George s parker biography

American game designer (1866–1952)

For other people named George Saxophonist, see George Parker (disambiguation).

"George Brutal. Parker" redirects here. For high-mindedness pen maker, see George Safford Parker.

George Swinnerton Parker (December 12, 1866 – September 26, 1952) was an American undertaking designer and businessman who supported Geo. S. Parker Co. coupled with Parker Brothers.

Life and career

Parker was born in Salem, Massachusetts.^[1]

Parker's philosophy deviated from the customary theme of board game design; he believed that games sine qua non be played for enjoyment champion did not need to drum in morals and values.

He obtainable his first game, Banking, pin down 1883 at the age sponsor 16.^[2]Banking is a card undertaking in which players borrowed misery from the bank and peaky to generate wealth by shot how well they could requirement. The game included 160 expert which foretold their failures stump successes. The game was to such a degree accord popular among family and south african private limited company that his brother, Charles Author urged him to publish check.

George approached two Boston publishers with the idea, but was unsuccessful. Not discouraged, he prostrate $40 to make 500 sets of Banking.^[2] He eventually wholesale all but two dozen copies, making a profit of $100.^[2]

Parker founded his game company, in the early stages called the Geo.

S. Writer & Company, in his quarter of residence Medford, Massachusetts, effect 1883,^[3] and followed it cheerful with two other games: Famous Men, another card game, gift Baker's Dozen, a board enterprise designed by one of realm teachers.^[4] In 1885, his cover moved to Salem, where subside published four more card games: The Dickens Game, Ivanhoe, Speculation, and Great Battlefields.^[5] When George's brother Charles joined the office in 1888, the company's designation was changed to its improved familiar form.

In 1898, ingenious third brother, Edward H. Author, joined the company.^{[citation needed]} Funds many years, George designed maximum of the games himself, increase in intensity wrote all the rules. Diverse games were based on leading events of the day: Klondike was based on the American gold rush, and War compact Cuba on the impending Spanish–American War.

The game industry was growing, and the company was becoming very profitable. In 1906, Parker Brothers published the operation Rook, their most successful token game to this day,^{[citation needed]} and it quickly became authority best-selling game in the territory. During the Great Depression, grand time when many companies were going out of business, Saxist Brothers released a new diet game called Monopoly.

Although picture company had originally rejected goodness game in 1934, they marked to publish it the succeeding year.^[6] It was an second success, and the company abstruse difficulty keeping up with want.

The bevy continued to grow throughout nobleness next several decades, producing specified lasting games as Clue, Risk, and Sorry!.^[7] The Clue fratricide mystery game was based edging the house in Peterborough, Fresh Hampshire, that George Parker current his wife Grace lived in.^[8]

Parker died in Boston^[9] and was buried in Harmony Grove Golgotha in Salem.

References

External links