Mirco Games

The roots of Mirco Games lie in the company Arizona Automation, an importer of foosball tables founded by Richard “Dick” N. Raymond and John L. Walsh. Walsh and Raymond had worked together at General Electric in Germany and discovered the popularity of foosball in Europe, which had not yet taken off in the United States. Raymond opened Arizona Automation in a 600 foot office space in 1970 in Phoenix, Arizona with Walsh serving as the import agent in Germany. Their tables were marketed under the name Champion Soccer. Within a year, Raymond bought out Walsh’s shares in the company.{{Cite book |last1=Bernhardt |first1=Kenneth L. |title=Cases in marketing management |last2=Kinnear |first2=Thomas C. |publisher=Business Publications Inc. |year=1978 |isbn=0-256-02081-7 |location=Dallas, Texas |pages=551–565 |language=English}}

Subsequently, the German mark suffered in value, leading to Arizona Automation tables domestically. Using manufacturing materials in both the United States and Taiwan, Raymond found great success as the popularity for foosball boomed in the country. Within four years, the company achieved sales of $1 million.{{Cite journal |date=1976-02-28 |title=Mirco & Champion |journal=RePlay |volume=1 |issue=18 |pages=17}}

In November 1971, Joe Walsh along with Robert Kessler and Bruce Kinkler formed electronics company Mirco Incorporated, producing both electronics testing hardware and software.{{Cite journal |date=1973-09-12 |title=PC Faults Located Through 'Flash II' |journal=Computerworld the Newsweekly for the Computer Community |volume=7 |issue=37 |pages=16}}{{Cite journal |last=Franson |first=Paul |date=1974-07-11 |title=Portable tester checks complex logic |journal=Electronics |volume=47 |issue=15 |pages=125–126}} To help finance the expansion of this business, Micro purchased the assets of Arizona Automation to get into the coin-op market. On December 26, 1973, Micro Games Inc. was formed with all of Arizona Automation’s staff and product transferred to the new company.{{Cite journal |date=1974-02-23 |title=Arizona Auto. & Mirco, Inc. Merge |journal=Cash Box |pages=51}}

In 1974, Mirco Games published the book Table Soccer Rules and Strategy by Bob and Steve Edgell. One of the earliest books aimed at competitive coin-operated games, the company agreed to publish the book in exchange for one of their tables being featured on the cover. The book helped to spur competitive foosball to new heights, attracting mainstream interest in the craze. Mirco Games itself promoted foosball tournaments, spurring adoption of their tables in large numbers.{{Cite journal |date=1974-05-11 |title=Operator Sales & Mirco Stage Soccer Bout; 395 Teams Compete for Cash and Prizes |journal=Cash Box |pages=51}} They eventually captured 10% of the foosball table market. Bob Edgell subsequently joined Mirco Games in a marketing role.{{Cite journal |date=1976-05-01 |title=Edgell Named Mirco's Dir. of Marketing |journal=Cash Box |pages=45}}{{Cite journal |date=1976-12-18 |title=Edgell And Reinhardt Promote At Mirco |journal=Cash Box |pages=41, 43}}

Using their combined expertise in coin-operated games and electronics, Micro Games expanded into electronic games starting in 1973. They first manufactured a number of Pong clones including Champion Ping-Pong (1973) and Challenge (1974). This new revenue stream helped grow the company from $1 million in the foosball trade to $7.3 million in 1975 – $6.1 million of which was from video games. Mirco also offered test equipment services to the coin-op industry through their Mirco Electronic Distributors subsidiary and opened manufacturing plants in Australia and Germany.{{Cite journal |date=1975-11-15 |title=Mirco Expands U.S. Facilities: Opens European Subsid.-Germany |journal=Cash Box |pages=46}}{{Cite journal |date=1975 |title=Mirco Games Opens Factory in Germany |journal=Mir Co-Operator |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=1}}

Mirco Inc. started exploring early microprocessors after a number of engineers and managers at the company arrived from Motorola,{{Cite journal |date=1975-05-31 |title=Connors App. Mirco President |journal=Cash Box |pages=43}} which had released the 8-bit Motorola 6800 microprocessor. In 1975, Mirco Games was approached by engineer David Nutting who had led the project to convert an electro-mechanical pinball table to be powered by a microprocessor. After Nutting shipped Mirco Games one of his prototypes, a team led by former Motorola engineers created The Spirit of ’76 (1975) based on the Motorola 6800 microprocessor.

When shown at the 1975 Music Operators of America show, The Spirit of ’76 was the first commercially available pinball game using a microprocessor.{{Cite journal |date=1975-11-08 |title=Mirco Intro's 'Spirit of '76' Computerized Pinball And 'PT 109' Video Game at MOA Expo |journal=Cash Box |pages=38}} However, Mirco Games had no prior experience manufacturing pinball tables, and the game was not in a finalized state. The initial units shipped in November 1975 were over-engineered and defective, causing a halt to production in March of 1976. The table sold 140 units;{{Cite news |last=Bailey |first=Clarence W. |date=1977-05-01 |title=Young firm survives crises in too-rapid growth |work=Arizona Republic |pages=D-16, D-21}} its failure caused Mirco to not pursue the pinball business until reentering the market with cocktail table pinball model Lucky Draw (1978). At the same show, Mirco also introduced one of the earliest microprocessor-based video games, PT-109 (1975), utilizing the Fairchild F8 microprocessor – which also sold poorly.

In January 1976, Mirco entered into an agreement with Fairchild Camera & Instrument to create a dedicated home video game console based on their Challenge arcade machine. The deal subsequently fell apart, resulting in a lawsuit over the terms of the agreement in 1977.{{Cite journal |date=January 1978 |title=Mirco hits Fairchild with $6 million lawsuit |journal=Play Meter |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=32}}{{Cite journal |date=December 1977 |title=Mirco Suit |journal=RePlay |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=58}}{{Cite journal |date=1978-04-07 |title=Fairchild sues Mirco |journal=Play Meter |volume=4 |issue=7 |pages=56}} Micro Inc's financial situation took a serious hit as a result of the game business, with The Spirit of '76, the Fairchild agreement, and the formation of their German subsidiary being blamed for the company's first reported loss in fiscal 1977. This situation led to a firing of 50% of staff and a 10% reduction in pay for those remaining.

The company continued releasing coin-operated video games in a number of genres. These included racing games, flight combat games, and card games. Beginning with 21 (1976), Mirco found a niche in video adaptation of gambling-adjacent “gray market” games. Co-founder of Mirco Inc, John Walsh, went onto form Intermark Industries which distributed gray market video games similar to those produced under Mirco Games.{{Cite journal |date=1979-02-17 |title=John Walsh Forms Intermark Indus. |journal=Cash Box |pages=52–53}}

The last game from the company was published in 1979. In 1980, Mirco Games and Mirco Games GmbH in Germany were sold by to Amstar Electronics, licensors of the game Phoenix (1980), whom Mirco had previously done distribution for.{{Cite journal |date=November 1979 |title=See the Exclusive |journal=RePlay |pages=44}}{{Cite journal |date=October 1980 |title=Other games |journal=Play Meter |volume=6 |issue=19 |pages=121}}{{Cite journal |last=Kirk |first=Steve |date=1980-12-15 |title=The Game Reviews: 'Missile command' and 'Moon Cresta'-- recommended |journal=Play Meter |volume=6 |issue=23 |pages=128–129, 131}}{{Cite journal |date=November 1980 |title=Amstar Runs Up Amusement Factory Flag |journal=RePlay |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=118}}

• Champion Soccer (1971){{Cite journal |date=1971-10-02 |title=MOA Exhibits SRO; Advance Red Good And Seminar Tops |journal=Cash Box |pages=43}} as Arizona Automation
• Champion Soccer Club (1973){{Cite journal |date=1973-02-17 |title=Ariz. Automation Markets Home Model |journal=Cash Box |pages=54}} as Arizona Automation (not coin-operated, sold to the home)
• Grand Champion (1975){{Cite journal |date=1975-07-05 |title=The Magnificent Seven |journal=Cash Box |pages=Part III - Coin Machines 11}}
• Grand Champ (1975){{Cite journal |date=1975-08-30 |title=The 'Grand Champ' |journal=Cash Box |pages=31}} (not coin-operated, sold to the home)
• Maverick (1975){{Cite journal |date=June–July 1975 |title=The Magnificent Seven |journal=Play Meter |volume=1 |issue=7 |pages=12}}
• Grand Champion VI (January 1977){{Cite journal |date=1976-12-18 |title=Mirco Introduces Two New Products |journal=Cash Box |pages=41}}

