Ep 120: The Godfather of Modern Code, Larry DeMar
It's Expo 2023 and I got the opportunity to sit down with Larry Demar to talk about the Williams Days. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did!
Kineticist’s take
Larry DeMar: From college coder to Williams legend who revolutionized pinball software and saved the industry.
Synopsis
Long-form interview with Larry DeMar, legendary Williams pinball programmer credited as the "godfather of modern code." DeMar traces his path from Chicago childhood through computer science studies to joining Williams in 1980, where he programmed foundational games like Black Knight, Funhouse, Twilight Zone, and High Speed. He discusses the transition from electromechanical to solid-state pinball, the creative culture at Williams under Mike Stroll and Ken Fedesna, his partnership with Eugene Jarvis on video games (Defender, Stargate, Robotron), and the technical innovations that saved pinball from near-extinction in the early 1980s, including the development of new operating systems, alphanumeric displays, and sampled music techniques.
Entities
- Bally· company
- Bell Labs· company
- Big Kid's· company
- Gottlieb· company
- Williams Electronics· company
- Pinball Expo· event
- Black Knight· game
- High Speed· game
- Stargate· game
- Alvin Gottlieb· person
- Barry Osler· person
- Bill Perod· person
- Dave Thiel· person
- David Poole· person
- Eugene Jarvis· person
- Joe Camenco· person
- Keith Elwin· person
- Ken Fedesna· person
- Larry DeMar· person
- Luna Castro· person
- Mark Ritchie· person
- Mike Stroll· person
- Pat Lawlor· person
- Roger Sharp· person
- Steve Ritchie· person