Paul Jackson (game producer)
Encyclopedia
Paul Stafford Jackson, OBE
is a British
video game producer
and publisher.
In 1993, Jackson established the British office of Electronic Arts
. At EA UK, he was involved in brand-building for the The Sims
series of games. Whilst at EA, he was approached by Kuju Entertainment
seeking interest in publishing Rail Simulator
, a successor to Microsoft Train Simulator
which Microsoft Games had declined to publish.
On 1 August 2006, Jackson took over from Roger Bennett as director-general of the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA), the British video game industry trade group, having served on the ELSPA board for twelve years since 1992, with three years as chairman.
After leaving ELSPA, Jackson returned to the Rail Simulator franchise, arranging to buy the rights to the project, and becoming CEO of the resulting development company, RailSimulator.com.
In 2010, Jackson was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
(OBE) in the New Year Honours for services to the video game industry.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
video game producer
Game producer
A video game producer is the person in charge of overseeing development of a video game.The earliest documented use of the term producer in games was by Trip Hawkins, who established the position when he founded Electronic Arts in 1982...
and publisher.
In 1993, Jackson established the British office of Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
. At EA UK, he was involved in brand-building for the The Sims
The Sims (series)
The Sims is a video game series developed by Maxis and later by The Sims Studio, and published by Electronic Arts. It is one of the most successful video games series of all time...
series of games. Whilst at EA, he was approached by Kuju Entertainment
Kuju Entertainment
Kuju Entertainment is an English computer and video game corporation consisting of three studios, two of which are located in the UK: Zoë Mode , Headstrong Games , and one in the Czech Republic: Vatra games...
seeking interest in publishing Rail Simulator
Rail Simulator
Rail Simulator is a train simulation published by Electronic Arts . It was produced by UK based Kuju Entertainment, the company which developed Microsoft Train Simulator with Microsoft...
, a successor to Microsoft Train Simulator
Microsoft Train Simulator
Microsoft Train Simulator is a train simulator for Microsoft Windows, released in July 2001 and developed by UK based Kuju Entertainment, and is available for purchase through Amazon.com.-Gameplay:...
which Microsoft Games had declined to publish.
On 1 August 2006, Jackson took over from Roger Bennett as director-general of the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA), the British video game industry trade group, having served on the ELSPA board for twelve years since 1992, with three years as chairman.
After leaving ELSPA, Jackson returned to the Rail Simulator franchise, arranging to buy the rights to the project, and becoming CEO of the resulting development company, RailSimulator.com.
In 2010, Jackson was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(OBE) in the New Year Honours for services to the video game industry.