NetherRealm Studios Audio Director Dan Forden has announced his departure from the studio after 15 years of service—or, more accurately, after 36 years, considering his roots at Midway Chicago.
Wednesday was my last day at NetherRealm. We've made a bunch of fun stuff over the years. I'm very proud of what we've accomplished and how much fun we had doing it.
Forden began his journey in the gaming industry in 1989, where his first credit appeared as a sound designer for Midway's arcade basketball simulator Arch Rivals. Real fame came to him in 1992 when he joined the small team that created the original Mortal Kombat. Along with designers Ed Boon and John Tobias, as well as artist John Vogel, Forden was responsible for sound and music.
However, many know Forden for the shout "Toasty!" that appears in the corner of the screen when a player performs an uppercut. This random line originated as an inside joke. Forden explained that when he and Boon were playing Super High Impact and Forden started winning, he would say "I predict toast", and it somehow turned into "I predict toasty". When someone in the studio suggested adding this phrase to the game, Forden brushed it off, but Boon decided to support the idea.
Dan Forden has not yet revealed his plans.