325:
497:. The game revisits the format of the original game, featuring 2D character models on 3D worlds with overhead perspective, and is planned to support online multiplayer. The game sought a funding target of US$ 400,000 by March 27, 2015. As of March 25, 2015, they had reached their target and were funded to finish development of
354:
and followed the adventures of two aliens who crashlanded on a zany planet, where they were chased by quirky adversaries such as a "nerd herd" and "killer ice cream truck". The game was published in 1991 to positive reviews, but sales were sluggish and the game was branded a flop. It turned into a
405:
as a producer for a while longer, but then left the game industry around 2005 to become a business consultant; staying in the same office as TJ&E Productions, under a new company called "Wayward
Consulting". Johnson continued as a solo designer, initially as a consultant for multiple game
262:
was released in 1986 to positive reviews, and sales which continued to climb for the next year (and
Johnson's friend got quadruple his money back). Johnson then continued to work for Electronic Arts, at the time a small company with about 30 employees, contributing graphics to titles such as
199:
school, and his father was a professor of philosophy and musicology. When
Johnson was three, his parents separated and his mother moved the family to Los Angeles, where, when Johnson was 12, his mother married a child psychologist who became Johnson's stepfather. Johnson attended
248:, though with minimal pay. He was living off money loaned to him by a friend, to whom he promised a cut of royalties from his first game. The game's development was never assured and it was almost cancelled several times, but eventually, with the help of
442:, the game was fully completed but Konami chose to never publish it, and the rights eventually reverted to Johnson. In the meantime, he continued as an independent designer, such as with a group in Oregon that was researching
401:, receiving generally favorable reviews, though sales did not meet expectations, and Voorsanger and Johnson then parted ways. Voorsanger went back to Electronic Arts as a producer for a period of time, leaving for
383:
for the software company ePlanet, Inc., and also for Ububu, a San
Francisco-based startup. None of their products were ever released, though some got fairly far along in the design process, such as ePlanet's
194:
to an
African-American father and a Jewish mother whose family had escaped Russia during World War II. He is one of five children, three of whom are step-siblings. His mother was an administrator for a
856:
1226:
1096:
372:
was eventually released in 1993, as a 2D side-scroller. It received positive reviews, but there was a backlash from fans who did not like the new side-scrolling format.
363:. It eventually became known as one of the classics of the Sega line, and as of 2015, was routinely voted as the Sega title that fans would most like to see return.
602:
366:
JVP's next game was a sequel to ToeJam, also published through Sega. The first design was scrapped by Sega because of concerns on how to market the game, so
201:
426:
company, and worked briefly with
Jonathan Sari at a startup called Multiversal Entertainment in 2005, trying to design interactive movie-like stories.
532:
528:
375:
Johnson & Voorsanger then renamed their company as "ToeJam & Earl
Productions", and worked on other projects, such as an educational game for
866:
1216:
1135:
1128:
656:
632:
393:
368:
1089:
1142:
724:
489:
213:
212:. There, he designed a simple sword fight simulator (which he later called "boring as hell"). After Colorado College, he went on to the
60:
466:, released in 2010. Then, based on the design for the earlier unreleased Konami game, Johnson released two Facebook apps in 2012,
951:
1082:
1177:
1231:
795:
1017:
1164:
157:
1236:
407:
397:. It went back to the original perspective format, added a third character Latisha, and was published as a 3D game on
976:
748:
265:
388:, a game where a virtual alien character could interact with the player through a camera on top of the monitor.
