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found support in
Australia and Europe, particularly in the Netherlands where it was offered with a course on the educational channel TELEAC, in place of the Belgian DAI computer. They later sold their division to Biotech Capital Group in 1981. One independent Sorcerer game designer later brought in to create Exidy arcade games was Vic Tolomei.
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Through its entire operation, Exidy never went public nor sought venture capital investment. The company relied entirely on its products and the fundraising efforts of
President Pete Kauffman to sustain the operation who liked to maintain control. This also led to a resistance to license product from
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controversy, Paul Jacobs, served as the company’s chief sales person from 1976-1978 and 1983-1984. Originally from
Chicago Coin, Jacobs helped to build the company to become the third biggest manufacturer of arcade video games in 1977 and stabilized the company during a period of uncertainty after a
191:
Ramtek subsequently got into manufacturing coin-operated video games as a side business. Kauffman, however, believed that he could do more with a company dedicated to exploiting the new trend in electronic games. He and Ampex engineer Samuel Hawes formed a new company to enter the coin-op industry,
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compatible system first sold in 1978. The hardware had no native graphics modes, though had a text mode with programmable characters. Exidy supported the system with documentation, tools, and a few in-house developed games, but the system did not have much of a following in North
America. It later
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other countries like Japan, relying mostly on in-house talent. In 1985, the company went into bankruptcy and former Atari coin-op head Gene Lipkin became president. A plan was hatched for Exidy to be bought by Sega, but this never materialized and Lipkin left to establish Sega
Enterprises USA.
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Exidy had a bonus program for engineers who created hit games, but did not start accrediting its developers until fairly late in its history. In the company’s later years, many of their game designers left to join other studios. Long term game designer Howell Ivy departed the company for Sega
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game on test at a local pub. It was assembled in an old oak barrel ‘table model’ without a coin door. The quarters just dropped into the barrel…After playing the game, I tried to move it slightly. It wouldn’t move. It must have been full of quarters. This could not have been a fad!"
1093:
During development, this game was called 0077. The title was changed to Top Secret possibly due to copyright issues, since the title is similar to the movie series 007. When the game was changed to Top Secret, 50 levels were added and the controls were changed to a steering wheel.
477:(1988). Afterwards, they moved into video poker machines and eventually into electro-mechanical redemption games. Kauffman eventually brought in his daughter Victoria and maintained control of the company until it was voluntarily dissolved in 1999.
320:. Renamed Exidy II (or Exidy 2), the company intended to continue running the Union City manufacturing plant to exploit the vector graphics technology under license from Cinematronics. The company released a version of
977:
A twist on the Skee-Ball concept. Unlike that game, the balls curve around a loop, hopefully falling into a hole. Just under the holes, there is a moving puppet, which can be struck with the ball for double points.
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230:(1975) which became a success, but they refused to pay their licensing fees to Exidy due to Chicago Coin’s failing financial state. Needing to make a distinct game to compete with
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was an
American developer and manufacturer of coin-operated electro-mechanical and video games which operated from 1973 to 1999. They manufactured many notable titles including
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316:(1978), the first arcade video game with a high score table, developed by independent company Techni-Cal. In November 1979, Exidy purchased the company Vectorbeam from
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When the coin-operated video game market started to suffer in mid-1982, Exidy diversified into different experiences. They returned to electro-mechanical games with
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401:(1983) was a success, establishing the Exidy 440 hardware system and prompting the release of more light gun games in the same style. The ‘c’ series consisted of
240:(1976), was a minor success before it attracted notice for its violent content. The resulting controversy gave Exidy a national profile with stories appearing on
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Their exploration into microprocessors also led to the development of the
Sorcerer personal computer. Partnering with early commercial computer retailer
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arcade emulator to release a number of Exidy arcade properties for non-commercial use by community members. Over time, these games included
170:, Kauffman joined them as a marketing executive. In late 1972, Kauffman was one of a handful of engineers sent to examine the prototype of
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In 1983, Exidy began creating light gun games, which had not been popular in the arcades since the heyday of electro-mechanical games.
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inspired a number of clones in both Japan and North
America, becoming Exidy’s best-selling game at the time with 7,000 units sold.
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Enterprises USA to help start their product development apparatus. Ken
Nicholson who worked on the light gun series as well as
234:, another engineer who had joined from Ramtek named Howell Ivy was assigned to create a quick turnaround. The resulting game,
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before it, attracted attention due to its violent and graphic content, including shooting body parts off of torture victims.
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Calfee, Richard W.; Hatley, E. Troy; Kauffman, Pete (1970-11-09). "Need accurate recordings of fast transients? Try disks".
328:, but did not release any other games using vector graphics technology at the time. They would later create the vector game
252:
as well as increased sales of the game. Several follow-up games from the company used the Death Race hardware, including
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563:. The ROM images of these games are available to download from the MAME website after acknowledging their terms of use.
