Google Doodle has paid tribute to Gerald ‘Jerry’ Lawson, a pioneer in modern gaming, on his 82nd birth anniversary with an interactive game. Lawson is renowned for leading the team that developed the first home video gaming system with interchangeable game cartridges. The interactive game was designed by Davionne Gooden, Lauren Brown, and Momo Pixel, American guest artists and game designers, as per Google.
During his role as director of engineering and marketing of Fairchild’s video game department in California, his team developed the Fairchild Channel F System. It was the first video game system console to have interchangeable game cartridges, an 8-way digital joystick and a pause menu. The Channel F led to the development of future gaming systems like the Atari, SNES, Dreamcast and more.
Gerald “Jerry” Lawson – one of the fathers of modern gaming, led the team that developed the first home video gaming system, paving the way for today’s gaming consoles.
Check today’s #GoogleDoodle to know more and create your own video game from scratch > https://t.co/pXCbIyOLiR. pic.twitter.com/mZn2Divp8E— Google India (@GoogleIndia) December 1, 2022
In 1980, Lawson started VideoSoft, one of the earliest Black-owned video game development companies. VideoSoft developed the software Atari 2600, which put the cartridge created by Lawson and his team in the limelight. While the company was shut down after five years, Lawson created a deep imprint in the industry, winning accolades.
A heart-warming note was shared by Lawson’s children Anderson and Karen Lawson with Google. They also collaborated with the doodle project. “As a child in the 1940’s, he was inspired by George Washington Carver. That inspiration provided the spark that ignited his desire to pursue a career in electronics. He loved what he did and did what he loved. Considering the obvious challenges for African-Americans at the time, his professional achievements were quite remarkable,” read the note.
Lawson’s achievements are featured at the World Video Game Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York. He was honoured as an industry trailblazer by the International Game Developers Association in 2011. In addition, promoting underrepresented students to pursue studies in game design or computer science, the University of Southern California came up with the Gerald A Lawson Fund.
“Dad, you were our provider, motivator, teacher, inventor, mentor and friend. We are incredibly proud of you and miss you. The planet knows your story and you will never be forgotten! Happy Birthday, Pop! We love you!” Lawson’s children added.
Born in Brooklyn, New York on December 1, 1940, Lawson was inclined towards electronics from childhood. He pursued studies at Queens College and City College of New York and started his career in Palo Alto.
