Ed Logg

Overview

Ed Logg’s name appears on an extraordinary number of arcade classics. He co-designed Asteroids, Centipede, and Gauntlet—each defining its genre. His career at Atari spanned the golden age and beyond, consistently producing innovative, commercially successful games.

Fast facts

Born: 1948.
Company: Atari (1978-1999).
Style: Varied genres, consistent quality.
Output: Remarkably prolific.

Major works

Title	Year	Co-designer
Super Breakout	1978	Solo
Asteroids	1979	Lyle Rains
Centipede	1981	Dona Bailey
Millipede	1982	Solo
Gauntlet	1985	Solo
Tetris (Atari)	1988	Solo (conversion)
Steel Talons	1991	Solo
Wayne Gretzky 3D Hockey	1996	Team

Asteroids (1979)

Co-designed with Lyle Rains:

Vector graphics
Momentum physics
Wraparound screen
High score culture

Centipede (1981)

With Dona Bailey:

Trackball control
Mushroom manipulation
Broad audience appeal
Female designer rarity

Gauntlet (1985)

Revolutionary design:

Innovation	Impact
Four players	Unprecedented
Continuous play	Insert coins for health
Character classes	Distinct abilities
Cooperative/competitive	Social gaming

Design philosophy

Principle	Application
Accessibility	Easy to start
Depth	Hard to master
Innovation	Push boundaries
Commercial viability	Fun sells

Longevity at Atari

Era	Focus
Golden age	Arcade classics
Post-crash	Continued arcade
Later	Console/PC

Remained at Atari through multiple ownership changes.

Recognition

Award	Significance
AIAS Pioneer Award	Industry recognition
Multiple patents	Technical innovation
Hall of Fame	Classic game contributions

Technical contributions

Beyond design:

Programming expertise
Hardware understanding
System architecture
Efficient implementation

Legacy

Logg’s contribution:

Multiple genre-defining games
Consistent quality over decades
Arcade design principles
Collaborative success

Atari's prolific designer