202:(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.
240:
was the first commercially available pinball game using a microprocessor. 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
184:
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
152:
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
176:
hardware and software. 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.
164:
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.
276:(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.
269:, 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.
185:
craze. Mirco Games itself promoted foosball tournaments, spurring adoption of their tables in large numbers. They eventually captured 10% of the foosball table market. Bob Edgell subsequently joined Mirco Games in a marketing role.
264:
arcade machine. The deal subsequently fell apart, resulting in a lawsuit over the terms of the agreement in 1977. Micro Inc's financial situation took a serious hit as a result of the game business, with
148:
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
1439:
188:
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
241:
in March of 1976. The table sold 140 units; its failure caused Mirco to not pursue the pinball business until reentering the market with cocktail table pinball model
279:
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
1444:
272:
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
227:
table to be powered by a microprocessor. After
Nutting shipped Mirco Games one of his prototypes, a team led by former Motorola engineers created
489:
140:, the first commercially available pinball utilizing the technology. The company was eventually sold in 1980 to Amstar Electronics.
257:
229:
136:
205:
Mirco Inc. started exploring early microprocessors after a number of engineers and managers at the company arrived from
281:
173:
221:
245:(1978). At the same show, Mirco also introduced one of the earliest microprocessor-based video games,
824:
Kirk, Steve (1980-12-15). "The Game
Reviews: 'Missile command' and 'Moon Cresta'-- recommended".
122:
founded in 1973. The company was a subsidiary of electronics manufacturer Mirco Inc, producing
485:
149:
119:
56:
682:"Mirco Intro's 'Spirit of '76' Computerized Pinball And 'PT 109' Video Game at MOA Expo".
210:
583:"Operator Sales & Mirco Stage Soccer Bout; 395 Teams Compete for Cash and Prizes".
131:
123:
1433:
213:
161:
700:
Bailey, Clarence W. (1977-05-01). "Young firm survives crises in too-rapid growth".
250:
217:
130:
through the 1970s. They notably created a few of the earliest games incorporating
169:
127:
104:
168:
In
November 1971, Joe Walsh along with Robert Kessler and Bruce Kinkler formed
1285:"Mirco Introduces New 'Hold & Draw' Electronic Upright Video Poker Game".
206:
350:(1973) originally released as Arizona Automation, later as Mirco Games.
224:
1001:"Two all new games from MIRCO. The people who brought you Challenge".
546:
Franson, Paul (1974-07-11). "Portable tester checks complex logic".
157:. Within a year, Raymond bought out Walsh’s shares in the company.
313:(1973) as Arizona Automation (not coin-operated, sold to the home)
628:"Mirco Expands U.S. Facilities: Opens European Subsid.-Germany".
216:
microprocessor. In 1975, Mirco Games was approached by engineer
190:
484:. Dallas, Texas: Business Publications Inc. pp. 551–565.
260:
to create a dedicated home video game console based on their
285:(1980), whom Mirco had previously done distribution for.
236:
When shown at the 1975 Music
Operators of America show,
862:"MOA Exhibits SRO; Advance Red Good And Seminar Tops".
529:
Computerworld the Newsweekly for the Computer Community
256:
In January 1976, Mirco entered into an agreement with
1395:"Cocktail Model Pinball Game Is Marketed By Mirco".
1149:"'Skywar' New Air-Battle 2-Player Game From Mirco".
118:was a manufacturer of coin-operated games based in
97:
89:
71:
63:
40:
32:
24:
480:Bernhardt, Kenneth L.; Kinnear, Thomas C. (1978).
233:(1975) based on the Motorola 6800 microprocessor.
1440:Defunct video game companies of the United States
1376:"Mirco Games Introduces Spirit of '76 Pin Game".
715:"Mirco hits Fairchild with $ 6 million lawsuit".
1035:"Mirco Games Introduces Video Cocktail Table".
1130:"Mirco Bows Upright & Cocktail "Skywar"".
1020:"Micro Intro's "Slam" Video Cocktail Table".
8:
1092:"Mirco Games Introduces PT-109 Video Game".
325:(1975) (not coin-operated, sold to the home)
19:
1357:"Mirco enters pinball market with Spirit".
172:company Mirco Incorporated, producing both
901:: Part III - Coin Machines 11. 1975-07-05.
598:"Edgell Named Mirco's Dir. of Marketing".
18:
843:"Amstar Runs Up Amusement Factory Flag".
613:"Edgell And Reinhardt Promote At Mirco".
568:"Arizona Auto. & Mirco, Inc. Merge".
253:microprocessor – which also sold poorly.
1073:"Microprocessor gives action to table".
643:"Mirco Games Opens Factory in Germany".
527:"PC Faults Located Through 'Flash II'".
180:In 1974, Mirco Games published the book
877:"Ariz. Automation Markets Home Model".
461:
1445:American companies established in 1973
1202:"Mirco Releases 'Super 21' Cocktail".
220:who had led the project to convert an
996:
994:
949:"Mirco Introduces Two New Products".
944:
942:
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890:
888:
785:
783:
695:
693:
677:
675:
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7:
1319:"Mirco introduces gaming machines".
1111:"Aces rocket to heroism in Skywar".
772:"John Walsh Forms Intermark Indus".
563:
561:
503:
501:
475:
473:
471:
469:
467:
465:
1338:"Mirco Games Introduces Scramble".
14:
1054:"Slam features skill and speed".
258:Fairchild Camera & Instrument
67:Richard N. Raymond, John L. Walsh
16:American electronics manufacturer
1183:"Mirco Intro's Its "21" Video".
662:"Connors App. Mirco President".
182:Table Soccer Rules and Strategy
1:
482:Cases in marketing management
307:(1971) as Arizona Automation
1217:"Mirco releases Super 21".
77:; 44 years ago
1461:
93:Sold to Amstar Electronics
1225:(17): 48. September 1977.
927:"The Magnificent Seven".
897:"The Magnificent Seven".
209:, which had released the
128:coin-operated video games
1384:(11): 86. November 1975.
1365:(11): 52. November 1975.
1270:"California Clippings".
1172:(9): 40. September 1976.
1081:(11): 52. November 1975.
935:(7): 12. June–July 1975.
851:(2): 118. November 1980.
813:(19): 121. October 1980.
753:"Fairchild sues Mirco".
508:"Mirco & Champion".
424:Electro-mechanical Games
742:(3): 58. December 1977.
1300:"Computer card game".
1191:(43): 22. August 1976.
1100:(1): 47. January 1976.
723:(1): 32. January 1978.
704:. pp. D-16, D-21.
249:(1975), utilizing the
46:; 50 years ago
44:December 26, 1973
1418:(13): 70. 1978-07-15.
1308:(15): 46. 1978-08-15.
1259:(11): 60. 1978-06-15.
1062:(8): 44. August 1975.
1043:(8): 48. August 1975.
987:(42): 52. 1974-04-20.
912:"The 'Grand Champ'".
790:"See the Exclusive".
617:: 41, 43. 1976-12-18.
535:(37): 16. 1973-09-12.
516:(18): 17. 1976-02-28.
1327:(9): 27. 1978-05-15.
1251:"Dogfight at dawn".
794:: 44. November 1979.
776:: 52–53. 1979-02-17.
761:(7): 56. 1978-04-07.
419:Hi-Lo Jackpot (1979)
311:Champion Soccer Club
1410:"Sitdown pingame".
1346:(6): 46. June 1975.
1164:"Video Blackjack".
1138:(30): 13. May 1976.
979:"Chicago Chatter".
832:(23): 128–129, 131.
294:Coin-Operated Games
174:electronics testing
36:Coin-operated Games
21:
1119:(5): 46. May 1976.
1009:(6): 41. May 1975.
348:Champion Ping-Pong
342:Arcade video games
222:electro-mechanical
196:Champion Ping-Pong
160:Subsequently, the
1399:: 50. 1978-06-17.
1289:: 45. 1978-07-22.
1274:: 50. 1978-07-15.
1240:: 63. 1977-11-05.
1206:: 65. 1977-08-06.
1153:: 43. 1976-05-08.
1024:: 39. 1975-08-02.
968:: 50. 1974-04-13.
953:: 41. 1976-12-18.
916:: 31. 1975-08-30.
881:: 54. 1973-02-17.
866:: 43. 1971-10-02.
686:: 38. 1975-11-08.
666:: 43. 1975-05-31.
632:: 46. 1975-11-15.
602:: 45. 1976-05-01.
587:: 51. 1974-05-11.
572:: 51. 1974-02-23.
443:The Spirit of '76
335:Grand Champion VI
267:The Spirit of '76
238:The Spirit of ’76
230:The Spirit of ’76
194:clones including
137:The Spirit of ’76
113:
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380:(September 1976)
150:General Electric
120:Phoenix, Arizona
116:Mirco Games Inc.
85:
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57:Phoenix, Arizona
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52:
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20:Mirco Games Inc.
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805:"Other games".
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408:Hold & Draw
398:(November 1977)
396:Formula M Vroom
386:(December 1976)
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305:Champion Soccer
301:
299:Foosball Tables
296:
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155:Champion Soccer
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132:microprocessors
109:
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59:, United States
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734:"Mirco Suit".
726:
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554:(15): 125–126.
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337:(January 1977)
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317:Grand Champion
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964:"Free Play".
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651:(1): 1. 1975.
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392:(August 1977)
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218:David Nutting
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1236:"New Game".
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356:(April 1974)
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251:Fairchild F8
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25:Company type
548:Electronics
451:(June 1978)
432:(June 1975)
404:(June 1978)
402:Dawn Patrol
323:Grand Champ
198:(1973) and
170:electronics
162:German mark
126:tables and
105:Video games
1434:Categories
1412:Play Meter
1359:Play Meter
1321:Play Meter
1302:Play Meter
1253:Play Meter
1219:Play Meter
1166:Play Meter
1113:Play Meter
1075:Play Meter
1056:Play Meter
1003:Play Meter
929:Play Meter
826:Play Meter
807:Play Meter
755:Play Meter
717:Play Meter
456:References
449:Lucky Draw
384:Super Stud
374:(May 1976)
243:Lucky Draw
51:1973-12-26
354:Challenge
262:Challenge
200:Challenge
1397:Cash Box
1287:Cash Box
1272:Cash Box
1238:Cash Box
1204:Cash Box
1151:Cash Box
1022:Cash Box
981:Cash Box
966:Cash Box
951:Cash Box
914:Cash Box
899:Cash Box
879:Cash Box
864:Cash Box
774:Cash Box
684:Cash Box
664:Cash Box
630:Cash Box
615:Cash Box
600:Cash Box
585:Cash Box
570:Cash Box
430:Scramble
414:Break In
390:Super 21
329:Maverick
289:Products
207:Motorola
124:foosball
98:Products
64:Founders
33:Industry
437:Pinball
282:Phoenix
225:pinball
144:History
80: (
72:Defunct
49: (
41:Founded
28:Defunct
1185:RePlay
1132:RePlay
845:RePlay
792:RePlay
736:RePlay
510:RePlay
488:
445:(1975)
416:(1978)
410:(1978)
372:Skywar
368:(1975)
366:PT-109
331:(1975)
319:(1975)
247:PT-109
211:8-bit
486:ISBN
360:Slam
191:Pong
90:Fate
82:1980
75:1980
55:in
1436::
1414:.
1382:15
1380:.
1361:.
1344:15
1342:.
1323:.
1304:.
1255:.
1221:.
1187:.
1168:.
1134:.
1115:.
1098:16
1096:.
1077:.
1058:.
1041:15
1039:.
1005:.
993:^
985:35
983:.
941:^
931:.
887:^
847:.
828:.
809:.
782:^
757:.
738:.
719:.
692:^
672:^
647:.
560:^
552:47
550:.
531:.
512:.
500:^
464:^
378:21
274:21
1416:4
1363:1
1325:4
1306:4
1257:4
1223:3
1189:1
1170:2
1136:1
1117:2
1079:1
1060:1
1007:1
933:1
849:6
830:6
811:6
759:4
740:3
721:4
649:1
533:7
514:1
494:.
84:)
53:)
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