Lawson, Jerry: Today’s Google Doodle features an interactive tribute to Gerald “Jerry.”

Lawson, inventor of game cartridges and one of the forefathers of modern gaming. Lawson led the team that created the first home video gaming system with interchangeable game cartridges.
In honour of one of the pioneers of modern gaming, The Doodle comes equipped with many different games and a level editor that lets you create your own.
What you need to know and why he appears in the Google Doodle today are as follows:

Gerald “Jerry” Lawson was a pioneer in video games and was born on December 1, 1940. As Fairchild’s Director of Engineering and Marketing, Lawson oversaw the creation of the Fairchild Channel F system, the first home video game system console with an eight-way digital joystick, a pause menu, and interchangeable game cartridges. Future gaming systems like Atari, SNES, Dreamcast, and others were made possible by Channel F.
Lawson left Fairchild in 1980 to start his own business, VideoSoft, one of the first companies that made video games owned by Black people. Lawson and his team developed a cartridge that was popularized by the company, which produced software for the Atari 2600.
Lawson was one of the first African Americans to work in the video game industry. He changed how video games were made, and the Google Doodle honoured him.In March 2011, the International Game Developers Association recognized him as a pioneer in the industry, but he passed away shortly after that.

Lawson Fund to help underrepresented students who want to get a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science or game design. The World Video Game Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York, honours Lawson’s achievements.

Users of today’s Doodle are taken into a retro video game interface, where they can begin by controlling a character and learn a little about Lawson’s history and influence as they progress through a straightforward video game level before being able to edit and add to your game.