John Tobias
Encyclopedia
John Tobias is an American
comic book artist
, graphic designer
and video game designer. Along with Ed Boon
he is one of the creators of the groundbreaking Mortal Kombat
fighting game series.
Tobias was an artist for The Real Ghostbusters
comic book series before joining Midway Games
. He worked on the original arcade version of Smash TV
before finding success with Mortal Kombat.
He was credited with developing the detailed Mortal Kombat storylines and designing its classic characters. Following its arcade debut in 1992, the MK media franchise
exploded into an overwhelming phenomenon and merchandising
bonanza, spawning a host of additional games, as well as two movies, toy and apparel lines, a comic book series, and a 1996 live tour, among others.
By the end of the 1990s, however, the MK series, due to a few disappointing releases and the ill-received 1997 film Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
(the sequel to the successful 1995 original), hit a low ebb. John Tobias, along with other prominent Midway staff members such as Dave Michicich and Josh Tsui, left Midway in 1999 and formed Studio Gigante
in 2000.
Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus
, published by Microsoft Game Studios
, was the first game Studio Gigante created, followed by WWE WrestleMania 21
. Studio Gigante ceased operations in 2005 and Tobias now works as a consultant in the games industry.
Despite being one of the original creators of the MK series, Tobias is not mentioned in commentary or descriptions in the "making of" documentaries for Deadly Alliance and Deception, but was referred to as one of "four people who made Mortal Kombat 1." However, he can be seen in the commentaries for Mortal Kombat 3
in the Midway Arcade Treasures 2
collection. In July 2008 it was reported that he would be illustrating a pack-in comic with special editions of Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comic book artist
Comic book creator
A comic book creator is someone who creates a comic book or graphic novel.The production of a comic book by one of the major comic book companies in the U.S...
, graphic designer
Graphic designer
A graphic designer is a professional within the graphic design and graphic arts industry who assembles together images, typography or motion graphics to create a piece of design. A graphic designer creates the graphics primarily for published, printed or electronic media, such as brochures and...
and video game designer. Along with Ed Boon
Ed Boon
Edward J. Boon is an American video game programmer who had been employed for over 15 years at Midway. He now works for Warner Bros...
he is one of the creators of the groundbreaking Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat (series)
Mortal Kombat, commonly abbreviated MK, is a science fantasy series of fighting games created by Ed Boon and John Tobias. The first four renditions and their updates were developed by Midway Games and initially released on arcade machines. The arcade titles were later picked up by Acclaim...
fighting game series.
Tobias was an artist for The Real Ghostbusters
The Real Ghostbusters (comics)
The Real Ghostbusters is a comic series spun off from the animated series of the same name. Versions were published by Marvel UK and NOW Comics. Publication of the series began on March 28, 1988.-NOW Comics:...
comic book series before joining Midway Games
Midway Games
Midway Games, Inc. is an American company that was formerly a major video game publisher. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2009, it is no longer active and is in the process of liquidating all of its assets. Midway's titles included Mortal Kombat, Ms.Pac-Man, Spy Hunter, Tron, Rampage, the...
. He worked on the original arcade version of Smash TV
Smash TV
Smash TV is a 1990 arcade game created by Eugene Jarvis and Mark Turmell for Williams. Home versions were developed for various platforms and most were published by Acclaim Entertainment.-Description:...
before finding success with Mortal Kombat.
He was credited with developing the detailed Mortal Kombat storylines and designing its classic characters. Following its arcade debut in 1992, the MK media franchise
Media franchise
A media franchise is an intellectual property involving the characters, setting and trademarks of an original work of media , such as a film, a work of literature, a television program or a video game. Generally, a whole series is made in a particular medium, along with merchandising and endorsements...
exploded into an overwhelming phenomenon and merchandising
Merchandising
Merchandising is the methods, practices, and operations used to promote and sustain certain categories of commercial activity. In the broadest sense, merchandising is any practice which contributes to the sale of products to a retail consumer...
bonanza, spawning a host of additional games, as well as two movies, toy and apparel lines, a comic book series, and a 1996 live tour, among others.
By the end of the 1990s, however, the MK series, due to a few disappointing releases and the ill-received 1997 film Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation is a 1997 American martial arts action film that was the sequel to 1995's Mortal Kombat, and was directed by John R. Leonetti, who had served as the cinematographer for the previous film...
(the sequel to the successful 1995 original), hit a low ebb. John Tobias, along with other prominent Midway staff members such as Dave Michicich and Josh Tsui, left Midway in 1999 and formed Studio Gigante
Studio Gigante
Studio Gigante was a Chicago-based video game developer established by John Tobias, Dave Michicich, and Joshua Tsui of the famous Mortal Kombat fighting game series in 2000. The company developed Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus and WWE WrestleMania 21 for the Xbox. The studio folded in 2005....
in 2000.
Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus
Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus
Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus is a video game for the Xbox, created after John Tobias, Joshua Tsui and David Michicich left the Mortal Kombat series with Midway. It was released in 2003. As of 2008 it holds a 69% on Gamerankings....
, published by Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Studios is the video game production wing for Microsoft, responsible for the development and publishing of games for the Xbox, Xbox 360, Games for Windows and Windows Phone platforms. They were established in 2002 as Microsoft Game Studios to coincide with the release of the Xbox, before...
, was the first game Studio Gigante created, followed by WWE WrestleMania 21
WWE WrestleMania 21
WWE WrestleMania 21 is a professional wrestling video game released on the Xbox console by THQ. It is based on WWE's pay-per-view event of the same name. It is also the successor to WrestleMania XIX...
. Studio Gigante ceased operations in 2005 and Tobias now works as a consultant in the games industry.
Despite being one of the original creators of the MK series, Tobias is not mentioned in commentary or descriptions in the "making of" documentaries for Deadly Alliance and Deception, but was referred to as one of "four people who made Mortal Kombat 1." However, he can be seen in the commentaries for Mortal Kombat 3
Mortal Kombat 3
Mortal Kombat 3 is a fighting game developed by Midway and released in 1995, first as an arcade game. It is the third game in the Mortal Kombat series...
in the Midway Arcade Treasures 2
Midway Arcade Treasures 2
Midway Arcade Treasures 2 is the second collection of classic arcade games published by Midway for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox. This compilation includes 20 games that were not in the 2003 release of Midway Arcade Treasures or the 2005 release of Midway Arcade Treasures 3.The game plays...
collection. In July 2008 it was reported that he would be illustrating a pack-in comic with special editions of Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is a crossover fighting game from Midway Games and Warner Bros. Games. The eighth game in the Mortal Kombat series, MK vs. DC was released on November 16, . MK vs. DC contains characters from both the Mortal Kombat franchise and the DC Universe...
.