# Larry Kaplan

> American video game designer and programmer

**Wikidata**: [Q353582](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q353582)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Kaplan)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/larry-kaplan

## Summary
Larry Kaplan is an American video game designer and programmer who worked at Atari, Inc. and Atari Games during the 1970s and 1980s. He contributed to notable titles like *Air-Sea Battle* (1977) and *Kaboom!* (1981), shaping early arcade gaming.

## Biography
- Born: January 1, 1949, in Los Angeles
- Nationality: United States
- Education: University of California, Berkeley
- Known for: Designing and programming early arcade games at Atari
- Employer(s): Atari, Inc. (1976–1979), Atari Games (1979–1982), Silicon Graphics
- Field(s): Video game design, programming, computer science

## Contributions
Larry Kaplan designed and programmed *Air-Sea Battle* (1977), an early naval combat arcade game, and contributed to *Kaboom!* (1981), a multiplayer action game. His work at Atari helped define early arcade gaming mechanics and multiplayer experiences.

## FAQs
- **Where did Larry Kaplan work?** He worked at Atari, Inc. (1976–1979) and Atari Games (1979–1982), later joining Silicon Graphics.
- **What games did Larry Kaplan design?** He contributed to *Air-Sea Battle* (1977) and *Kaboom!* (1981).
- **What is Larry Kaplan known for?** He is known for his work as a video game designer and programmer at Atari during the 1970s and 1980s.

## Why They Matter
Larry Kaplan played a key role in developing early arcade games that influenced later multiplayer and combat mechanics. His work at Atari helped establish foundational elements of arcade gaming, particularly in naval combat and multiplayer interactions. His contributions laid groundwork for future game design trends.

## Notable For
- Designed *Air-Sea Battle* (1977), an early naval combat arcade game.
- Programmed *Kaboom!* (1981), a multiplayer action game.
- Worked at Atari, Inc. and Atari Games during the golden age of arcade gaming.

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Larry Kaplan was born on January 1, 1949, in Los Angeles. He earned his education at the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied computer science.

### Career at Atari
Kaplan began his career at Atari, Inc. in 1976, working on early arcade games. He later joined Atari Games in 1979, where he contributed to *Air-Sea Battle* (1977) and *Kaboom!* (1981). His work at Atari helped shape the early arcade gaming industry.

### Later Work
After leaving Atari Games in 1982, Kaplan joined Silicon Graphics, where he continued his work in computer science and game design.

### Legacy
Larry Kaplan's contributions to early arcade games, particularly *Air-Sea Battle* and *Kaboom!*, are significant in the history of video gaming. His work influenced later game design, particularly in multiplayer and combat mechanics. Kaplan's role at Atari helped establish foundational elements of arcade gaming, making him a notable figure in the early days of the industry.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013