324:
917:
684:
418:
827:
1211:
640:
391:
In 2002, Johnson & Voorsanger again worked with Sega to release a third version of the ToeJam series,
166:
416:, giving advice on how to make the characters more believable, and how to link the different sections of
902:
515:
312:
336:
games, Johnson and
Voorsanger formed a new company, Johnson Voorsanger Productions (JVP), to focus on
1221:
697:
457:
452:
692:
594:
462:
376:
191:
172:
133:
37:
434:
In 2006, Johnson founded his own studio, HumaNature
Studios, and built a team to work on the game
1022:
755:
716:
550:
476:
279:
228:
178:
161:
1066:
991:
380:
196:
1121:
610:
338:
302:
205:
138:
93:
56:
1045:
618:
562:
343:
287:
249:
153:
894:
648:
360:
245:
217:
149:
1205:
861:
221:
761:
292:
241:
87:
494:
493:, which was being developed independently from Sega and instead being funded by
481:
439:
356:
274:
1074:
1170:
995:
664:
586:
539:
412:
258:
253:
224:
144:
81:
450:
in 2007. He then re-focused his studio on a game to complement the hit movie
1189:
955:
831:
310:
was published by
Electronic Arts, and won the "Game of the Year" award from
438:
for Konami, a project he had been working on since 2004. Intended for the
328:
Company logo for ToeJam and Earl Productions (also called JVP Productions)
443:
423:
402:
422:
into something coherent. He also wrote a series of white papers for the
1159:
1062:
209:
777:(2021, Three Ravens Publishing) Wrote the foreword for the anthology
446:
movement, Kalbridge Games, and worked with them to release the game
220:. It was while at university that he first played the influential
925:
323:
240:
Johnson made ends meet by providing graphics for software such as
546:
listed at #10 of "Best Sega Genesis/Mega Drive games of all time.
398:
1078:
796:"A conversation with ToeJam & Earl co-creator Greg Johnson"
121:
359:
though, sales continued to climb, and it developed a
952:"Toejam and Earl designer making a PlayStation game"
828:"Playing Catch Up: ToeJam & Earl's Greg Johnson"
1152:
1113:
208:, where he learned his first programming language,
117:
109:
101:
74:
66:
52:
44:
30:
23:
857:"Getting to know the man behind Toejam & Earl"
558:listed at #55 on "The 100 Best Sega Genesis Games"
570:at #13 on its list of the best games of all time.
487:In February 2015, Johnson announced a new title,
992:"Best Sega Genesis/Mega Drive games of all time"
945:
943:
941:
939:
937:
935:
821:
819:
817:
815:
813:
811:
809:
807:
805:
628:(1992, Sega), a ToeJam & Earl Light Gun game
480:in 2013, a first-party title with Sony for the
277:, Johnson designed the quirky four-player game
603:Starflight 2: Trade Routes of the Cloud Nebula
286:In 1989, Johnson was introduced to programmer
1090:
674:(2006, Other Oceans), plug-n-play Disney game
8:
893:Jackson, Rhett Beauregard (September 1990).
232:, which influenced many of his later works.
342:, which they pitched as a 2-player game to
273:. In 1988, following a suggestion by EA's
1097:
1083:
1075:
1043:Stuart Campbell, "Mega All-Time Top 100",
775:Starflight: Tales from the Starport Lounge
533:Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
20:
1227:American people of Russian-Jewish descent
888:
886:
884:
544:ToeJam & Earl 2 in Panic on Funkotron
160:with Mark Voorsange. In 2006, he founded
787:
720:(2013, HumaNature Studios), PlayStation
712:(2012, HumaNature Studios) Facebook app
706:(2012, HumaNature Studios) Facebook app
657:ToeJam & Earl III: Mission to Earth
633:ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron
394:ToeJam & Earl III: Mission to Earth
369:ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron
290:, and they began working on two games,
826:Wallis, Alistair (November 16, 2006).
1016:Concepcion, Miguel (March 29, 2012).
977:"Toejam and Earl: Back in the Groove"
725:ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove
490:ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove
7:
990:GamesRadar Staff (August 24, 2014).
950:Yin-Poole, Wesley (April 19, 2012).
850:
848:
350:borrowed the randomization ideas of
214:University of California, San Diego
61:University of California, San Diego
296:, and an even quirkier title than
14:
1018:"The 100 Best Sega Genesis Games"
513:, "Game of the Year" award from
406:companies, such as working with
743:Johnson provided graphics for:
1178:Wacky Worlds Creativity Studio
501:, which was released in 2019.
