. Although David Crane's games have been hit-or-miss throughout his career, I especially admire how creative his games have been, often including elements that were never seen before.

Gameography

An empty rank means I haven't played the game enough to rank it, a dash means Crane's involvement isn't enough to count the game among his work.

David Crane has designed and programmed many other casual games for browsers and phones which are difficult to track. For a complete list see the gameography on his web site.

Title Released Roles Rank
Boggle (Unreleased) 1978-08-07 Entire Game
Canyon Bomber 1978-??-?? Programmer 9
Outlaw 1978-??-?? Entire Game 3
Slot Machine 1979-??-?? Entire Game 11
Dragster 1980-??-?? Entire Game 10
Fishing Derby 1980-??-?? Entire Game 5
Freeway 1981-??-?? Entire Game 6
Kaboom 1981-??-?? Graphics -
Laser Blast 1981-??-?? Entire Game 8
Grand Prix 1982-??-?? Entire Game 7
Pitfall! 1982-??-?? Entire Game 2
The Activision Decathlon 1983-??-?? Entire Game
Pitfall II: Lost Caverns 1984-??-?? Entire Game
Ghostbusters 1984-??-?? Designer, Programmer
Little Computer People 1985-??-?? Programmer
The Transformers: Battle to Save the Earth 1986-??-?? Graphics -
Skate Boardin' 1987-??-?? Entire Game
Super Skate Boardin' 1988-??-?? Entire Game
A Boy and His Blob: Trouble On Blobolonia 1989-??-?? Designer, Programmer 1
The Rescue of Princess Blobette 1990-??-?? Designer, Programmer
The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants 1991-02-?? Additional Programming -
Bart Simpson's Escape From Camp Deadly 1991-11-?? Additional Design, Additional Programming -
The Simpsons: Bart vs. the World 1991-12-?? Designer, Programmer
Amazing Tennis 1992-10-?? Designer, Programmer 4
Toys (video game) 1993-??-?? Producer, Designer, Programmer
Home Improvement: Power Tool Pursuit 1994-11-?? Designer
Night Trap 1994-??-?? Programmer
Klondike 1997-??-?? Designer
March of the Penguins 2006-11-?? Designer

Videos

Pitfall! postmortem.
International Magic of the Atari 2600, 2015.
Stella at 20.

Links

Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-MobyGames.png  Link-Official.png 

Retrieved from "http://thealmightyguru.com/Wiki/index.php?title=David_Crane&oldid=33339"