Gerald Lawson

Updated: 09/15/2017 by Computer Hope
Gerald Lawson

Name: Gerald (Jerry) Anderson Lawson

Born: December 1, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York USA

Death: April 9, 2011 (Age: 70)

Computer-related contributions

  • An African American electronic engineer known for his work with the Fairchild Channel F video game console.
  • Founded and ran Videosoft, a video game development company which made software for the Atari 2600 in the early 1980s.
  • Produced one of the earliest arcade games, Demolition Derby, which debuted in a southern California pizzeria shortly after Pong.

Honors and awards

  • Honored as an industry pioneer by the International Game Developers Association (2011).