202:Alexander Hamilton High School
1:
1217:American video game designers
1165:ToeJam & Earl Productions
922:ToeJam & Earl Productions
855:Cork, Jeff (March 17, 2015).
332:Following the success of the
320:ToeJam & Earl Productions
158:ToeJam & Earl Productions
122:http://humanaturestudios.com
16:American video game designer
652:(2001, Disney), Disney show
164:. His game credits include
132:(born 1960) is an American
34:1960 (age 63–64)
1253:
906:. No. 74. p. 14.
749:Adventure Construction Set
734:(2023, HumaNature Studios)
728:(2018, HumaNature Studios)
379:. In 1998, Johnson became
266:Adventure Construction Set
148:games. He has worked for
244:, and was also hired by
680:(2007, Kalbridge Games)
606:(1989, Electronic Arts)
598:(1988, Electronic Arts)
590:(1986, Electronic Arts)
668:(2004, EA), consultant
329:
1136:III: Mission to Earth
903:Computer Gaming World
516:Computer Gaming World
327:
313:Computer Gaming World
1232:Jews from California
698:DreamWorks Animation
672:Piglet's Special Day
458:DreamWorks Animation
190:Johnson was born in
693:Kung Fu Panda World
641:Orly's Draw-A-Story
595:Caveman Ugh-Lympics
523:Orly's Draw-A-Story
463:Kung Fu Panda World
377:Broderbund Software
192:Passaic, New Jersey
173:Kung Fu Panda World
167:Orly's Draw-A-Story
134:video game designer
38:Passaic, New Jersey
1237:Jews from Colorado
1143:Back in the Groove
1129:Panic on Funkotron
756:F/A-18 Interceptor
717:Doki-Doki Universe
660:(2002, Sega), Xbox
644:(1997, Broderbund)
626:Ready-Aim Tomatoes
499:Back in the Groove
477:Doki-Doki Universe
430:HumaNature Studios
330:
280:Caveman Ughlympics
271:F/A 18 Interceptor
179:Doki-Doki Universe
162:HumaNature Studios
1199:
1198:
1122:ToeJam & Earl
1106:ToeJam & Earl
928:on March 5, 2022.
869:on March 19, 2015
611:ToeJam & Earl
568:ToeJam & Earl
556:ToeJam & Earl
381:Creative Director
339:ToeJam & Earl
303:ToeJam & Earl
197:special education
139:ToeJam & Earl
127:
126:
94:ToeJam & Earl
1244:
1099:
1092:
1085:
1076:
1050:
1041:
1035:
1034:
1032:
1030:
1013:
1007:
1006:
1004:
1002:
987:
981:
980:
973:
967:
966:
964:
962:
947:
930:
929:
924:. Archived from
914:
908:
907:
899:
890:
879:
878:
876:
874:
865:. Archived from
852:
843:
842:
840:
838:
823:
800:
799:
798:. March 3, 2019.
