Lucasfilms programmer I came across my first computer at school. It was a PDP8 mini and I learnt to program using that. The first machine I ever had at home was called an Imsai, it was built from a kit and used a Z80 processor - that was around 1976. The first professional program I ever wrote was a Unix utility — I was working for a systems software house in Chicago at the time. Around three years ago I started work at Lucasfilms where my job as a computer scientist was to bring state of the art computer applications into the computer games industry. 
David LEVINE (1987)
The first two games I came up with were Ballblazer and Rescue on Fractalus. They were both created on the Atari - there was a directive not to create convertible games so I think the Commodore 64 versions are definitely inferior. The idea with both those games was to create a 3D environment that would give the player a real sense of being in an alternative reality. Computer scientists had already developed mathematically produced computer images to a fine state, but the techniques of maths involved had simply never incorporated into games before. Rigorous application is all there is to it, though getting the images to move in real time animation to take fullest advantage of the machine hardware was another problem. PCW | Name: David Levine Age: 26 Favourite Programs: There's a few I respect, but few computer games have been any real revelation. I did like Tempest in the arcades, though I don't know who the programmer is. Favourite Machines: I don't have any machines at home at the moment - I see too much of them at work. If I really liked one of the home machines I'd have it. I would say that the most design integrity I've found in a computer is the Mac - a really professionally put-together machine. Softography: Ballblazer, parts of other games including Raid on Fractalus. Hobbies: I try to restrict the computing to work time. Outside of that I'm a commercial pilot and I like to teach flying when I have the time. |
