Originally published on backloggd.com

Games in which Nasir Gebelli had a notable creative/shaping influence. Turning the clock way back this time, to an era where games could often be made by just one or two people. In Gebelli, I at last have a creator who can rival Yu Suzuki for sheer number of games that have been heavily influenced ("trifecta") by one individual. Lots of trifectas incoming due to him being the sole creator for many of these games.

A mysterious and very talented programmer whose stint in the world of video games became tied to the foundations of Square's extraordinary success. Gebelli started out making Apple II games for Sirius Software in 1980, then started his own short-lived company (Gabelli Software) and made some more. After closing his business in 1983 (the North American industry crash that same year was too damaging to survive), he traveled the world.

After a conversation with a friend familiar with the console side of the games industry in 1986, he was introduced to the head of Square, Masafumi Miyamoto. This led to Gebelli working in Japan for Square on the series of titles he's best known for. The success of the early Final Fantasy games was so great that Gebelli effectively disappeared from the games industry and entered retirement off of the royalty income in 1994.

For a little more trivia: John Romero considers Gebelli to be his favorite programmer and a big inspiration on his own career. Mark Turmell (NBA Jam, Smash TV) and Jordan Mechner (Karateka, Prince of Persia) also cite him as direct inspirations for their own careers and early works.

MISSING GAMES: Star Cruiser (1980), Eggs-It (1982), JJ - Tobidase Daisakusen Part 2 (1987)