792:
622:(1992, Accolade)
529:Innovation Award
436:What's Your Type
206:Colorado College
77:
57:Colorado College
21:
1252:
1251:
1247:
1246:
1245:
1243:
1242:
1241:
1202:
1201:
1200:
1195:
1148:
1109:
1103:
1072:
1059:
1054:
1053:
1042:
1038:
1028:
1026:
1015:
1014:
1010:
1000:
998:
989:
988:
984:
975:
974:
970:
960:
958:
949:
948:
933:
916:
915:
911:
897:
895:"The Rumor Bag"
892:
891:
882:
872:
870:
854:
853:
846:
836:
834:
825:
824:
803:
794:
793:
789:
784:
771:
741:
619:Star Control II
582:
577:
507:
456:, working with
432:
344:Sega of America
322:
288:Mark Voorsanger
250:Electronic Arts
238:
236:Electronic Arts
222:dungeon crawler
188:
156:and co-founded
154:Electronic Arts
75:
59:
53:Alma mater
40:
35:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1250:
1248:
1240:
1239:
1234:
1229:
1224:
1219:
1214:
1204:
1203:
1197:
1196:
1194:
1193:
1186:
1181:
1174:
1167:
1162:
1156:
1154:
1150:
1149:
1147:
1146:
1139:
1132:
1125:
1117:
1115:
1111:
1110:
1104:
1102:
1101:
1094:
1087:
1079:
1070:
1069:
1058:
1057:External links
1055:
1052:
1051:
1036:
1008:
982:
968:
931:
909:
880:
844:
801:
786:
785:
783:
780:
779:
778:
770:
767:
766:
765:
759:
752:
740:
737:
736:
735:
729:
721:
713:
710:Deko Deko-Quiz
707:
704:Deko-Deko Mail
701:
689:
681:
678:Save the Dinos
675:
669:
661:
653:
649:Choo-Choo Soul
645:
637:
629:
623:
615:
607:
599:
591:
581:
578:
576:
573:
572:
571:
559:
547:
537:
536:
535:
520:
506:
503:
474:, followed by
472:Deko Deko-Quiz
468:Deko-Deko Mail
448:Save the Dinos
431:
428:
361:cult following
321:
318:
246:Binary Systems
237:
234:
218:biolinguistics
187:
184:
150:Binary Systems
136:known for the
125:
124:
119:
115:
114:
111:
107:
106:
105:Sirena Johnson
103:
99:
98:
78:
72:
71:
68:
64:
63:
54:
50:
49:
46:
42:
41:
36:
32:
28:
27:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1249:
1238:
1235:
1233:
1230:
1228:
1225:
1223:
1220:
1218:
1215:
1213:
1212:Living people
1210:
1209:
1207:
1192:
1191:
1187:
1185:
1182:
1180:
1179:
1175:
1173:
1172:
1168:
1166:
1163:
1161:
1158:
1157:
1155:
1151:
1145:
1144:
1140:
1138:
1137:
1133:
1131:
1130:
1126:
1124:
1123:
1119:
1118:
1116:
1112:
1107:
1100:
1095:
1093:
1088:
1086:
1081:
1080:
1077:
1073:
1068:
1064:
1061:
1060:
1056:
1048:
1047:
1040:
1037:
1025:
1024:
1019:
1012:
1009:
997:
993:
986:
983:
978:
972:
969:
957:
953:
946:
944:
942:
940:
938:
936:
932:
927:
923:
919:
913:
910:
905:
904:
896:
889:
887:
885:
881:
868:
864:
863:
862:Game Informer
858:
851:
849:
845:
833:
829:
822:
820:
818:
816:
814:
812:
810:
808:
806:
802:
797:
791:
788:
781:
776:
773:
772:
768:
763:
760:
758:
757:
753:
751:
750:
746:
745:
744:
738:
733:
730:
727:
726:
722:
719:
718:
714:
711:
708:
705:
702:
699:
695:
694:
690:
687:
686:
682:
679:
676:
673:
670:
667:
666:
662:
659:
658:
654:
651:
650:
646:
643:
642:
638:
635:
634:
630:
627:
624:
621:
620:
616:
613:
612:
608:
605:
604:
600:
597:
596:
592:
589:
588:
584:
583:
579:
574:
569:
565:
564:
560:
557:
553:
552:
548:
545:
541:
538:
534:
530:
527:
526:
524:
521:
518:
517:
512:
509:
