Google Doodle Today: Today’s Interactive Games Doodle celebrates the 82nd birthday of Gerald “Jerry” Lawson, one of the fathers of modern gaming, who led the team that developed the first home video gaming system with interchangeable game cartridges. Doodle features games designed by three American guest artists and game designers: Davion Gooden, Lauren Brown, and Momo Pixel.
Today’s Google Doodle also features a video showcasing Lawson’s life and thoughts from his colleagues and family members.
Gerald ‘Jerry’ Lawson: Early Life
Lawson was born on this day in 1940 in Brooklyn, New York. He tinkered with electronics from an early age, repairing TVs around him and building his own radio station using recycled parts. He attended Queens College and City College of New York before leaving early to begin his career in Palo Alto, California. At the time, the city and its surrounding area became known as “Silicon Valley” due to the explosion of new, innovative tech companies starting in the area.
Gerald ‘Jerry’ Lawson: The First Home Video Game System Console
Upon his arrival in California, Lawson joined Fairchild Semiconductor as an engineering consultant. A few years later, Lawson was promoted to director of engineering and marketing for Fairchild’s video game division, where he led the development of the Fairchild Channel F system (the “F” stood for Fun!).
It was the first home video game system console to feature interchangeable game cartridges, an 8-way digital joystick, and a pause menu. Channel F paved the way for future gaming systems such as the Atari, SNES, Dreamcast, and others.
Gerald ‘Jerry’ Lawson: Videosoft launched
In 1980, Lawson left Fairchild to start his own company, Videosoft—one of the first black-owned video game development companies. The company created software for the Atari 2600, which Cartridge Lawson and his team developed.
Although they closed after five years, Lawson solidified himself as a leader in the industry and continued to consult with numerous engineering and video game companies throughout his career.
Gerald ‘Jerry’ Lawson: recognized as an industry trailblazer
In 2011, the International Game Developers Association recognized Lawson as an Industry Trailblazer for his contributions to gaming. The University of Southern California also created the Gerald A. Lawson Fund to support underrepresented students who wish to pursue undergraduate or graduate degrees in game design or computer science. Lawson’s achievements are memorialized World Video Game Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York.
On its Google Doodle page, the internet giant also shared the idea of Jerry Lawson’s children, Anderson and Karen Lawson, collaborating on the project.
Here’s what he said about today’s Doodle and his father’s legacy:
“Gerald Anderson Lawson was an engineer, always inquisitive, critical in his thinking and logical in solving problems. He challenged us to push our limits and encouraged young people to pursue careers in science and technology.
As a child in the 1940s, 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.
Due to the decline of the video game market, The Story of Our Fathers became a footnote in video game history. However, over the years, several awards, scholarships, and media have recognized him. Our family is eternally grateful to those who have worked tirelessly to bring his story to the public.
Today, we join the world in celebrating Dad’s 82nd birthday. We want to thank Google for working with us to share our father’s story in this doodle. His story continues to inspire many youths around the world to achieve something remarkable.
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!
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