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Welcome to the community hub built on top of the Mabel Addis Wikipedia article. Here, you can discuss, collect, and organize anything related to Mabel Addis. The purpose of the hub is to connect people, foster deeper knowledge, and help improve the root Wikipedia article.
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Timelines
6

Teaching Career

Career as a Teacher
Unspecified (Likely 1930s - 1970s)
Mabel Addis worked as a teacher for a substantial part of her life. The exact duration and specific schools where she taught are not fully documented, but it is known that she dedicated a considerable amount of time to education. Teaching provided her with a stable career and likely influenced her approach to problem-solving and storytelling, skills that would later be relevant in her work in video games.

The Sumerian Game Project

Development of 'The Sumerian Game' (pre-1964 version)
1962-1964
Mabel Addis collaborated with IBM programmer William McKay to develop 'The Sumerian Game' (also known as 'The Sumer Game') for the IBM 7090 mainframe computer. Addis served as the writer and designer, crafting the narrative, game mechanics, and textual output. The game was a text-based strategy simulation where players managed resources as a ruler of ancient Sumer.
Initial Release and Presentation
1964
'The Sumerian Game' was initially released and presented in 1964. It was a groundbreaking achievement, making Mabel Addis the first known video game writer. The game showcased the potential of computers for interactive storytelling and complex simulations.
Expanded Version: 'Hamurabi'
1966
Doug Dyment created an expanded version of 'The Sumerian Game' called 'Hamurabi' in 1966. This version was written in FOCAL for the Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-8. While Addis was not directly involved in this version, it underscored the impact and influence of her original creation.
David Ahl's BASIC Port
1968
David Ahl ported 'Hamurabi' to BASIC, further increasing its accessibility and popularity. This version helped to spread the concept of computer simulations and strategy games to a wider audience, cementing the legacy of 'The Sumerian Game' and Mabel Addis's contribution.

Main milestones

Birth of Mabel Addis
May 21, 1912
Mabel Addis was born on this day, marking the beginning of a life that would eventually intersect with the nascent field of computer gaming. Her early life and education laid the foundation for her future role as a teacher and, unexpectedly, as a game writer.
Teaching Career Begins
Early Career: Teaching
Mabel Addis dedicated a significant portion of her career to teaching, specifically in the North Castle school district in Armonk, New York. This role honed her communication skills and understanding of how to engage and educate an audience, qualities that would prove valuable when crafting the narrative for 'The Sumerian Game'.
Development of 'The Sumerian Game'
Late 1960s
This period marks the genesis of Mabel Addis's groundbreaking contribution. She collaborated with programmer William McKay to create 'The Sumerian Game' (later renamed 'Hamurabi'), an economics simulation designed to teach students about resource management and decision-making in ancient Sumer. Addis wrote the scenarios, providing the narrative context and feedback that made the game engaging and educational. This established her as the first known video game writer.
'The Sumerian Game' Release
1968
'The Sumerian Game' was released for use on mainframe computers, primarily within educational settings. While simple by today's standards, the game's combination of economic simulation and narrative elements was revolutionary. Mabel Addis's writing provided crucial context, immersing players in the role of a ruler managing resources to ensure the prosperity and survival of their city-state.
Continuing Teaching and Writing
Post-'Sumerian Game' Career
After her work on 'The Sumerian Game', Mabel Addis continued her teaching career and remained active in writing and educational projects. While she didn't pursue further video game development, her pioneering work left an indelible mark on the industry, inspiring future generations of game writers and designers.
Death of Mabel Addis Mergardt
August 13, 2004
Mabel Addis Mergardt passed away on this date. Although her contribution to video game history was not widely recognized during her lifetime, she is now increasingly acknowledged as a foundational figure in the field. Her work on 'The Sumerian Game' paved the way for the integration of narrative into interactive entertainment, leaving a legacy that continues to shape the industry today.

Legacy and Recognition

Rediscovery and Recognition
Late 20th Century - Early 21st Century
For many years, Mabel Addis's role as the first video game writer remained largely unknown. However, in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, with the increasing study of video game history, her contribution to 'The Sumerian Game' was rediscovered and recognized. Academics and historians began to acknowledge her importance in the development of interactive narrative and game design.
Increased Awareness and Scholarship
Post-2000s
After 2000, there was a notable increase in awareness and scholarly interest in Mabel Addis's work. Her story began to be featured in articles, documentaries, and academic papers about the history of video games. Her contribution was seen as crucial in the development of narrative-driven games.

Personal Life and Relationships

Marriage to [Mergardt]
Unspecified
Mabel Addis married a man surnamed Mergardt. Information about their relationship, including the date of their marriage and the duration of their marriage, is limited.
Death
August 13, 2004
Mabel Addis Mergardt passed away on August 13, 2004, at the age of 92. Her death marked the end of a life dedicated to teaching and pioneering work in the field of video games. She left behind a legacy as the first video game writer, whose contributions helped shape the industry.

