Black History Month: Daily Updates

Jerry Lawson (1940-2011) Electrical Engineer

Jerry Lawson led the development of the first cartridge-based home gaming console, Fairchild Channel F, introduced to the market in 1976. The primary focus of Fairchild was arcade games until the introduction of the Channel F system. Before Channel F, games were built into the device hardware so the player could only use one game at a time. Swappable game cartridges allowed people to play many different games at home on the same console. Mr. Lawson’s innovation was the precursor for the home gaming systems that we know today. Although the Channel F was not a commercial success, it led the way for the Atari 2600 home gaming console released in 1977 and revolutionized the video game market.  He also was the first game engineer to implement the Pause Game functionality which saved the lives (and bladders) of many a gaming addict! 

Mr. Lawson was finally recognized for his achievements in 2011 by the International Game Developers Association. 

- post contributed by Denise Cote, Library

In their Words

“The whole reason I did games was because people said, ‘You can’t do it.’ I’m one of the guys, if you tell me I can’t do something, I’ll turn around and do it.”

Learn More

WATCH: Jerry Lawson - clip from High Score (4 min)

LISTEN: Jerry Lawson: The Engineer Who Changed the Game - Command Line Heroes podcast (33 min)

READ: 

• Engineers of History: Jerry Lawson, Video Game Pioneer (1940-2011) - All About Circuits

• Gerald A. Lawson, Video Game Pioneer, Dies at 70 - New York Times