After taking a six-week summer computer class at school when he was 13, Tobey saved for a year to purchase a Commodore PET 2001 for $800.
At 16, Tobey and his friend, Chris Brookins, worked on a combat flight sim called Alpha Strike for the Apple II for two years.
After his graduation in June, he rejected a rival offer from Sir-Tech and committed to EA to produce the newly renamed Skyfox, becoming their second-youngest developer.
He worked closely with producer Stewart Bonn and with Richard Hilleman, both of whom later held senior management positions at EA.
Key to the title's evolution during that year was its re-structuring as a mission-based game, a structure that would be emulated by many later combat flight sims.