''The Spirit of '76'' was the first
microprocessor
A microprocessor is a computer processor where the data processing logic and control is included on a single integrated circuit, or a small number of integrated circuits. The microprocessor contains the arithmetic, logic, and control circ ...
-based
pinball
Pinball games are a family of games in which a ball is propelled into a specially designed table where it bounces off various obstacles, scoring points either en route or when it comes to rest. Historically the board was studded with nails call ...
table. It was released by
Mirco Games, Inc. in July 4 1975. The pinball machine should not be confused with the pinball machine ''
Spirit of 76'' by Gottlieb.
Technology
The table was based on the technology
Dave Nutting Associates
David Judd Nutting (December 26, 1930 – September 23, 2020) was an industrial design engineer who played a role in the early video game industry. He was a graduate of the Pratt Institute with a degree in industrial design.
Career
After leavi ...
had created for
Bally in 1974. The firm licensed the technology to
Mirco Games
Mirco Games was a pinball and arcade game manufacturer from Phoenix, Arizona that existed from 1969 to 1978. They were originally called Arizona Automation from 1969 to 1973 and then changed their name to Mirco in 1974 . They created the first micr ...
in 1975 to create the table, since Bally was not initially interested in the system. The table had a fairly small production run and was regarded as having an unattractive design by critics.
The CPU is a Motorola 6800 with a single 6820 used for I/O. The program memory is stored in ten 512 x 4 bit bipolar PROMs which is no more than 2.5 Kbytes of program memory. RAM is 256 bytes, using two 2112 static RAMs. The CPU, score LED's, backbox displays, and lamp and solenoid drivers are all contained on the main board. The cabinet contains the power supply, and EM-style chime unit.
References
External links
''The Spirit of '76'' on Arcade Archive''The Spirit of '76'' on the Internet Pinball DatabaseRecent Auction Results for ''The Spirit of '76''
1975 pinball machines
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