David H. Ahl

David H. Ahl
Known for	Created Creative Computing and "BASIC Computer Games"
Birth	May 17, 1939
Death

David H. Ahl (born May 17, 1939) is an American author and programmer.

101 BASIC Computer Games

While working at Digital Equipment Corporation, David H. Ahl authored "101 BASIC Computer Games", which was published by DEC in July 1973.

He converted several video games into DEC BASIC for this book including the 1971 text-based simulation game, Star Trek by Mike Mayfield, the first Star Trek video game. To accomplish this task, he enlisted the help of a co-worker named Mary Cole.

Creative Computing

David H. Ahl launched "Creative Computing", one of the earliest magazines to cover the emerging microcomputer industry.

Created to cover educational topics related to microcomputers, the magazine ran from October 1974 to December 1985.

BASIC Computer Games

In 1974, David Ahl left DEC, obtained the rights to "101 BASIC Computer Games", and published an update of the book titled "BASIC Computer Games" through Creative Computing.

The updated version still included 101 games in DEC BASIC, however some games were substituted. One of these games was an expanded version of Star Trek by Bob Leedom titled Super Star Trek. Ahl obtained permission from the rights holders to use the name Star Trek in its title.

It also included an expanded version of Hammurabi, a 1968 text-based land management game by Doug Dyment that Ahl had converted to DEC BASIC in approximately 1971.

In 1975, a version of "BASIC Computer Games" including games in BASIC-PLUS rather than DEC BASIC, was published.

"BASIC Computer Games" was the first computer book to sell more than one million copies.