Vectorbeam was an arcade game manufacturer active in the late 1970s who specialized in vector graphics-based

arcade game An arcade game or coin-op game is a coin-operated entertainment machine typically installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are presented as primarily games of skill and include arcade v ...

s. 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 The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the ...

and which he patented for a custom arcade

vector display A vector monitor, vector display, or calligraphic display is a display device used for computer graphics up through the 1970s. It is a type of CRT, similar to that of an early oscilloscope. In a vector display, the image is composed of drawn li ...

. Vectorbeam was in direct competition with other arcade game manufacturers. The company ceased operations soon after poor sales of its ''

Barrier A barrier or barricade is a physical structure which blocks or impedes something. Barrier may also refer to: Places * Barrier, Kentucky, a community in the United States * Barrier, Voerendaal, a place in the municipality of Voerendaal, Netherl ...

'' arcade game, and sold its assets to Cinematronics.

List of Vectorbeam games

* ''Space War'' (arcade game) (1977) * ''

'' (1979) * ''Speed Freak'' (arcade game) (1979) * ''

Tail Gunner A tail gunner or rear gunner is a crewman on a military aircraft who functions as a gunner defending against enemy fighter or interceptor attacks from the rear, or "tail", of the plane. The tail gunner operates a flexible machine gun or aut ...

'' (1979) * ''Warrior'' (arcade game) (1979)KLOV's Vectorbeam entry
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References

Defunct video game companies of the United States {{US-videogame-company-stub