If you’ve used Google today, you may have noticed that the Google Doodle is game-focused, focusing on Gerald (Jerry) Lawson: the father of video game tapes.
I love a nice Google Doodle, especially an interactive one. There’s no better way to take up time at work than to sneak a few Doodle games between searches. This time, however, to pay homage to Jerry Lawson, you can make your own.
Instead of a game, you’re offered five templates based on iconic classic cartridges, such as Pong and Space Invaders. From there, you can play it in the original version or add your own touches to it, add new enemies and blocks, or change up the style.
The man behind the ink cartridge
Starting his career in electronics, Lawson repaired TVs to earn extra money at the age of 13. Lawson was later employed by Fairchild, where he worked as Chief Hardware Engineer and created the Fairchild Channel F control panel and pause button. Both creations will change the video game industry forever.
While at Fairchild, Lawson was one of only two Black members of the Homebrew Computer Club. This group of computer enthusiasts has a pretty impressive list, including Apple founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.
Power star
Jerry Lawson may not be a household name, but for video game lovers, he should be. Although the Fairchild Channel F console was not yet a success, its design inspired Atari, who used his cartridge method for the Atari 2600, released in 1977. This later became popular. the use of cartridges in the game, which created the possibility for consoles after this technology to quickly make its way through the market.
If Lawson hadn’t been committed to convenience and loving the game, we might not have the same consoles and cartridges we use today. Thinking I might have missed out on the fun of organizing all my Gameboy and Nintendo Lite game boxes and arranging them so they can form a rainbow on my shelf makes me shiver.
So the next time you go through your dusty set of video games or hit the pause button so you can pause the action and grab a snack, you should remember Jerry Lawson and all he did. made to play games.
