Ray Tobey
Encyclopedia
Ray Tobey is an American
computer game and video game programmer
best known for writing the first arcade-style combat flight simulator
game, Skyfox
(1984).
After taking a 6-week summer computer class at school when he was 13, Tobey saved for a year to purchase a Commodore PET
2001 for $800. He learned BASIC
and then 6502
machine language, having graduated to an Apple II
. Soon the teenager was a central figure in the Philadelphia Area Computer Society.
At 16, Tobey and a friend started work on a combat flight sim called Alpha Strike for the Apple II, a project that continued for two years. When they went to Boston for the 1983 Applefest they were invited to meet Rod Nakamoto, a long-time games industry executive. Nakamoto praised the game, and later that day introduced them to Apple Computer
co-founder Steve Wozniak
.
Wozniak was amazed by the visual effects Tobey had achieved with the game. He had recently joined the Board of Directors of start-up
game publisher Electronic Arts
, and he gave Tobey a business card with a message for EA President Trip Hawkins
written on the back: "Trip, Please consider this flight simulator as the finest Apple game ever done. Woz"
Tobey was still only a senior in high school. Less than two weeks later EA had flown him and his parents to Northern California for a meeting. Bill Budge
, then the best-known computer game designer in North America for his Raster Blaster
and Pinball Construction Set
games, urged Tobey to sign a development deal. After his graduation in June he rejected a rival offer from Sir-Tech
and committed to EA to produce the newly-renamed Skyfox, becoming their second-youngest developer.
Tobey initially continued work on the game at home for several months, but when there was one month left in the schedule EA suggested that he come to California. As it turned out, he would work at the EA offices in San Mateo
for almost a year before completing the game.
He worked closely with producer Stewart Bonn and with Richard Hilleman
, both of whom later held senior management positions at EA. Although nominally an independent developer, Tobey worked in the EA offices alongside other employees, and was accepted by them as part of the then-small EA team. The only difference was that he was assigned no card key (to avoid problems with California labor laws) and had to deal with occasionally being locked out by accident.
Key to the title's evolution during that year was its re-structuring as a mission-based game, a structure that would be emulated by many later combat flight sims.
When the game was released in 1984 it became one of EA's biggest early hits, selling over 400,000 copies. in 1988 Tobey joined EA as an employee and wrote the martial arts fighting game
Budokan.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
computer game and video game programmer
Programmer
A programmer, computer programmer or coder is someone who writes computer software. The term computer programmer can refer to a specialist in one area of computer programming or to a generalist who writes code for many kinds of software. One who practices or professes a formal approach to...
best known for writing the first arcade-style combat flight simulator
Flight simulator
A flight simulator is a device that artificially re-creates aircraft flight and various aspects of the flight environment. This includes the equations that govern how aircraft fly, how they react to applications of their controls and other aircraft systems, and how they react to the external...
game, Skyfox
Skyfox
Skyfox is a 1984 action computer game developed by Ray Tobey and published by Electronic Arts. Ariolasoft published the game in Europe. Originally developed for the Apple II, it was ported to the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and Macintosh in 1985 and to the Amiga and Atari ST in 1986...
(1984).
After taking a 6-week summer computer class at school when he was 13, Tobey saved for a year to purchase a Commodore PET
Commodore PET
The Commodore PET was a home/personal computer produced from 1977 by Commodore International...
2001 for $800. He learned BASIC
BASIC
BASIC is a family of general-purpose, high-level programming languages whose design philosophy emphasizes ease of use - the name is an acronym from Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code....
and then 6502
MOS Technology 6502
The MOS Technology 6502 is an 8-bit microprocessor that was designed by Chuck Peddle and Bill Mensch for MOS Technology in 1975. When it was introduced, it was the least expensive full-featured microprocessor on the market by a considerable margin, costing less than one-sixth the price of...
machine language, having graduated to an Apple II
Apple II
The Apple II is an 8-bit home computer, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977...
. Soon the teenager was a central figure in the Philadelphia Area Computer Society.
