Nutting Associates

Nutting Associates was an early American arcade-game manufacturer based in Mountain View, California. The company emerged from William Gilbert Nutting's involvement with Edex Teaching Systems, an educational-technology business that developed a coin-operated trivia machine called the Knowledge Computer in 1964. After Raytheon acquired Edex in 1965, Nutting obtained rights connected with the machine and established Nutting Associates to market it and its successor products. The company's early business centered on coin-operated educational and quiz equipment rather than electronic video games in the modern sense. Nutting marketed the original Knowledge Computer and a redesigned machine called Computer Quiz, developed by Richard Ball of Marketing Services. In 1968, the product line was revised into a solid-state version, reflecting the transition toward more reliable electronic arcade hardware. Nutting Associates became historically important in 1971 when it agreed to manufacture Computer Space, a space-combat arcade game designed by Nolan Bushnell. Computer Space is widely recognized as the first commercially produced arcade video game, and Nutting manufactured approximately 1,500 units. Although the game was not a mass-market success on the scale of later arcade hits, its production made Nutting Associates an important early participant in the commercial video-game industry. Bushnell subsequently sought a substantial ownership position in Nutting Associates so that he could continue developing games for the company. That arrangement did not materialize, and Bushnell left to establish Atari with Ted Dabney. Nutting Associates continued producing video games and related amusement equipment during the 1970s, but it did not become a leading long-term arcade brand. In 1977, Nutting Associates was acquired by William “Si” Redd. A new Nutting Associates company was established in Nevada and was eventually absorbed into Sircoma, a manufacturer associated with coin-operated video-poker machines. The original company therefore disappeared as an independent arcade manufacturer, while its legacy remained tied to the early development of commercial arcade video games. Nutting's broader industry connection also included his brother Dave Nutting, who later operated Dave Nutting Associates, a separate consulting and game-development firm that worked on numerous Midway titles.

William Gilbert Nutting entered the coin-operated amusement business through Edex Teaching Systems. While working as a buyer for a San Francisco department store, Nutting was introduced to Edex by his father-in-law, Herbert Ullmann, an executive associated with Revere Ware. Edex had developed the Knowledge Computer, a coin-operated trivia and educational machine, in 1964. Nutting became involved as an investor and marketer. Raytheon's acquisition of Edex in 1965 created an opportunity for Nutting to continue the product's commercialization independently. He obtained rights to the Knowledge Computer and established Nutting Associates in January 1966. The company was incorporated in California in February 1967. Its first business was therefore based on educational and quiz-oriented coin-operated machines rather than video games. Nutting marketed the Knowledge Computer and a redesigned successor called Computer Quiz, created by Richard Ball of Marketing Services. In 1968, the machine was redesigned again using solid-state electronics. The company's most consequential project came in 1971. Nolan Bushnell presented Nutting Associates with Computer Space, a coin-operated space-combat game derived from his earlier experiments with computer-controlled graphics and interactive play. Nutting agreed to manufacture the machine, producing about 1,500 cabinets. Computer Space is generally regarded as the first commercially produced arcade video game. Its commercial performance was limited compared with the major arcade successes that followed, but the release established a production and distribution precedent for dedicated video-game cabinets. Bushnell hoped to continue developing games for Nutting Associates and sought a large ownership stake in the company. When that opportunity was not granted, he departed and founded Atari with Ted Dabney. Atari would later become a dominant force in the early arcade and home-video-game industries, while Nutting remained a smaller manufacturer. The connection nevertheless placed Nutting Associates at an important transition point between electromechanical amusement equipment, educational coin machines, and dedicated electronic video games. Nutting Associates continued manufacturing video games during the 1970s. The company did not develop the scale or market influence of later arcade manufacturers, and its independent existence ended in 1977 when it was purchased by William “Si” Redd. A new Nutting Associates company was organized in Nevada and was eventually absorbed into Sircoma, a manufacturer of coin-operated video-poker equipment. This marked the end of Nutting Associates as an independent arcade-game manufacturer. The Nutting family remained connected to the video-game field. William Nutting's brother, Dave Nutting, founded Dave Nutting Associates, a separate consulting and development company whose work contributed to a number of Midway games in the 1970s and early 1980s. That later company should not be treated as the same corporate entity as Nutting Associates.