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To help get their games a wider market, Exidy opened a licensing arrangement with the large amusement manufacturer
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A twist on the Skee-Ball concept. Unlike that game, the balls curve around a loop, hopefully falling into a hole.
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in 2010. In 2015, Collectorvision Games registered the abandoned trademark for Exidy along with its logo.
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Several of Exidy’s games found success putting twists on popular arcade concepts of the time. Their game
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to license their video games. In 1975, John
Metzler joined Exidy from Ramtek and produced a game called
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Exidy, Inc on October 30, 1973. The name was a portmanteau of the phrase, “Excellence in Dynamics.”
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with Charles McEwan and John Metzler. When the two broke off to form the graphics terminal company
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38:
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Ellis, David (August 2006). "The Wayback Machine: Of Mouse Traps and Crossbows: The Exidy Story".
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acquired the license to develop new versions of Exidy’s arcade catalog. They eventually released
345:(1979), which Sega subsequently threatened legal action over. They expanded on the gameplay with
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436:, specifically the 600XL. The system featured four titles licensed from computer game company
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Exidy’s first products were in the ball-and-paddle genre, including a basic clone of Atari’s
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In 1984, Exidy invested in an interchangeable kit design called the Max-A-Flex based on the
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361:(1980) and was later ported to both the Atari VCS and Colecovision consoles by Coleco.
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180:(1972) in the Andy Capp’s Tavern in Sunnyvale. Kauffman recalled of the experience:
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226:(1975). Under the licensing arrangement, Chicago Coin produced a version called
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1426:"Exidy's Introduces Four "First Star" Games In Massive Display A.O.E. Show".
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456:. Max-A-Flex was subsequently abandoned after the release of these titles.
351:(1980), creating a unique blend of maze and shooting elements. Their game
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203:(1974), which may have been modeled on an unreleased Ramtek game called
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Harold Ray “Pete” Kauffman had worked in the technological field at
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Exidy also produced upgrade-kit of this game called Victor Banana.
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Exidy did license some product early in its history, including
394:(1983), a video quiz game aimed at the bar and tavern market.
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Howell Ivy began working with microprocessor technology after
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License of Ramtek's Knockout. The cocktail version is called
468:(1986) left to join Epyx. Designer Vic Tolomei left in 1987.
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Meyers, Richard (December 1982). "The Exidy Experiment".
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In 2007, Pete Kauffman worked with the developers of the
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Technology companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area
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The salesman and spokesman for the company during the
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Developer and manufacturer of coin-operated amusements
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Compasio, Camille (1985-01-19). "Around the Route".
1213:in 1984 for use with the Max-A-Flex arcade system.
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471:The company’s last traditional video game was
390:(1983), both takes on skee ball. They created
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279:(1977) and a game with a similar conceit to
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1518:featuring a history of Death Race and Exidy
667:During development, this game was known as
566:Pete Kauffman passed away on July 3, 2015.
275:. He created the early color graphics game
183:"I was really excited when I first saw the
146:(1986). They were also the creators of the
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1562:Companies based in Sunnyvale, California
1542:Video game companies established in 1973
1483:"Obituary: Exidy founder Pete Kauffman"
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1198:A take on the ticket grabber concept.
834:Originally developed and released by
324:(1979) under this arrangement called
207:. In 1975, Exidy began manufacturing
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302:, Exidy developed the hardware of a
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367:(1981) was an action-based take on
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1185:A take on the Skee-Ball concept.
268:downturn in video arcade games.
1507:Free Exidy arcade ROM downloads
1370:, Exidy, Inc., October 30, 1973
150:(1978) home computer platform.
1172:Poker game (gambling version)
1:
1407:Video Game History Foundation
1401:Chapman, Chris (2018-06-01).
856:Purchased from Cinematronics
339:(1979) was similar to Sega’s
652:Mechanical basketball game.
373:dungeon crawling similar to
1291:(1995, mechanical gun game)
1285:(1995, mechanical gun game)
1279:(1995, mechanical gun game)
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1403:"The Media vs. Death Race"
1368:Articles of Incorporation
1209:These were licensed from
1205:First Star Software games
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209:electro-mechanical games
1485:. Gamasutra. 2015-07-06
1388:Videogaming Illustrated
1516:The Dot Eaters Article
613:Licensed from Ramtek.
370:Dungeons & Dragons
1471:CollectorVision Games
1460:Mean Hamster Software
1247:Unreleased prototypes
482:Mean Hamster Software
434:Atari 8-bit computers
168:Sunnyvale, California
160:Data Disc Corporation
1211:First Star Software
645:Old Time Basketball
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213:Old Time Basketball
211:with a game called
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249:The New York Times
164:Ramtek Corporation
1430:: 18. March 1984.
