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{{short description|American game designer|bot=PearBOT 5}}
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{{Infobox person
| name = Cliff Johnson
| image = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing ] -->
| alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption =
| birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name -->
| birth_date = August 14, 1953<ref name=cj>{{cite web|url=https://fools-errand.com/01-CJ/index.htm|title=Cliff Johnson|work=fools-errand.com|access-date=April 29, 2023}}</ref><!-- {{birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} for living people supply only the year with {{Birth year and age|YYYY}} unless the exact date is already widely published, as per ]. For people who have died, use {{Birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}}. -->
⚫ | birth_place = ], U.S.
| death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) -->
| death_place =
| nationality = American
| other_names =
| occupation = Game designer
| years_active = 1984&ndash;
| known_for =
| notable_works = '']'', '']''
⚫ }}


'''Cliff Johnson''' (born 1953) is an ] ], best known for the early ] ]s '']'' (1987) and '']'' (1990). Both games were notable for unique visual puzzles and a metapuzzle structure. '''Cliff Johnson''' (born 1953)<ref name=maher>{{cite web|url=https://www.filfre.net/2015/11/cliff-johnsons-fools-errand/|title=Cliff Johnson's Fools Errand|publisher=The Digital Antiquarian|date=November 20, 2015|access-date=April 29, 2023|author=Maher, Jimmy}}</ref> is an American ], best known for the ]s '']'' (1987) and '']'' (1990). Both games use visual puzzles and a metapuzzle structure. Both won '']''{{'}}s Best Puzzle Game of the Year.


== Biography == == Biography ==
⚫ Johnson was born August 14, 1953, in ], the only child of Norman and Leatrice Johnson. He attended ] in ], where he started making ] movies. In 1972, he had jobs "building monsters" for five different amusement parks. He later attended ]'s film school, where he became a teaching assistant in ] and created some of the ]esque animations for ]'s ] series '']''.<ref name=cj/><ref name=maher/>
{{BLP unsourced section|date=November 2012}}
⚫ Johnson was born August 14, 1953 in ], the only child of Norman and Leatrice Johnson. He attended ] in ], which is where he started making ] movies. In 1972, he had jobs "building monsters" for five different amusement parks, and then later he attended ]'s film school, where he became a teaching assistant in ], and created some of the ]esque animations for ]'s ] series '']''.


In 1984, using his first computer, a 512 ] so-called "Fat" ], he learned to ], and created his first game, ''The Fool's Errand'', which in 1987 won "Best Puzzle Game of the Year" from ], and was declared "Best Retro Game Ever" by British ] magazine. In 1984, using his first computer, a ], he learned to ] and created the game '']'', which in 1987 won "Best Puzzle Game of the Year" from '']'' and was declared "Best Retro Game Ever" by British '']'' magazine.<ref name=retro>{{cite web|publisher=GamesTM|archivedate=2005-11-03|title=Retrospective: Cliff Johnson|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051103030427/http://www.thefoolsgold.com/CJ/games-magazine.pdf|url=http://www.thefoolsgold.com/CJ/games-magazine.pdf|accessdate=September 23, 2017}}</ref>)


From 1990-1995, he directed the ''*FunHouse*'' production group for ], and from 1996-2001, he consulted with ], ] and ] for online puzzles and treasure hunts. From 1990 to 1995, he directed the ''*FunHouse*'' production group for ], and from 1996 to 2001, he consulted with ], ] and ] for online puzzles and treasure hunts.<ref name=cj/>


In 2002, Johnson designed the ] for the book '']'' by street magician ]. It was solved in 2004. In 2002, Johnson designed a $100,000 Challenge for the book '']'' by street magician ]. It was solved in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fools-errand.com/09-TH/book-excerpts.htm|publisher=fools-errand.com|author=Johnson, Cliff|title=Mysterious Stranger Book Excerpts|access-date=April 29, 2023}}</ref>


==Authored games== ==Authored games==
*'']'' (1987) — '']'''s Best Puzzle Game of the Year. *'']'' (1987) — '']'''s Best Puzzle Game of the Year (Macintosh & Dos)
*'']'' (1989) — '']'' Game Hall of Fame inductee, Brain Teaser category<ref>{{cite journal | title=The Game Hall of Fame |journal= ] |last1=Levy |first1=Steven |last2=Mello |first2=Adrian |date=December 1989 |publisher=] |pages=165–166 |volume=6 |number=12 |authorlink1=Steven Levy }}</ref> (Macintosh & DOS)

