Rare ENCOM Interview & Prototype

[ThisOldGame]

I recently had the oportunity to sit down and talk with former Encom employee and game designer Steve Smith.
Where we discussed Encoms first video game which ironicly was never released and now we know the real reasons why.

TOG: Theres been alot of rumors and debates over the years, so I have to ask what really was Encoms first video game?

SS: Yeah long before Space Paranoids and Matrix Blaster it was supose to be Video Pinball 2.0
which people will finally get to see and play for the first time in over 30 years at this years California Extreme.

TOG: So why was it never released?

SS: Ok, well set the way back machine for 1979.
I along with Kevin Flynn set out to design some video games for Encom. Problem was we loved video games and could play them better than anybody but knew very little about gaming programing so we decided to visit Ataris main frame and take a look around.

TOG: Wait a minite! are you saying you hacked into Atari!?

SS: Well thats one way to put it, yes. Once Encom had developed the MCP it was actually quite easy.
So we started poking around and found a program called Solar War which was going to be a follow up to Ataris Video Pinball but it was dropped and never released. So I thought we could take a look at that program change it around enough by rom hacking it alittle with some addtional graphics and sounds so we could call it our own and get Encoms foot in the door into the new growing gaming industry.

TOG: So what happen?

SS: Tron. We had the VP2.0 protoype completly built
and had been approved for production of 2,000 units
when it was uncovered by that damm Tron program!
Which had reported back to Atari a breach which
lead them back to us and Encom.
Atari threaten lawsuits and it was later settle out of court with the case dropped.
But VP2.0 along with all video game related projects were dropped and I was let go.

TOG: But Flynn was allowed to stay?

SS: Yeah, I took the fall and Flynn had continued to work on games on his own time.
Once he had those codes there was just no stopping him and the rest is gaming history.

 

[VectorInvadr]

Hmmmmm.
i like where this is going.... hehehe

 

[HudsonArcade]

Wow... they were using surface mount ICs (looks like 74244/245s in SO2OW) in 1980? That must have been expensive

 

[phrenzy]

They also appeared to be using Denso QR Code 2D barcodes on their IDs... which were invented in 1994. Talk about ahead of their time!

 

[gozer5454]

*drool*

 

[xray2]

They also appeared to be using Denso QR Code 2D barcodes on their IDs... which were invented in 1994. Talk about ahead of their time!

Time Travel!!!

 

[Jedidentist]

??? I guess time will make this more clear...

 

[ThisOldGame]

Wow... they were using surface mount ICs (looks like 74244/245s in SO2OW) in 1980? That must have been expensive

wow good eye you got all that from the posted pic?
Yeah Encom was definatly ahead of its time and spared no expence on this project

 

[ComputerSpace]

??? I guess time will make this more clear...

Yeah, I hope so too...

 

[jawhn]

... and spared no expence on this project

You remember who else spared no expense???

 

[BaconSM]

Wait a minute; Rich, if this had dinosaurs in it I'M IN!

 

[ThisOldGame]

??? I guess time will make this more clear...

Maybe, will you be going to CAX?
Video Pinball 2.0
http://www.caextreme.org/games2010

Ill see if I can get Encom to release any more pics or documents on this one

 

[phrenzy]

You remember who else spared no expense???

...I lol'd.

 

[ThisOldGame]

Wait a minute; Rich, if this had dinosaurs in it I'M IN!

Dinosaurs!
wait I see where the confusion is now
ENCOM delveloped a laser scanning system that could take an object scan it, digitize it and send it through cyberspace.
InGen developed cloning dinosaurs though Dna and crossing dna with that of frogs to recreate dinosaurs.

Encom also developed Video Games Video Pinball 2.0 and of course their biggest arcade smash Space Paranoids.

hopefully that clears things up

 

[Spyridon]

Also, if you take the DNA from a frog, dump it to a ROM chip and put it in a TRON, you'll get high score save and freeplay with attract mode!

 

[HudsonArcade]

wow good eye you got all that from the posted pic?
Yeah Encom was definatly ahead of its time and spared no expence on this project

Looked like headers that plugged into a CPU socket, with a socket for a CPU on top, with sockets for some sort of CPLD and an eprom, and buffers on the address/data lines, going to headers on the edge of the board...

Looks like a lot of the crap I've had fabbed (except I don't socket SOJ parts )

 

[willkaotix]

I do think that Solar war was in fact released in kit form but only like 300 or so.
Had come across a bezel for one once, wonder where the hell that is.
Just so you know this Steve guy is full of it.

TOG: Wait a minite! are you saying you hacked into Atari!?

SS: Well thats one way to put it, yes. Once Encom had developed the MCP it was actually quite easy.
So we started poking around and found a program called Solar War which was going to be a follow up to Ataris Video Pinball but it was dropped and never released. So I thought we could take a look at that program change it around enough by rom hacking it alittle with some addtional graphics and sounds so we could call it our own and get Encoms foot in the door into the new growing gaming industry.

 

[ENDOFLINE]

speaking of SOLAR WAR.....

keeping my fingers crossed scott will bring his to cax this year

anyone else have any good ideas for VP mods??would be cool if encom realeased a newer/updated version.

 

[ComputerSpace]

OMG! That thing is outright awesome.

Don't tell me that was a prototype game that a mere mortal does not have a prayer to own...

Happy 4th!
Tom

 

[ThisOldGame]

speaking of SOLAR WAR.....

keeping my fingers crossed scott will bring his to cax this year

anyone else have any good ideas for VP mods??would be cool if encom realeased a newer/updated version.

I did PM Scott a few weeks back to inquire though didnt hear back on it : (
I did tell him a little of the project and that Id be bringing this ENCOM PROTOTYPE to the show so who knows.
Would be very cool to have all 3 Video Pinball Versions inline to play