Tod Frye

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tod R. Frye is a computer programmer once employed by Atari, and is most notable for being charged with the home adaptation of Pac-Man for the Atari 2600 video game system. Pac-Man proved to be a public relations nightmare, albeit a stunning financial coup for Atari, who secured the exclusive Namco home license. The game-buying public complained the design, which passively resembled its arcade counterpart, lacked in both quality control and craftsmanship-- despite brisk sales and large profits for video game maker Atari.

[edit] Unprecedented Success

Pac-Man would prove the most anticipated release of the upcoming holiday season, and marketing pressed Frye to produce the game on a very strict timetable. Atari engineering would demand Frye complete the game in under 4K, despite his repeated requests that 8K of ROM be allocated for the demanding translation. Under these constraints, Frye fought back. He approached Atari CEO Ray Kassar, and suggested a royalty agreement. Frye threatened to quit Atari and join Activision, leaving Pac-Man unfinished and Atari without its landmark title. The license and sales predictions were too tantalyzing for Kassar to jeopardize. Frye became the first Atari programmer to retain a royalty on his work. If the game was completed on schedule, it was agreed he would receive 10 cents for each Pac-Man cartridge sold. His gamble paid off. Atari would realize sales over 10 million units, making Frye a millionaire in the process. It has been reported that Frye made copies of his royalty checks, and displayed them prominently on his office door. This expression of hubris wasn't lost on his fellow programmers. One Atari employee decided to write "Why Frye?" on the Pac-Man machine contained in Atari's in-office arcade room. In response, Frye drew a horizontal line over the "Why", as if to say "Why not Frye" in scientific notation.^[1]

[edit] Further Contributions

Frye designed the Touch Me Atari handheld, he also produced the Swordquest series of games; including Earthworld, Fireworld, Waterworld, and the uncompleted Airworld. His unreleased titles include "Save Mary" and "Shooting Arcade", as well as ports of Xevious and Asteroids for the Atari 5200. After parting ways with Atari, Frye later worked for Axlon, one of the many companies founded by Nolan Bushnell. He also worked as a programmer alongside fellow Atari employee Howard Scott Warshaw at The 3DO Company shortly before the company collapsed. He remains actively involved in video games, appearing in credits for classic compilations like Midway Arcade Treasures, for contributions to program and sound content.