David Perry
Earthworm Jim creator
David Perry rose from teenage bedroom coder to industry figure, creating Earthworm Jim and Disney's Aladdin before founding Shiny Entertainment and later Gaikai.
Overview
From Northern Ireland to gaming stardom. David Perry began programming on home computers, moved to the UK industry, then emigrated to America where he created some of the Mega Drive’s most distinctive games. Earthworm Jim’s irreverent humour and Aladdin’s animation quality showcased his ambition. Later, he pioneered game streaming with Gaikai.
Fast facts
- Born: 1967, Northern Ireland.
- Companies: Shiny Entertainment, Gaikai.
- Known for: Earthworm Jim, Aladdin.
- Later work: Game streaming pioneer.
Early career
| Period | Work |
|---|---|
| Teenage | Bedroom coding |
| UK industry | Various conversions |
| Virgin Games | Major opportunity |
Key games
| Title | Year | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Disney’s Aladdin | 1993 | Mega Drive |
| Earthworm Jim | 1994 | Mega Drive |
| Earthworm Jim 2 | 1995 | Mega Drive |
| MDK | 1997 | PC |
Aladdin achievement
| Aspect | Innovation |
|---|---|
| Animation | Disney-quality |
| Graphics | Digicel process |
| Reception | Critical acclaim |
| Sales | Massive success |
Earthworm Jim
| Feature | Impact |
|---|---|
| Humour | Distinctive tone |
| Animation | Fluid cartoon style |
| Design | Unconventional levels |
| Character | Iconic mascot |
Shiny Entertainment
| Founded | 1993 | | Location | California | | Output | Original IP focus | | Acquired | Atari (2002) |
Gaikai
| Innovation | Cloud gaming | | Founded | 2008 | | Acquired | Sony (2012) | | Legacy | PlayStation Now foundation |