A $5,000 loan from his father fueled a teenage attempt to replicate Strat-O-Matic Football, marking the initial business venture of William Murray "Trip" Hawkins III. Born in 1953 in Pasadena, Hawkins transformed the nascent video game industry, steering its development from solitary creative efforts toward the complex, team-driven production models that define modern commercial software.
Founding Electronic Arts
After graduating from Harvard University, where he designed a specialized major in Strategy and Applied Game Theory, and later attending the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Hawkins joined Apple Computer in 1978. In 1982, he departed to establish Electronic Arts. He pivoted the industry toward organized development teams and secured a vital partnership with John Madden for his football franchise. Later, he utilized aggressive legal tactics to force Sega into a reduced-rate licensing agreement for his company's software.
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Take the IQ test →The 3DO Hardware Gamble
Hawkins exited Electronic Arts in 1991 to launch The 3DO Company. In 1993, he debuted a powerful home console priced at US$599. The system struggled against cheaper, high-performance competitors like the PlayStation and Saturn. Despite transitioning the business into a developer, the firm faced consistent quality control issues and financial depletion. The company declared bankruptcy in 2003, selling franchises like Might and Magic to Ubisoft.
Mobile Innovation and Education
Following the dissolution of 3DO, Hawkins founded Digital Chocolate in 2003 to concentrate on handheld gaming, achieving success with the mobile title Tower Bloxx. He served as CEO until 2012. Subsequent roles included board positions at Extreme Reality, Nativex, and the mobile eSports platform Skillz. He also founded the If You Can Company, which produces educational software aimed at teaching compassion to children.
Academic Contributions
In addition to his corporate leadership, Hawkins held a role at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he served as a professor of entrepreneurship and leadership between 2016 and 2019. His industry contributions were formally recognized in 2005 when he became the eighth individual inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.
Fast facts
- Born: 1953, Pasadena, United States
- Education: Harvard University, Stanford Graduate School of Business
- Founded: Electronic Arts, The 3DO Company, Digital Chocolate
- Inducted: Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame, 2005
- EA CEO Tenure: 1982–1991
- 3DO Bankruptcy Date: May 2003
- Academic Position: Professor at UC Santa Barbara, 2016–2019
Questions readers ask
What was the initial price of the 3DO console?
It launched in 1993 at US$599.
Which major gaming franchise did Hawkins help initiate at Electronic Arts?
He signed John Madden to consult on and promote the football game that became the Madden NFL series.
Achievements
- Affiliated with Digital Chocolate and University of California, Santa Barbara
- Educated at Harvard University, Stanford Graduate School of Business and La Jolla High School
- Worked as entrepreneur