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387:
383:
381:
374:
368:
362:
358:
352:
346:
340:
336:
334:
329:
325:
321:
311:
309:
300:Paul Terrell
297:
292:
286:
280:
276:
272:
270:
264:
262:
257:
253:
247:
241:
235:
231:
227:
223:
220:Chicago Coin
217:
212:
204:
200:
196:
194:
190:
184:
182:
175:
157:
141:
140:(1983), and
135:
129:
123:
117:
111:
105:
101:
100:
94:Arcade games
70:Headquarters
62:Samuel Hawes
25:Company type
1335:Electronics
1219:Astro Chase
1159:Poker game
1126:Hit 'n Miss
1100:Clay Pigeon
838:in 1979 as
619:Alley Rally
454:Astro Chase
415:Clay Pigeon
386:(1983) and
256:(1977) and
102:Exidy, Inc.
39:Video games
20:Exidy, Inc.
1526:Categories
1489:2018-07-24
1412:2024-02-22
1320:References
1086:Top Secret
1074:Top Gunner
984:Tidal Wave
891:Mouse Trap
677:Robot Bowl
659:Death Race
589:TV Pinball
561:Top Gunner
505:Robot Bowl
466:Top Secret
427:Death Race
388:Tidal Wave
354:Mouse Trap
322:Tailgunner
273:Death Race
265:Death Race
243:60 Minutes
237:Death Race
201:TV Pinball
131:Mouse Trap
107:Death Race
79:California
1449:(30): 29.
1139:Who Dunit
1049:Crackshot
919:Pepper II
814:Star Fire
801:Fire One!
777:Side Trak
529:Star Fire
513:Side Trak
480:In 2006,
474:Who Dunit
411:Crackshot
313:Star Fire
304:S-100 bus
172:Atari Inc
119:Star Fire
75:Palo Alto
1443:Cash Box
1390:: 38–41.
1354:GameRoom
1283:Hot Shot
1233:Bristles
1152:Showdown
1025:Catch-22
1012:Cheyenne
998:Crossbow
945:Hard Hat
836:Nintendo
765:Rip Cord
753:Football
729:Car Polo
545:Hard Hat
521:Fire One
509:Car Polo
486:Crossbow
450:Bristles
421:(1986).
403:Cheyenne
399:Crossbow
379:(1980).
332:(1985).
291:(1978).
282:Breakout
277:Car Polo
260:(1977).
215:(1975).
205:Knockout
137:Crossbow
134:(1981),
128:(1981),
122:(1978),
116:(1978),
110:(1976),
90:Products
53:Founders
35:Industry
1310:Bandido
1277:Critter
1271:Snapper
1178:Twister
1113:Chiller
1061:Vertigo
932:Victory
905:Venture
863:Spectar
841:Sheriff
827:Bandido
549:Victory
541:Spectar
517:Ripcord
425:, like
423:Chiller
419:Chiller
376:Berzerk
364:Venture
359:Pac-Man
342:Head On
330:Vertigo
154:History
143:Chiller
125:Venture
45:Founded
29:Private
1273:(1982)
1267:(1982)
1261:(1980)
1255:(1979)
1037:Combat
741:Attack
716:Circus
583:Notes
577:Title
559:, and
501:Circus
490:IPhone
452:, and
417:, and
407:Combat
293:Circus
288:Circus
113:Circus
1532:Exidy
1296:Notes
1289:Troll
1259:UFO's
1195:1996
1182:1989
1169:1989
1165:Yukon
1156:1988
1144:1988
1130:1987
1118:1986
1104:1986
1090:1986
1078:1986
1065:1985
1053:1985
1041:1985
1029:1985
1017:1984
1003:1983
988:1983
974:1983
962:1983
949:1982
936:1982
924:1982
910:1981
896:1981
882:1980
868:1980
853:1980
819:1979
805:1979
793:1979
789:Crash
781:1979
769:1979
757:1978
745:1977
733:1977
721:1977
707:1977
695:1977
690:Score
681:1977
649:1975
637:1975
623:1975
610:1975
593:1975
525:Crash
337:Crash
258:Score
1511:MAME
877:Targ
537:Targ
497:MAME
488:for
348:Targ
246:and
199:and
197:Pong
185:Pong
177:Pong
84:U.S.
48:1973
1509:at
958:Fax
557:Fax
392:Fax
174:’s
166:in
1528::
1447:47
1445:.
1405:.
1376:^
1339:43
1337:.
671:.
600:.
555:,
551:,
547:,
543:,
539:,
535:,
531:,
527:,
523:,
519:,
515:,
511:,
507:,
503:,
448:,
444:,
440::
413:,
409:,
405:,
82:,
77:,
1492:.
1415:.
1356:.
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