Looking back, video game design seems a natural fit, although there was no such thing when I was growing up. I built a Tic-Tac-Toe playing machine in my teens which went up in smoke on the night it was scheduled to go to a science fair.

In this quote, David Crane reflects on the natural progression of his career into video game design, despite the fact that the field didn’t exist when he was growing up. Crane suggests that his interest in technology and design has always been a part of his life, even before the advent of video games as a mainstream industry. His anecdote about building a Tic-Tac-Toe playing machine as a teenager highlights his early passion for engineering and creating systems, even though the technology to support video games was not yet fully developed.

Crane’s mention of the Tic-Tac-Toe machine serves as a humorous and personal example of his early engagement with programming and design, showcasing his enthusiasm for creating interactive experiences. The fact that the machine “went up in smoke” symbolizes the challenges and failures that often accompany early attempts at invention, yet it also marks the beginning of his journey into the field of technology. The failure of the machine before a science fair also adds a sense of persistence and determination in Crane’s path toward future success.

The origin of the quote is rooted in Crane’s history as a pioneer in the video game industry, particularly as a co-founder of Activision and a key figure in the development of early video games. His mention of his childhood invention reflects his lifelong interest in creating technology and his eventual transition into the world of game development. This early experience foreshadows his later work in the emerging field of video game design, where he would go on to create groundbreaking games.

Ultimately, Crane’s quote illustrates how his early exposure to technology and design led him to a career in video games, even though the industry as we know it today was still in its infancy. His story reflects the natural evolution of a passion for innovation and how early experiences, even those marked by failure, can shape a career in unexpected ways.