Vectorbeam

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Vectorbeam was an arcade game manufacturer active in the late 1970s who specialized in vector graphics-based arcade games.^[1]^[2] It was formed after splitting off from its primary competitor, Cinematronics, and disappeared after re-merging with them soon after.

Vectorbeam was founded by Larry Rosenthal based on his graduate work from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and which he patented for a custom arcade vector display.^[3]^[4] Vectorbeam was in direct competition with other arcade game manufacturers. The company ceased operations soon after poor sales of its Barrier arcade game, and sold its assets to Cinematronics.^[5]

List of Vectorbeam games

Space War (arcade game) (1977)
Barrier (1979)
Speed Freak (arcade game) (1979)
Tail Gunner (1979)
Warrior (arcade game) (1979)^[6]

References

^ Vectorbeam Initiates 'Space War' Production; Plans 2 New Games For Introduction At AMOA, Page 87, Vending Times, October 1978, ARCade ARChive.
^ Subject: Vectorbeam history, Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 ...My name is Dan Sunday. I was a friend of Larry Rosenthal's, and when he broke from Cinematronics to start Vectorbeam I became his lead (and only) programmer. Vectorbeam lasted for one year, and was then bought by Cinematronics at which time I left. ....When Larry sold VB, for 2 million dollars....Vectorbeam only existed for 1 year: I recall Sept 1978 to Aug 1979, but may be off a month either way...For the record, the max company size was about 80 employees.... it was described in one of Larry's patents, namely: US Patent # 4,053,740 (Oct 11, 1977) for a "Video Game System"
^ DeMaria, Rusel; Wilson, Johnny L. (2003). High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games (2 ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill/Osborne. p. 28. ISBN 0-07-223172-6.
^ Speaker Session - Larry Rosenthal on YouTube, Recorded at California Extreme 2014, July 12, 2014 during the noon speaker session. (http://www.caextreme.org)
^ Tim Skelly's History of Cinematronics and Vectorbeam
^ KLOV's Vectorbeam entry

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[1] Vectorbeam Initiates 'Space War' Production; Plans 2 New Games For Introduction At AMOA, Page 87, Vending Times, October 1978, ARCade ARChive.

[2] Subject: Vectorbeam history, Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 ...My name is Dan Sunday. I was a friend of Larry Rosenthal's, and when he broke from Cinematronics to start Vectorbeam I became his lead (and only) programmer. Vectorbeam lasted for one year, and was then bought by Cinematronics at which time I left. ....When Larry sold VB, for 2 million dollars....Vectorbeam only existed for 1 year: I recall Sept 1978 to Aug 1979, but may be off a month either way...For the record, the max company size was about 80 employees.... it was described in one of Larry's patents, namely: US Patent # 4,053,740 (Oct 11, 1977) for a "Video Game System"

[3] DeMaria, Rusel; Wilson, Johnny L. (2003). High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games (2 ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill/Osborne. p. 28. ISBN 0-07-223172-6.

[4] Speaker Session - Larry Rosenthal on YouTube, Recorded at California Extreme 2014, July 12, 2014 during the noon speaker session. (http://www.caextreme.org)

[5] Tim Skelly's History of Cinematronics and Vectorbeam

[6] KLOV's Vectorbeam entry

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