At 16, Tobey and a friend started work on a combat flight sim called Alpha Strike for the Apple II, a project that continued for two years. When they went to Boston for the 1983 Applefest they were invited to meet Rod Nakamoto, a long-time games industry executive. Nakamoto praised the game, and later that day introduced them to Apple Computer
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
co-founder Steve Wozniak
Steve Wozniak
Stephen Gary "Woz" Wozniak is an American computer engineer and programmer who founded Apple Computer, Co. with Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne...
.
Wozniak was amazed by the visual effects Tobey had achieved with the game. He had recently joined the Board of Directors of start-up
Startup company
A startup company or startup is a company with a limited operating history. These companies, generally newly created, are in a phase of development and research for markets...
game publisher Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
, and he gave Tobey a business card with a message for EA President Trip Hawkins
Trip Hawkins
William M. 'Trip' Hawkins III is a Silicon Valley American entrepreneur and founder of Electronic Arts, The 3DO Company and Digital Chocolate....
written on the back: "Trip, Please consider this flight simulator as the finest Apple game ever done. Woz"
Tobey was still only a senior in high school. Less than two weeks later EA had flown him and his parents to Northern California for a meeting. Bill Budge
Bill Budge
Bill Budge is a computer game programmer and designer. His two main claims to fame are 1981's Raster Blaster and 1983's Pinball Construction Set. Both these games were released originally for the Apple II....
, then the best-known computer game designer in North America for his Raster Blaster
Raster Blaster
Raster Blaster is a 1981 computer pinball game for the Apple II resembling the classic Firepower table.-Summary:This video game was written and designed by Bill Budge and published by BudgeCo. It showed a fullscreen high resolution display of a pinball game table...
and Pinball Construction Set
Pinball Construction Set
Pinball Construction Set is a computer game by Bill Budge published by Electronic Arts. It was released for the Apple II and Atari 800 in 1983 and was later ported to other platforms, such as the Commodore 64 and DOS .-Description:...
games, urged Tobey to sign a development deal. After his graduation in June he rejected a rival offer from Sir-Tech
Sir-Tech
Sir-Tech Software, Inc. was a United States-based video game developer and publisher founded by Robert Woodhead and Norman Sirotek. While the original company closed its doors in 2001, its Canadian counterpart Sir-Tech Canada continued to operate up until late 2003.Sir-Tech is best known for the...
and committed to EA to produce the newly-renamed Skyfox, becoming their second-youngest developer.
Tobey initially continued work on the game at home for several months, but when there was one month left in the schedule EA suggested that he come to California. As it turned out, he would work at the EA offices in San Mateo
San Mateo, California
San Mateo is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a population of approximately 100,000 , it is one of the larger suburbs on the San Francisco Peninsula, located between Burlingame to the north, Foster City to the east, Belmont to the south,...
for almost a year before completing the game.
He worked closely with producer Stewart Bonn and with Richard Hilleman
Richard Hilleman
Richard Hilleman is an American computer game and video game producer best known for his work creating the original Madden Football game for video game consoles for Electronic Arts. Apart from Madden, Hilleman was a key figure in building the massive EA Sports brand and has spent over 20 years...
, both of whom later held senior management positions at EA. Although nominally an independent developer, Tobey worked in the EA offices alongside other employees, and was accepted by them as part of the then-small EA team. The only difference was that he was assigned no card key (to avoid problems with California labor laws) and had to deal with occasionally being locked out by accident.
Key to the title's evolution during that year was its re-structuring as a mission-based game, a structure that would be emulated by many later combat flight sims.
When the game was released in 1984 it became one of EA's biggest early hits, selling over 400,000 copies. in 1988 Tobey joined EA as an employee and wrote the martial arts fighting game
Fighting game
Fighting game is a video game genre where the player controls an on-screen character and engages in close combat with an opponent. These characters tend to be of equal power and fight matches consisting of several rounds, which take place in an arena. Players must master techniques such as...
Budokan.