*''Disney's Cartoon Arcade'' (1990) - View-Master Interactive Vision/Walt Disney Home Video(VHS)
*'']'' (1989)
⚫ *'']'' (1990) — '']''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Best Game of the Year; '']'''s Best Puzzle Game of the Year (Macintosh)
*'']'' (1990)
⚫ *''Hanna Barbera's Cartoon Carnival'' (1993) (CD-I)
⚫ *'']'' (1990) — '']''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Best Game of the Year; '']'''s Best Puzzle Game of the Year.
*''Merlin's Apprentice'' (1994) (CD-I)
⚫ *'']'' (1993)
*''Labyrinth of Crete'' (1995) (CD-I)
*'']'' (1994)
*'']'' (1995) *'']'' (2012)<ref name=maher/>
*'']'' (2012)


== Other contributed works == == Other contributed works ==
* Game Design: '']'', website contest, 1996 * Game Design: ''Disney's The Hunt for the Lost Toy'', website contest, 1996
* Game Design: '']'', 1998 * Game Design: '']'', 1998
* Treasure Hunt Design: ]'s '']'' book, 2002 * Treasure Hunt Design: ]'s '']'' book, 2002


== References == == References ==
{{reflist}}
⚫ * (click on the image at the upper right to see his biography timeline)

* ''GamesTM'', June 2005, "Retrospective: Cliff Johnson" ()
==External links==
⚫ * ''Inside Mac Games'', March 31, 2003,
*{{MobyGames developer|id=13401|name=Cliff Johnson}}
⚫ * (click on the image at the upper right to see his biography timeline)
⚫ *''Inside Mac Games'', March 31, 2003,

{{authority control}}


{{Persondata
|NAME=Johnson, Cliff
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Sea Jay
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=American game designer
|DATE OF BIRTH=1953
⚫ |PLACE OF BIRTH=]]
|DATE OF DEATH=
|PLACE OF DEATH=
⚫ }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Cliff}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Cliff}}
] ]
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Latest revision as of 13:15, 7 September 2024

American game designer
Cliff Johnson
BornAugust 14, 1953
Hanover, New Hampshire, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationGame designer
Years active1984–
Notable workThe Fool's Errand, 3 in Three

Cliff Johnson (born 1953) is an American game designer, best known for the puzzle video games The Fool's Errand (1987) and 3 in Three (1990). Both games use visual puzzles and a metapuzzle structure. Both won GAMES Magazine's Best Puzzle Game of the Year.

Biography

Johnson was born August 14, 1953, in Hanover, New Hampshire, the only child of Norman and Leatrice Johnson. He attended Bristol Eastern High School in Connecticut, where he started making Super 8 movies. In 1972, he had jobs "building monsters" for five different amusement parks. He later attended University of Southern California's film school, where he became a teaching assistant in animation and created some of the Monty Pythonesque animations for Nickelodeon's television series Out of Control.

In 1984, using his first computer, a Macintosh 512K, he learned to program and created the game The Fool's Errand, which in 1987 won "Best Puzzle Game of the Year" from GAMES Magazine and was declared "Best Retro Game Ever" by British GamesTM magazine.)

From 1990 to 1995, he directed the *FunHouse* production group for Philips Media, and from 1996 to 2001, he consulted with Mattel, Warner Bros. and Disney for online puzzles and treasure hunts.

In 2002, Johnson designed a $100,000 Challenge for the book Mysterious Stranger by street magician David Blaine. It was solved in 2004.

Authored games

  • The Fool's Errand (1987) — GAMES Magazine's Best Puzzle Game of the Year (Macintosh & Dos)
  • At the Carnival (1989) — Macworld Game Hall of Fame inductee, Brain Teaser category (Macintosh & DOS)
  • Disney's Cartoon Arcade (1990) - View-Master Interactive Vision/Walt Disney Home Video(VHS)
  • 3 in Three (1990) — MacUser's Best Game of the Year; GAMES Magazine's Best Puzzle Game of the Year (Macintosh)
  • Hanna Barbera's Cartoon Carnival (1993) (CD-I)
  • Merlin's Apprentice (1994) (CD-I)
  • Labyrinth of Crete (1995) (CD-I)
  • The Fool and His Money (2012)

Other contributed works

References

  1. ^ "Cliff Johnson". fools-errand.com. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  2. ^ Maher, Jimmy (November 20, 2015). "Cliff Johnson's Fools Errand". The Digital Antiquarian. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  3. "Retrospective: Cliff Johnson" (PDF). GamesTM. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2005-11-03. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  4. Johnson, Cliff. "Mysterious Stranger Book Excerpts". fools-errand.com. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  5. Levy, Steven; Mello, Adrian (December 1989). "The Game Hall of Fame". Macworld. 6 (12). IDG Communications: 165–166.

External links

Categories: