Vectorbeam
{{Short description|American arcade game manufacturer}}
Vectorbeam was an arcade game manufacturer active in the late 1970s who specialized in vector graphics-based arcade games.[http://arcarc.xmission.com/Web%20Archives/Jeff%20Andersen%20%28Sep%2027%202003%29/flyers/vectorbeam.jpg Vectorbeam Initiates 'Space War' Production; Plans 2 New Games For Introduction At AMOA], Page 87, Vending Times, October 1978, ARCade ARChive.[http://www.cinematronics.org/sunday_pt1.html Subject: Vectorbeam history, Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045249/http://www.cinematronics.org/sunday_pt1.html |date=4 March 2016 }} ...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" 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.{{cite book|last1=DeMaria|first1=Rusel|last2=Wilson|first2=Johnny L.|title=High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games|date=2003|publisher=McGraw-Hill/Osborne|location=New York|isbn=0-07-223172-6|page=28|edition=2}}{{youtube|apg3W7yXULY|Speaker Session - Larry Rosenthal}}, Recorded at California Extreme 2014, July 12, 2014 during the noon speaker session. (http://www.caextreme.org) 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.[http://www.dadgum.com/giantlist/archive/cinematronics.html Tim Skelly's History of Cinematronics and Vectorbeam]
List of Vectorbeam
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Category:Defunct video game companies of the United States
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