Born: 1955 (Palo Alto, California)
Biography:
Carol Shaw (born 1955) is one of the first female game designers and programmers in the video game industry. She is best known for creating the Atari 2600 vertically scrolling shooter River Raid (1982) for Activision. Shaw’s contributions to the gaming industry were groundbreaking and have had a lasting impact on the evolution of video games.
Shaw was born in 1955 and raised in Palo Alto, California. Her father, a mechanical engineer, worked at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. As a child, Shaw did not enjoy playing with dolls but instead found a passion for model railroading while playing with her brother’s set. This hobby continued to interest her throughout college.
Shaw first encountered computers in high school and discovered she could play text-based games on the system. Intrigued by the possibilities, she decided to pursue a career in computer science. Shaw attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in 1977. She then went on to complete a master’s degree in computer science at Berkeley.
In 1978, Shaw was hired by Atari, Inc. straight out of her master’s program. She joined the company as a Microprocessor Software Engineer, working on games for the Atari VCS (later renamed the 2600). Her first project was Polo, a promotional tie-in for Ralph Lauren cologne. Although the game reached the prototype stage, Atari ultimately decided not to release it.
Shaw’s first published game was 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe for the Atari 2600 in 1978. She continued to produce innovative games for Atari, including Video Checkers (1980) and Super Breakout (a port of the coin-op game, which she collaborated on with Nick Turner). She also worked with Ed Logg on Othello (1981).
Shaw’s expertise with programming the 6502 microprocessor made her a highly sought-after programmer at Atari. She was responsible for creating the kernels—the complex programming that generates the onscreen visuals—for several games, solidifying her reputation as one of the best programmers in the industry.
In 1980, Shaw left Atari and joined Tandem Computers as an assembly language programmer. However, her passion for game development drew her back to the industry, and in 1982, she joined Activision. It was at Activision that she created her most iconic game, River Raid. With its scrolling landscapes, challenging enemies, and addictive gameplay, River Raid became a best-selling game for the Atari 2600 and solidified Shaw’s place in gaming history.
After leaving game development in 1984, Shaw retired in 1990. Although her career in the gaming industry was relatively short, her contributions as a female pioneer in a male-dominated field paved the way for future generations of women in game design and programming. Carol Shaw’s innovative work continues to inspire and influence the world of video games.
Awards:
– Activision Platinum River Raid cartridge – awarded on June 27, 1983, for sales of 1,000,000 units.