Howard Scott Warshaw
The E.T. developer
The Atari programmer who created both Yars' Revenge and the infamous E.T., unfairly blamed for the 1983 crash despite impossible development conditions.
Overview
Howard Scott Warshaw was an Atari programmer who created three 2600 games including the acclaimed Yars’ Revenge and the infamous E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. History has often scapegoated Warshaw for E.T.’s role in the 1983 crash, but the true culprits were Atari’s management decisions - no developer could have created a quality game in five weeks.
Fast Facts
- Born: 1957
- Role: Game designer/programmer at Atari
- Games: Yars’ Revenge, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T.
- At Atari: 1981-1984
- E.T. development time: 5 weeks
The Atari Years
Warshaw’s legitimate achievements:
| Game | Year | Reception |
|---|---|---|
| Yars’ Revenge | 1982 | Critical and commercial success |
| Raiders of the Lost Ark | 1982 | First movie-to-game adventure |
| E.T. | 1982 | Development disaster |
Two acclaimed games, one impossible assignment.
Yars’ Revenge
Warshaw’s masterpiece:
- Original concept (not a port or licence)
- Technical innovation for the 2600
- Best-selling original Atari game
- Critically praised
- Demonstrated real talent
The E.T. Assignment
What actually happened:
- July 1982 - Atari pays $20-25 million for E.T. licence
- Late July - Warshaw given the project
- September 1 - Game must be complete for Christmas manufacturing
- 5 weeks total - Impossible timeline
Normal 2600 development took 5-6 months.
Why E.T. Failed
Not Warshaw’s fault:
| Factor | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| 5-week deadline | Atari management |
| Christmas deadline | Atari management |
| 12 million units ordered | Atari management |
| No time for testing | Atari management |
| Confusing gameplay | Time constraint |
The Landfill Legend
Millions of unsold E.T. cartridges were buried in a New Mexico landfill. Confirmed when excavated in 2014 - Warshaw attended the dig.
Post-Atari
Warshaw left the industry:
- Became a psychotherapist
- Earned a PhD in psychology
- Occasionally speaks about the era
- Featured in documentaries about the crash
- Gracious about his complex legacy
Rehabilitation
Modern perspective has shifted:
- Recognised as talented developer
- Blamed management, not developer
- Yars’ Revenge remembered fondly
- E.T. seen as systemic failure
- Warshaw vindicated by history