508:
504:
502:
500:
496:
492:
491:
485:
483:
479:
478:
473:
469:
465:
464:
459:
455:
454:
453:Kung Fu Panda
449:
445:
441:
437:
429:
427:
425:
421:
420:
415:
414:
409:
404:
400:
396:
395:
389:
387:
382:
378:
373:
371:
370:
364:
362:
358:
353:
349:
345:
341:
340:
335:
326:
319:
317:
315:
314:
309:
305:
304:
299:
295:
294:
289:
284:
282:
281:
276:
272:
268:
267:
261:
260:
255:
251:
247:
243:
235:
233:
231:
230:
226:
223:
219:
215:
211:
207:
203:
198:
193:
185:
183:
181:
180:
175:
174:
169:
168:
163:
159:
155:
151:
147:
146:
141:
140:
135:
131:
123:
120:
116:
112:
108:
104:
100:
96:
95:
90:
89:
84:
83:
79:
73:
70:Game designer
69:
65:
62:
58:
55:
51:
47:
43:
39:
33:
29:
22:
19:
1188:
1184:Greg Johnson
1183:
1176:
1169:
1141:
1134:
1127:
1120:
1105:
1071:
1063:Greg Johnson
1044:
1039:
1027:. Retrieved
1021:
1011:
999:. Retrieved
985:
971:
961:November 18,
959:. Retrieved
926:the original
921:
912:
901:
871:. Retrieved
867:the original
860:
837:November 18,
835:. Retrieved
790:
774:
762:Deluxe Paint
754:
747:
742:
731:
723:
715:
709:
703:
691:
683:
677:
671:
663:
655:
647:
639:
636:(1993, Sega)
631:
625:
617:
614:(1991, Sega)
609:
601:
593:
585:
575:Game credits
567:
561:
555:
549:
543:
522:
514:
511:Starflight 2
510:
498:
488:
486:
475:
471:
467:
461:
451:
447:
435:
433:
417:
411:
392:
390:
385:
374:
367:
365:
351:
347:
337:
333:
331:
311:
308:Starflight 2
307:
301:
297:
293:Starflight 2
291:
285:
278:
270:
264:
257:
242:Deluxe Paint
239:
227:
189:
177:
176:(2010), and
171:
165:
143:
137:
130:Greg Johnson
129:
128:
92:
88:Starflight 2
86:
80:
76:Notable work
25:Greg Johnson
18:
1222:1960 births
1114:Video games
1049:, July 1992
732:Kimono Cats
495:Kickstarter
482:PlayStation
440:Nintendo DS
408:Will Wright
357:sleeper hit
275:Bing Gordon
256:, the game
216:, studying
204:, and then
45:Nationality
1206:Categories
1171:Art Alive!
996:GamesRadar
918:"About Us"
782:References
688:(2008, EA)
665:The Sims 2
587:Starflight
554:magazine:
540:GamesRadar
413:The Sims 2
386:Freeblenux
334:Starflight
316:magazine.
259:Starflight
254:Joe Ybarra
225:video game
186:Early life
145:Starflight
82:Starflight
67:Occupation
1190:Fall Guys
1029:March 22,
1001:March 22,
956:Eurogamer
873:March 21,
832:Gamasutra
519:magazine.
484:console.
460:to build
252:producer
739:Graphics
580:Designer
444:dinosaur
424:Leapfrog
403:Leapfrog
182:(2013).
170:(1997),
110:Children
48:American
1160:Menacer
1153:Related
1023:Complex
769:Writing
696:(2010,
566:listed
551:Complex
298:Caveman
210:Fortran
118:Website
1108:series
764:(1986)
505:Awards
348:ToeJam
102:Spouse
97:series
898:(PDF)
685:Spore
531:from
419:Spore
352:Rogue
229:Rogue
1067:IMDb
1046:Mega
1031:2015
1003:2015
963:2012
875:2015
839:2012
563:Mega
470:and
399:Xbox
269:and
152:and
142:and
31:Born
1065:at
410:on
306:.
1208::
1020:.
994:.
954:.
934:^
920:.
900:.
883:^
859:.
847:^
830:.
804:^
542::
525::
346:.
300:,
283:.
91:,
85:,
1098:e
1091:t
1084:v
1033:.
1005:.
979:.
965:.
877:.
841:.
700:)
113:2
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.