# Howard Scott Warshaw

> American game designer and psychotherapist (born 1957)

**Wikidata**: [Q377167](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q377167)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Scott_Warshaw)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/howard-scott-warshaw

## Summary
Howard Scott Warshaw is an American game designer and psychotherapist born in 1957, most notably known for creating the video game "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," which became one of the worst-selling and most infamous video games in history.

## Biography
- Born: 1957-07-30, United States
- Nationality: United States
- Education: Member of Phi Beta Kappa Society at Tulane University
- Known for: Game designer known for creating iconic video games including E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
- Employer(s): Affiliated with Tulane University
- Field(s): Game design, psychotherapy

## Contributions
Howard Scott Warshaw is primarily known for his work as a video game designer, creating several influential games. His most famous work is "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982), developed in just five weeks under pressure from Steven Spielberg. The game became notorious for its poor quality and is widely considered one of the worst video games ever made. Other notable works include "Yars' Revenge" (1981), "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1982), "The A-Team" (1983), and "Saboteur" (1984). His games were recognized by the Museum of Modern Art, with "Yars' Revenge" being included in their collection.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Howard Scott Warshaw most famous for?
A: He is most famous for creating the video game "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982), which became one of the worst-selling and most infamous video games in history.

### Q: What was the development timeline for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial?
A: The game was developed in just five weeks under pressure from Steven Spielberg, with Warshaw creating a simple, replayable game with few moving parts to implement quickly.

### Q: Did Howard Scott Warshaw work on any other games besides E.T.?
A: Yes, he created several other video games including "Yars' Revenge" (1981), "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1982), "The A-Team" (1983), and "Saboteur" (1984).

## Why They Matter
Howard Scott Warshaw's work had a significant impact on the video game industry, particularly through his creation of "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial." The game's commercial failure and critical reception became a cautionary tale about rushed development and unrealistic expectations in the gaming industry. His work influenced subsequent game development practices regarding quality control and development timelines. Without his work, the video game industry might have had a different trajectory regarding the balance between creative vision and technical feasibility.

## Notable For
- Created "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982), widely regarded as one of the worst video games ever made
- Developed multiple iconic video games including "Yars' Revenge" (1981) and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1982)
- His game "Yars' Revenge" was included in the Museum of Modern Art collection
- Worked under pressure from Steven Spielberg during the development of E.T.
- Known professionally as "The Silicon Valley Therapist" in addition to his game design work

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Howard Scott Warshaw was born on July 30, 1957, in the United States. He attended Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he became a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, indicating academic excellence.

### Career as Game Designer
Warshaw worked as a programmer and game designer, creating several influential video games during the early 1980s. His most notable work was "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," developed in just five weeks under pressure from Steven Spielberg. The game featured the player guiding E.T. through a landscape filled with pits while collecting pieces of a phone and evading FBI agents.

### Notable Games
Warshaw's other significant works include:
- "Yars' Revenge" (1981), which was recognized by the Museum of Modern Art
- "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1982), based on the film of the same name
- "The A-Team" (1983), based on the television series
- "Saboteur" (1984)

### Professional Identity
In addition to his game design work, Warshaw is also a psychotherapist, maintaining a website at http://onceuponatari.com/. His professional identity includes being known as "The Silicon Valley Therapist" and having aliases including HSW and Chinese/Japanese translations of his name.

### Industry Impact
Warshaw's work had lasting effects on the video game industry, particularly through the infamous "E.T." game. The game's commercial failure and poor reception became a cautionary tale about rushed development and unrealistic expectations in the gaming industry. His experience influenced subsequent game development practices regarding quality control and development timelines.

## References

1. Museum of Modern Art online collection
2. [1997](https://www.ataricompendium.com/archives/interviews/howard_scott_warshaw/interview_howard_scott_warshaw.html)
3. [Source](https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-man-who-made-the-worst-video-game-in-history)
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. [Source](https://atari.com/blogs/newsroom/an-interview-with-yars-revenge-creator-howard-scott-warshaw-1)
7. [Source](http://www.moma.org/collection/works/169923)