Entex Industries: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|American toy and electronic game manufacturer}} |
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#REDIRECT [[Entex Select-A-Game]] {{R from related topic}} |
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{{Infobox company |
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| name = Entex Industries, Inc. |
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| foundation = 1970 |
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| founder = ''G.A. (Tony) Clowes'', ''Nicholas Carlozzi'' and ''Nick Underhill'' |
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| defunct = |
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| location_city = [[Compton, California|Compton]], [[California]] |
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| location_country = U.S. |
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| industry = [[Toy]]s and [[Electronic game]]s |
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}} |
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'''Entex Industries, Inc.'''<ref name="vgt1">{{cite web|url=/proxy/http://www.videogametrader.com/archives/features/adventure_vision.htm|title=ADVENTURE VISION: A History of Entex and the rarest Tabletop system|access-date=2009-06-04|publisher=Jim Combs, Video Game Trader Magazine, Issue #2, February 2008|archive-url=/proxy/https://web.archive.org/web/20110717200042/http://www.videogametrader.com/archives/features/adventure_vision.htm|archive-date=2011-07-17|url-status=dead}}</ref> was an American [[toy]] and [[electronic game]] manufacturer based in [[Compton, California|Compton]], [[California]].<ref name="vgt1" /> The company was active during the 1970s and 1980s.{{Clarify|reason=|date=July 2020}} |
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==Background== |
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The company was formed in 1970 by ''G.A. (Tony) Clowes'', ''Nicholas Carlozzi'' and ''Nick Underhill''.<ref name="vgt1" /> It was based at 303 West Artesia Blvd,<ref name="hm1" /> Compton. Its name was derived from taking Nicholas' and Tony's initials and adding an 'X' on the end to form ''NTX'', which when spoken sounds like ''Entex''.<ref name="vgt1" /> Nick Underhill's initial was not included as he had joined the company after the name had already been chosen, but before it opened for business.<ref name="vgt1" /> The company logo consisted of an [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] [[Royal Air Force roundels|bullseye]] with a smiling face in the middle.<ref name="hm1">{{cite web|url=/proxy/http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Entex/index.html|title=Entex Handheld Games|access-date=2009-06-04|publisher=The Handheld Games Museum}}</ref> In 1980, the company achieved sales in excess of $100 million.<ref name="hm1" /> The company folded in the early eighties, due in part to increasing competition from [[video game console]]s and [[computer game]]s which quickly became a preferred form of entertainment, much to the cost of the electronic games industry.<ref name="aghq1" /> |
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==Products== |
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The company originally made [[model kit]]s and [[Lego]]-like connectable toy bricks called ''[[Loc Blocs]]'',<ref name="vgt1" /> before later moving into the handheld and tabletop [[electronic game]] market. Electronic games produced by Entex have been described as ''"high end"''<ref name="ma1">{{cite web|url=/proxy/http://www.miniarcade.com/entex/entex.htm|title=Entex Games|access-date=2009-06-04|publisher=miniarcade.com}}</ref> and ''"high-quality"''<ref name="aghq1">{{cite web|url=/proxy/http://www.atarihq.com/museum/nonatari/advvisn.php|title=Entex Adventure Vision|access-date=2009-06-04|publisher=Atari Gaming Headquarters}}</ref> and the company itself used the motif ''"Games for the discriminating player"'',<ref name="ma1" /> indicating that the more expensive end of the market was specifically targeted. Many Entex products were rebadged and sold under license outside the US.<ref name="hm2">{{cite web|url=/proxy/http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Entex/PacMan.htm|title=Entex Pac Man 2|date=2009-06-04|publisher=The Handheld Games Museum}}</ref> |
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===Conventional Electronic Games=== |
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Entex produced [[LCD]], [[LED]] and [[Vacuum fluorescent display|VFD]]-based electronic games, including 3-D Grand Prix, Blast It, Defender and Pac Man 2 amongst others.<ref name="hm1" /> In 1976, Entex Industries released the [[Gameroom Tele-Pong]] [[Dedicated console|dedicated]] [[home video game console]]. |
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===Programmable Electronic Games=== |
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In order to compete with video consoles,<ref name="aghq1" /> Entex introduced two cartridge based tabletop electronic game systems in 1981–1982, called [[Entex Select-A-Game|Select-A-Game]] and [[Entex Adventure Vision|Adventure Vision]].<ref name="aghq1" /> In particular, the ''Adventure Vision'', along with its cartridges have become highly sought after collector's items.<ref name="vgt1" /> |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:Electronic games]] |
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[[Category:Defunct companies based in California]] |
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[[Category:Defunct video game companies of the United States]] |
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[[Category:Toy companies of the United States]] |
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[[Category:Companies based in Los Angeles County, California]] |
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[[Category:Compton, California]] |
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Latest revision as of 22:25, 22 May 2022
| Industry | Toys and Electronic games |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1970 |
| Founder | G.A. (Tony) Clowes, Nicholas Carlozzi and Nick Underhill |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
Entex Industries, Inc.[1] was an American toy and electronic game manufacturer based in Compton, California.[1] The company was active during the 1970s and 1980s.[clarification needed]
Background
[edit]The company was formed in 1970 by G.A. (Tony) Clowes, Nicholas Carlozzi and Nick Underhill.[1] It was based at 303 West Artesia Blvd,[2] Compton. Its name was derived from taking Nicholas' and Tony's initials and adding an 'X' on the end to form NTX, which when spoken sounds like Entex.[1] Nick Underhill's initial was not included as he had joined the company after the name had already been chosen, but before it opened for business.[1] The company logo consisted of an RAF bullseye with a smiling face in the middle.[2] In 1980, the company achieved sales in excess of $100 million.[2] The company folded in the early eighties, due in part to increasing competition from video game consoles and computer games which quickly became a preferred form of entertainment, much to the cost of the electronic games industry.[3]
Products
[edit]The company originally made model kits and Lego-like connectable toy bricks called Loc Blocs,[1] before later moving into the handheld and tabletop electronic game market. Electronic games produced by Entex have been described as "high end"[4] and "high-quality"[3] and the company itself used the motif "Games for the discriminating player",[4] indicating that the more expensive end of the market was specifically targeted. Many Entex products were rebadged and sold under license outside the US.[5]
Conventional Electronic Games
[edit]Entex produced LCD, LED and VFD-based electronic games, including 3-D Grand Prix, Blast It, Defender and Pac Man 2 amongst others.[2] In 1976, Entex Industries released the Gameroom Tele-Pong dedicated home video game console.
Programmable Electronic Games
[edit]In order to compete with video consoles,[3] Entex introduced two cartridge based tabletop electronic game systems in 1981–1982, called Select-A-Game and Adventure Vision.[3] In particular, the Adventure Vision, along with its cartridges have become highly sought after collector's items.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g "ADVENTURE VISION: A History of Entex and the rarest Tabletop system". Jim Combs, Video Game Trader Magazine, Issue #2, February 2008. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
- ^ a b c d "Entex Handheld Games". The Handheld Games Museum. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
- ^ a b c d "Entex Adventure Vision". Atari Gaming Headquarters. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
- ^ a b "Entex Games". miniarcade.com. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
- ^ "Entex Pac Man 2". The Handheld Games Museum. 2009-06-04.