Difference between revisions of "Axlon"

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Founded in 1983 by Nolan Bushnell [http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Lair/9260/savemary.html], '''Axlon''' mainly produced robotic toys. [http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.atari-explorer.com/articles/articles-robots.html] But late in the decade, Atari contracted the company to make games for the 2600. Bushnell supposedly accepted the deal without knowing if anybody on his staff was up to it (the company was hard up for money). [http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html?SoftwareLabelID=425]
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'''Axlon Incorporated''' was a company started by Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell and former Atari engineer/product manager John Vurich that mainly produced robotic toys. It was incorporated on March 26, 1980. In 1988, Axlon was contracted to develop 2600 games for Atari Corp. [https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/02/business/business-people-founder-of-atari-sets-a-return-engagement.html]
  
To capitalize on this partnership, Atari placed Bushnell's name and face on the front of boxes and cartridges, implying that he was responsible for writing the games. But in reality, he served as a designer or producer, while Steve DeFrisco and Tod Frye did the actual programming. [http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html?SoftwareLabelID=425]
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'''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, online resources
 
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Later, Axlon struck a deal with Hasbro to develop the NEMO, a VHS-based interactive system. Unfortunately, it was canned in 1989, probably because it would have retailed for about $300 (much higher than the competing NES). [http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=11832]
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'''[[Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, online resources
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===2600===
 
===2600===
*''Adventures of Max, The'' (unreleased) (Atari) [http://www.atariprotos.com/rumormill/2600/2600rumor.htm]
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*''The Adventures of Max'' (unreleased) (Atari) [John Vifian]
*''Motorodeo'' (US Publisher: Atari)
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*''MotoRodeo'' (US Publisher: Atari) [Steve DeFrisco*]
*''Off the Wall'' (US Publisher: Atari)
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*''Off the Wall'' (US Publisher: Atari) [John Vifian]
*''Save Mary'' (unreleased) (Atari)
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*''Save Mary'' (unreleased) (Atari) [Tod Frye*]
*''Secret Quest'' (US Publisher: Atari)
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*''Secret Quest'' (US Publisher: Atari) [Steve DeFrisco*]
 
*''Shooting Arcade'' (unreleased) (Atari)
 
*''Shooting Arcade'' (unreleased) (Atari)
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:<small>Tod Frye claims to have programmed this, but the version available online was apparently written by Agustin Ortiz Valdiviezo at Mexican firm Heuristica.</small>
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<nowiki>*</nowiki> Steve DeFrisco was an employee at Axlon, but he later left and became a contractor. Tod Frye was also a contractor.
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==Links==
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*[http://www.ataricompendium.com/archives/interviews/steve_defrisco/interview_steve_defrisco.html Atari Compendium interview with Steve DeFrisco]
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*[http://www.ataricompendium.com/archives/interviews/john_vifian/interview_john_vifian.html Atari Compendium interview with John Vifian]
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*[http://ataripodcast.libsyn.com/antic-interview-174-tod-fry-asteroids ANTIC interview with Tod Frye]
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[[Category:Companies]]

Latest revision as of 04:41, 17 April 2018

Axlon Incorporated was a company started by Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell and former Atari engineer/product manager John Vurich that mainly produced robotic toys. It was incorporated on March 26, 1980. In 1988, Axlon was contracted to develop 2600 games for Atari Corp. [1]

Research Methods: Actual mentions, online resources

2600

  • The Adventures of Max (unreleased) (Atari) [John Vifian]
  • MotoRodeo (US Publisher: Atari) [Steve DeFrisco*]
  • Off the Wall (US Publisher: Atari) [John Vifian]
  • Save Mary (unreleased) (Atari) [Tod Frye*]
  • Secret Quest (US Publisher: Atari) [Steve DeFrisco*]
  • Shooting Arcade (unreleased) (Atari)
Tod Frye claims to have programmed this, but the version available online was apparently written by Agustin Ortiz Valdiviezo at Mexican firm Heuristica.

* Steve DeFrisco was an employee at Axlon, but he later left and became a contractor. Tod Frye was also a contractor.

Links