• Champion Ping-Pong (1973) originally released as Arizona Automation, later as Mirco Games.
• Challenge (April 1974){{Cite journal |date=1974-04-13 |title=Free Play |journal=Cash Box |pages=50}}{{Cite journal |date=1974-04-20 |title=Chicago Chatter |journal=Cash Box |volume=35 |issue=42 |pages=52}}
• Slam (August 1975){{Cite journal |date=May 1975 |title=Two all new games from MIRCO. The people who brought you Challenge. |journal=Play Meter |volume=1 |issue=6 |pages=41}}{{Cite journal |date=1975-08-02 |title=Micro Intro's "Slam" Video Cocktail Table |journal=Cash Box |pages=39}}{{Cite journal |date=August 1975 |title=Mirco Games Introduces Video Cocktail Table |journal=Vending Times |volume=15 |issue=8 |pages=48}}{{Cite journal |date=August 1975 |title=Slam features skill and speed |journal=Play Meter |volume=1 |issue=8 |pages=44}}
• PT-109 (1975){{Cite journal |date=November 1975 |title=Microprocessor gives action to table |journal=Play Meter |volume=1 |issue=11 |pages=52}}{{Cite journal |date=January 1976 |title=Mirco Games Introduces PT-109 Video Game |journal=Vending Times |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=47}}
• Skywar (May 1976){{Cite journal |date=May 1976 |title=Aces rocket to heroism in Skywar |journal=Play Meter |volume=2 |issue=5 |pages=46}}{{Cite journal |date=May 1976 |title=Mirco Bows Upright & Cocktail "Skywar" |journal=RePlay |volume=1 |issue=30 |pages=13}}{{Cite journal |date=1976-05-08 |title='Skywar' New Air-Battle 2-Player Game From Mirco |journal=Cash Box |pages=43}}
• 21 (September 1976){{Cite journal |date=September 1976 |title=Video Blackjack |journal=Play Meter |volume=2 |issue=9 |pages=40}}{{Cite journal |date=August 1976 |title=Mirco Intro's Its "21" Video |journal=RePlay |volume=1 |issue=43 |pages=22}}
• Super Stud (December 1976)
• Super 21 (August 1977){{Cite journal |date=1977-08-06 |title=Mirco Releases 'Super 21' Cocktail |journal=Cash Box |pages=65}}{{Cite journal |date=September 1977 |title=Mirco releases Super 21 |journal=Play Meter |volume=3 |issue=17 |pages=48}}
• Formula M Vroom (November 1977){{Cite journal |date=1977-11-05 |title=New Game |journal=Cash Box |pages=63}}
• Dawn Patrol (June 1978){{Cite journal |date=1978-06-15 |title=Dogfight at dawn |journal=Play Meter |volume=4 |issue=11 |pages=60}}
• Hold & Draw (1978){{Cite journal |date=1978-07-15 |title=California Clippings |journal=Cash Box |pages=50}}{{Cite journal |date=1978-07-22 |title=Mirco Introduces New 'Hold & Draw' Electronic Upright Video Poker Game |journal=Cash Box |pages=45}}{{Cite journal |date=1978-08-15 |title=Computer card game |journal=Play Meter |volume=4 |issue=15 |pages=46}}
• Break In (1978){{Cite journal |date=1978-05-15 |title=Mirco introduces gaming machines |journal=Play Meter |volume=4 |issue=9 |pages=27}}
• Hi-Lo Jackpot (1979)

• Scramble (June 1975){{Cite journal |date=June 1975 |title=Mirco Games Introduces Scramble |journal=Vending Times |volume=15 |issue=6 |pages=46}}

• The Spirit of '76 (1975){{Cite journal |date=November 1975 |title=Mirco enters pinball market with Spirit |journal=Play Meter |volume=1 |issue=11 |pages=52}}{{Cite journal |date=November 1975 |title=Mirco Games Introduces Spirit of '76 Pin Game |journal=Vending Times |volume=15 |issue=11 |pages=86}}
• Lucky Draw (June 1978){{Cite journal |date=1978-06-17 |title=Cocktail Model Pinball Game Is Marketed By Mirco |journal=Cash Box |pages=50}}{{Cite journal |date=1978-07-15 |title=Sitdown pingame |journal=Play Meter |volume=4 |issue=13 |pages=70}}

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Category:Defunct video game companies of the United States

Category:American companies established in 1973