Early Life and Education

Birth in Brooklyn, New York
May 21, 1912
Mabel Addis was born in Brooklyn, New York, marking the beginning of her life journey. Specifics about her immediate family during this period are limited, but this was a crucial starting point.
Early Education and Development
Early Childhood (approx. 1917-1924)
Details of Mabel's early education are scarce, but during these formative years, she likely attended elementary school in Brooklyn, developing foundational skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. This period would have cultivated her early interests and learning habits.
Continued Education and Growing Interests
Late Childhood and Adolescence (approx. 1925-1930)
Mabel continued her education during her late childhood and adolescence. It is presumed that she attended secondary school during this period. These years likely saw her developing more specific academic interests and perhaps her initial inclination towards writing and literature.
Higher Education and Early Career
1930s
During the 1930s, Mabel likely pursued higher education, possibly attending college. Unfortunately, the specific college or university that she attended is unknown. This period also likely marked the beginning of her professional career, potentially in teaching or writing.
Articles
0
Notes collections
0
Notes
0
Days in Chronicle
3
23 February, 2023
Mabel Addis was posthumously awarded the Pioneer Award during the 2023 edition of the Game Developers Conference, recognizing her significant contribution to the video game industry as the first video game writer and designer.
13 August, 2004
Mabel Addis Mergardt passed away at the age of 92 in Purdys, New York. She is remembered for her pioneering work in creating the first narrative video game, 'The Sumerian Game'.
Brief
Known For
First video game writer (The Sumerian Game/Hamurabi), writer, teacher.
Key Dates and Places
  • Born Date: 21 May 1912.
  • Death Date: 13 August 2004.
Career
  • Past occupations: Writer (video games, educational materials), Teacher.
  • Previous Place of Work: Westchester County schools (as a teacher), IBM (as a writer for The Sumerian Game/Hamurabi).
Main Milestones
Birth of Mabel Addis
May 21, 1912
Mabel Addis was born on this day, marking the beginning of a life that would eventually intersect with the nascent field of computer gaming. Her early life and education laid the foundation for her future role as a teacher and, unexpectedly, as a game writer.
Teaching Career Begins
Early Career: Teaching
Mabel Addis dedicated a significant portion of her career to teaching, specifically in the North Castle school district in Armonk, New York. This role honed her communication skills and understanding of how to engage and educate an audience, qualities that would prove valuable when crafting the narrative for 'The Sumerian Game'.
Development of 'The Sumerian Game'
Late 1960s
This period marks the genesis of Mabel Addis's groundbreaking contribution. She collaborated with programmer William McKay to create 'The Sumerian Game' (later renamed 'Hamurabi'), an economics simulation designed to teach students about resource management and decision-making in ancient Sumer. Addis wrote the scenarios, providing the narrative context and feedback that made the game engaging and educational. This established her as the first known video game writer.
'The Sumerian Game' Release
1968
'The Sumerian Game' was released for use on mainframe computers, primarily within educational settings. While simple by today's standards, the game's combination of economic simulation and narrative elements was revolutionary. Mabel Addis's writing provided crucial context, immersing players in the role of a ruler managing resources to ensure the prosperity and survival of their city-state.
Continuing Teaching and Writing
Post-'Sumerian Game' Career
After her work on 'The Sumerian Game', Mabel Addis continued her teaching career and remained active in writing and educational projects. While she didn't pursue further video game development, her pioneering work left an indelible mark on the industry, inspiring future generations of game writers and designers.
Death of Mabel Addis Mergardt
August 13, 2004
Mabel Addis Mergardt passed away on this date. Although her contribution to video game history was not widely recognized during her lifetime, she is now increasingly acknowledged as a foundational figure in the field. Her work on 'The Sumerian Game' paved the way for the integration of narrative into interactive entertainment, leaving a legacy that continues to shape the industry today.
Mabel Addis

Mabel Addis Mergardt (21 May 1912 – 13 August 2004) was an American writer, teacher and the first video game writer. She designed The Sumerian Game, programmed by William McKay, for the IBM 7090 in 1964, which inspired other kingdom management games such as Hamurabi from the early 1970s. She is considered to have created the strategy video game genre and text based game concept. She has been recognized as the world's first narrative video game writer as well as the first video game writer, and is the oldest known female video game designer.[1]

Key Information

Early life and education

[edit]

Mabel Holmes was born on 21 May 1912 to James Holmes and Mabel Wood. She grew up in Mount Vernon and excelled in school, graduating valedictorian from Brewster High School in 1929. After graduating, she attended Barnard College. At Barnard, she obtained a degree in ancient history and a minor in psychology by 1933. She attended Columbia University for her graduate schooling, and obtained a masters degree in education.[2][3]

Career

[edit]

Upon obtaining her master’s degree in education, Addis worked in a rural one-room school. In 1937, she moved to the Hyatt Avenue School. She worked there for thirteen years before finally moving to Katonah-Lewisboro School District in 1950. She taught in this district until 1976.[4] Her teaching career spanned five decades.[1]

Addis was active in her community. She used her knowledge of history to contribute to both history and book committees in the school district. She wrote and published historical articles, started an oral history collection, and co-authored a book titled Katonah: a History of a New York Village and Brewster Through the Years.[5]

Her most notable work took place in the 1960s. Addis was elected to work with IBM and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services to create The Sumerian Game, the first text-based computer game.[2][3][4] This game enabled players to assume the roles of rulers of the ancient Sumerian city of Lagash, marking it as the first video game to run on a fully electronic computer. As a result, Addis became the first writer and designer for computer video games, pioneering the field.[2][6]

Personal life and legacy

[edit]

She married Alexander L. Addis in 1942, officially becoming Mabel Addis. Alexander died in 1981. She remarried in 1991 to Gerard Mergardt, who died in 1995.

Addis passed away in 2004.[2][7] She was posthumously awarded the Pioneer Award during the 2023 edition of Game Developers Conference on 23 February 2023.[8]

References

[edit]
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#person#american#woman#writer#teacher#pioneer#video games#game writer