Reading the linked article (thanks, Calibrator!), it occurs to me that this "Rex Battenberg" guy is something different than the usual "founding father" videogame persona.
In the normal "historical" videogame programmer interview, the game creator(s) come across as "auteurs," fully aware of their contributions to the art of videogames, and often seem flattered that others recogize this fact.
The problem with Mr. Battenberg is that he comes across as completely oblivious to his historical significance in the scheme of videogames. Unlike the "auteurs" who seem flattered by the retro-attention (and I'm not putting them down, they highly deserve the retro-accolades!), Mr. Battenberg seems to think he was just doing a job, not realizing the contribution he made to the art of videogames, and as a consequence, our LIVES!
When asked about "Space Dungeon" (which I believe is a more approachable, and possibly superior, variation of "Robotron"), he goes off on life at "Taito." He really doesn't talk much about his creations, almost as if "Lord of the Dungeons" was an afterthought.
He seems more thrilled that his job (at the time) allowed him to go to Austria than the fact that he was one of the guys that laid the foundation of the videogame industry which we are all beneficiaries!
I can relate, but please!
Oddly, I once lived less than an hour away from this guy and didn't even know it. If I met him, I'd be wearing a full "Batman - Dark Knight" costume, grab him by the neck in a dark alley, and say "recognize your significance."
Reading the linked article (thanks, Calibrator!), it occurs to me that this "Rex Battenberg" guy is something different than the usual "founding father" videogame persona.
In the normal "historical" videogame programmer interview, the game creator(s) come across as "auteurs," fully aware of their contributions to the art of videogames, and often seem flattered that others recogize this fact.
The problem with Mr. Battenberg is that he comes across as completely oblivious to his historical significance in the scheme of videogames. Unlike the "auteurs" who seem flattered by the retro-attention (and I'm not putting them down, they highly deserve the retro-accolades!), Mr. Battenberg seems to think he was just doing a job, not realizing the contribution he made to the art of videogames, and as a consequence, our LIVES!
When asked about "Space Dungeon" (which I believe is a more approachable, and possibly superior, variation of "Robotron"), he goes off on life at "Taito." He really doesn't talk much about his creations, almost as if "Lord of the Dungeons" was an afterthought.
He seems more thrilled that his job (at the time) allowed him to go to Austria than the fact that he was one of the guys that laid the foundation of the videogame industry which we are all beneficiaries!
I can relate, but please!
Oddly, I once lived less than an hour away from this guy and didn't even know it. If I met him, I'd be wearing a full "Batman - Dark Knight" costume, grab him by the neck in a dark alley, and say "recognize your significance."
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