Ep 120: The Godfather of Modern Code, Larry DeMar

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.