Westfall began computer programming at the age of 30.[2] Before moving into the video game industry, Westfall worked as a programmer for a civil engineering firm Morton Technology, where she developed the first microcomputer-based program designed to help lay out subdivisions.[1]
In 1981, Westfall and her husband, Jon, left Epyx, the video game developer and publisher her husband co-founded just three years earlier. Westfall cited a desire to learn assembly language and to work on the Atari 800 as one reason for their departure from Epyx.[1]
Together with game designer Paul Reiche III, they started Free Fall Associates to make computer games free of the politics existing at the now larger Epyx.[1] Together with Jon and Reiche, she helped develop the two award-winning and highly acclaimed games Archon and Archon II, handling the brunt of the programming work.
Westfall met Jon at the West Coast Computer Faire in 1980 while demonstrating her surveying program she wrote for the TRS-80. Her booth was next to that of Automated Simulations—later Epyx—where Jon was working. After dating for about six months, Freeman convinced Westfall to move closer and come to work at his company.[1]
^ abcdefHague, James (1997). "Halcyon Days: Interviews with Classic Computer and Video Game Programmers".
^Bateman, Selby (November 1984). "Free Fall Associates: The Designers Behind Archon and Archon II: Adept". Compute!'s Gazette. p. 54. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
^DeMaria, Rusel (2018-12-07). High Score! Expanded: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games 3rd Edition. CRC Press. ISBN978-0-429-77139-2.
^Ross, Heather E. "Celebrating Computing Women Part IX, Anne Westfall" National Women's History Museum. Ret. Mar 2014.
^"Who We Are". www.freefallgames.com. Retrieved 2019-12-07.
External links
MobyGames' entry on Westfall
Free Fall Associates chapter of Halcyon Days: Interviews with Classic Computer and Video Game Programmers
January 07, 2023
anne, westfall, american, game, programmer, software, developer, known, 1983, archon, light, dark, originally, written, atari, family, married, fellow, game, developer, freeman, both, founders, free, fall, associates, nationalityamericanyears, active1984, pres. Anne Westfall is an American game programmer and software developer known for 1983 s Archon The Light and the Dark originally written for the Atari 8 bit family She is married to fellow game developer Jon Freeman 1 Both are founders of Free Fall Associates Anne WestfallNationalityAmericanYears active1984 presentKnown forArchon The Light and the DarkSpouseJon Freeman 1 Contents 1 Career 2 Personal 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksCareer EditWestfall began computer programming at the age of 30 2 Before moving into the video game industry Westfall worked as a programmer for a civil engineering firm Morton Technology where she developed the first microcomputer based program designed to help lay out subdivisions 1 In 1981 Westfall and her husband Jon left Epyx the video game developer and publisher her husband co founded just three years earlier Westfall cited a desire to learn assembly language and to work on the Atari 800 as one reason for their departure from Epyx 1 Together with game designer Paul Reiche III they started Free Fall Associates to make computer games free of the politics existing at the now larger Epyx 1 Together with Jon and Reiche she helped develop the two award winning and highly acclaimed games Archon and Archon II handling the brunt of the programming work For six years 3 Westfall was on the board of directors of the Computer Game Developers Conference 4 5 Personal EditWestfall met Jon at the West Coast Computer Faire in 1980 while demonstrating her surveying program she wrote for the TRS 80 Her booth was next to that of Automated Simulations later Epyx where Jon was working After dating for about six months Freeman convinced Westfall to move closer and come to work at his company 1 See also Edit Biography portal Video games portalList of women in the video game industry Women and video games Women in computingReferences Edit a b c d e f Hague James 1997 Halcyon Days Interviews with Classic Computer and Video Game Programmers Bateman Selby November 1984 Free Fall Associates The Designers Behind Archon and Archon II Adept Compute s Gazette p 54 Retrieved 6 July 2014 DeMaria Rusel 2018 12 07 High Score Expanded The Illustrated History of Electronic Games 3rd Edition CRC Press ISBN 978 0 429 77139 2 Ross Heather E Celebrating Computing Women Part IX Anne Westfall National Women s History Museum Ret Mar 2014 Who We Are www freefallgames com Retrieved 2019 12 07 External links EditMobyGames entry on Westfall Free Fall Associates chapter of Halcyon Days Interviews with Classic Computer and Video Game Programmers Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Anne Westfall amp oldid 1093991866, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
