Douglas Smith, creator Lode Runner, dies

[Bill Lange]

Sad news, Douglas Smith, creator of Lode Runner, died.

 

https://news.yahoo.com/douglas-smith-creator-1980s-pc-160102650.html

 

Bill

[Mclaneinc]

Sad news.....

 

Lovely game, often ruined with console ports that were awful but the game itself was a true classic...

[MrFish]

One of the great games of the Atari 8-bit computer era. A lot of fun.

Edited September 15, 2014 by MrFish

[+Stephen]

Bummer - I will fire up the game later this evening.

[Albert]

Damn, that's sad. Great game, and one that was ported to a wide variety of systems over the years:

 

http://www.tozaigames.com/loderunner/history

 

..Al

[ilaskey]

Of course, the news item totally fails to mention it was also on the Atari.

[Bill Lange]

There are multiple announcements online. Most say that he wrote the basic game on his Apple II over a weekend while in college. A few say (including Albert's link above) that it was port to/available on the Atari 8-bits.

 

He was only 53. Not really that old.

[MrFish]

Here are a few that mention the Atari 8-bit version. These came up on some of the first links for a Google search. I'm sure there are plenty more:

 

VentureBeat

 

Joystiq

 

 

He was only 53. Not really that old.

 

Yes -- I wonder how he died?

 

 

[+FujiSkunk]

A coworker mentioned Lode Runner at lunch today, as an example of the "magic" programmers worked on old systems that to the rest of us didn't seem capable of just about anything they actually did. Then I read this.

 

Whatever the cause, I pray he died happy.

[+Tillek]

Memorial "Post a pic of your high score this week!" ? Post highest score pics by Monday in his memory?

[Shannon]

Wasted many of an hour on this game. And that includes designing my own levels!

Lotso fun. Right up there with infocom text adventures as big time wasters on the 'ol 8-bit atari.

[Heaven/TQA]

find it hard... but was blown away by the "circle" effect and the editor plus 100 levels... again we are not on earth for eternity...

[Mclaneinc]

Of course, the news item totally fails to mention it was also on the Atari.

 

Yup, always the same......

[Mclaneinc]

 

 

Yes -- I wonder how he died?

 

 

 

He got lost in a maze, fell down a hole and it covered him up...

 

 

 

SORRY, just had to...Bad man....

 

The true answer is, peacefully I hope...

[twh/f2]

That's really sad. He only got 53 years old

 

[Tezz]

Really sad to hear. 53 is no age to pass away.

[Heaven/TQA]

that's why we are coding... we are leaving art for people to come...

[Mclaneinc]

And what wonderful art you guys create...

[Marius]

Lode Runner is one of those games that prove that a good game does not need fabulous graphics and sound effects (although I love both of these elements a lot) ... a good gameplay is the most important component.

 

I absolutely LOVE Lode Runner. It's one of my more favorite games.

 

RIP Douglas Smith!

[mani]

Lode Runner was one of the first games I ever played on an 8-bit computer and I remember it being absolutely awesome.

 

Sad news indeed.

[WizWor]

Wasted many of an hour on this game. And that includes designing my own levels!

Lotso fun. Right up there with infocom text adventures as big time wasters on the 'ol 8-bit atari.

 

Hour? LOL! I used to leave it running for days.