Origins & Early Life

Steven Scott Ritchie (born February 13, 1950) is an American pinball and video game designer. His career began in the 1970s. Ritchie holds the record for best-selling pinball designer in history. He has been called "The Master of Flow" due to the emphasis in his designs on ball speed, loops, and long smooth shots.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Ritchie was also the original voice of Shao Kahn in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series, serving as the announcer of Mortal Kombat II (1993), Mortal Kombat 3 (1995), and the updates to Mortal Kombat 3. He is the older brother of fellow pinball designer Mark Ritchie. Steve Ritchie was born in San Francisco, California and moved to Pacifica when he was five. He first played pinball at a local bowling alley that he visited during his parents' bowling league night. Ritchie graduated high school early and joined the Coast Guard shortly before his eighteenth birthday.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He trained as an electronics technician, serving in Vietnam, California, and Alaska. After leaving the coast guard, he worked odd jobs and played in a band. Ritchie joined Atari Inc. in 1974 and was employee number fifty and first worked on the assembly line as an electro-mechanical...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alan Silvestri — Contemporary (Born in 1950) (1950): Award-winning composer renowned for epic film scores, especially for blockbuster franchises.
• Arthur D. Levinson — Contemporary (Born in 1950) (1950): Prominent American businessman, former CEO of Genentech, and board member for Apple Inc.
• Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay — Contemporary (Died in 1950) (1950): Pioneering Bengali novelist celebrated for nature and rural life depictions.
• Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah — Shared historical date (02-13 · Died) (1021): Sixth Fatimid Caliph and 16th Ismaili Imam, known for a controversial reign.
• Aung San — Shared historical date (02-13 · Born) (1915): Burmese politician and independence activist, considered the 'Father of the Nation' of Myanmar.
• Billy Ocean — Historical peer (Born in 1950) (1950): Trinidadian-British R&B singer known for international hits from the 1970s to 1980s.
• Bobby McFerrin — Historical peer (Born in 1950) (1950): Pioneering improvisational vocal artist known for a cappella mastery and 'Don't Worry, Be Happy'.
• Ajahn Buddhadasa — Historical peer (Died in 1993) (1993): Pioneering Thai Buddhist monk known for reinterpreting doctrine and fostering religious reformation.
• Alia Bhatt — Historical peer (Born in 1993) (1993): Acclaimed British-Indian actress known for versatile roles in Hindi cinema.
• Adolfo Pedernera — Historical peer (Died in 1995) (1995): Argentine football legend, nicknamed 'El Maestro,' pivotal in the 1940s.
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