Paul E. Niemeyer

Paul E. Niemeyer is an American illustrator, graphic designer, and sculptor best known for his work in the coin-operated video game, pinball, and tabletop game industries. He is widely recognized for illustrating the marquee, control panel, side art, and dragon logo for the original Mortal Kombat arcade cabinet.

Education and early career Niemeyer attended Eastern Illinois University, earning a double major in illustration and ceramic design. His first assignment involved cutting color production screens for the cocktail cabinet version of Ms. Pac-Man.

Freelance Work and *Mortal Kombat* (1984–1990s) In 1984, Niemeyer transitioned into freelance work. Alongside commercial design projects for Chicago advertising agencies and nature illustrations for the Department of Natural Resources, he continued designing arcade game graphics for titles such as Time Killers, Aeroboto, and Star Guards. The project was officially titled Mortal Kombat during Niemeyer's initial design meeting.

Gameography

Arcade Games Ms. Pac-Man (1982) – Production color screen art Pac-Man Plus (1982) – Graphic art Super Pac-Man (1982) – Graphic art Satan's Hollow (1982) – Cabinet art Discs of Tron (1983) – Environmental cabinet art Professor Pac-Man (1983) – Graphic art Spy Hunter (1983) – Cabinet/Graphic art Tapper (1984) – Graphic art WACKO (1984) – Cabinet art Star Guards (1987) – Arcade art Mortal Kombat (1992) – Cabinet side art, control panel, marquee, logo line art Time Killers (1992) – Arcade art

Tabletop & Casual Games Demolition Man (1993) – Pinball graphic design Bejeweled 2 (2004) – Packaging design & illustration Peggle (2007) – Packaging design & illustration Legends of Valhalla (2021) – Sculpted pinball art