• 1977

  Sale and absorption into Sircoma

  [1]Nutting Associatesen.wikipedia.org

  William “Si” Redd purchases the company; a Nevada successor is later absorbed into Sircoma.

• 1971

  Computer Space is manufactured

  [1]Nutting Associatesen.wikipedia.org

  Nutting produces approximately 1,500 cabinets of Computer Space, an early commercial arcade video game designed by Nolan Bushnell.

• 1968

  Computer Quiz receives a solid-state redesign

  [1]Nutting Associatesen.wikipedia.org

  The quiz-machine platform is updated with solid-state electronics.

• 1967

  The company is incorporated

  [1]Nutting Associatesen.wikipedia.org

  Nutting Associates is incorporated in California in February.

• 1967

  Computer Quiz is introduced

  [1]Nutting Associatesen.wikipedia.org

  Nutting markets Computer Quiz, a redesigned version of the earlier Knowledge Computer.

• 1966

  Nutting Associates is founded

  [1]Nutting Associatesen.wikipedia.org

  William Gilbert Nutting establishes Nutting Associates to market the Knowledge Computer and related coin-operated products.

• 1965

  Raytheon acquires Edex

  [1]Nutting Associatesen.wikipedia.org

  Raytheon's acquisition of Edex leads William Nutting to pursue the Knowledge Computer's commercialization independently.

• 1964

  Edex develops the Knowledge Computer

  [1]Nutting Associatesen.wikipedia.org

  Edex Teaching Systems creates a coin-operated trivia and educational machine called the Knowledge Computer.

An early coin-operated amusement and arcade-game manufacturer that moved from educational quiz machines into pioneering commercial video games.

• Coin-operated educational and trivia machine · 1964

  Knowledge Computer

  Developed by Edex Teaching Systems in 1964, the Knowledge Computer was a coin-operated trivia and educational machine. William Nutting became involved in marketing it and later acquired rights connected with the product after Raytheon's purchase of Edex. It formed the commercial foundation of Nutting Associates before the company's move into dedicated video-game hardware.

• Coin-operated quiz machine · 1967

  Computer Quiz

  Computer Quiz was a redesigned version of the Knowledge Computer created by Richard Ball of Marketing Services and marketed by Nutting Associates. The machine continued the company's early focus on public, coin-operated educational entertainment. It was subsequently redesigned with solid-state electronics in 1968.

• Arcade video game · 1971

  Computer Space

  Computer Space was a coin-operated space-combat video game designed by Nolan Bushnell and manufactured by Nutting Associates in 1971. Approximately 1,500 units were produced. The game is historically significant as one of the first commercial arcade video games and is commonly identified as the first commercially produced arcade video game.

• 1977

  Sell the company to William “Si” ReddM&A

  Background

  Nutting Associates remained a small arcade manufacturer during a period of rapid change in the amusement and video-game industries.

  Action taken

  The company was sold to William “Si” Redd, followed by the creation of a Nevada company using the Nutting Associates name.

  Aftermath

  The successor company was eventually absorbed into Sircoma, ending Nutting Associates' independent corporate identity.

  Source

• 1971

  Manufacture Computer SpaceProduct launch

  Background

  Nolan Bushnell sought a manufacturer for his early electronic space-combat game.

  Action taken

  Nutting Associates agreed to manufacture Computer Space and produced approximately 1,500 units.

  Aftermath

  The release established Nutting as an early commercial arcade-video-game manufacturer, although Bushnell later left to found Atari.

  Source

• 1966

  Build a business around coin-operated educational machinesStrategy

  Background

  After becoming involved with Edex's Knowledge Computer and following Raytheon's acquisition of Edex, William Nutting pursued an independent route to market the machine.

  Action taken

  Nutting established Nutting Associates and marketed the Knowledge Computer and its redesigned successors.

  Aftermath

  The strategy gave the company an operating base in coin-operated amusement equipment before it entered the arcade video-game market.

  Source

• 1977

  Nutting Associates is sold to William "Si" Redd[1]Nutting Associatesen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The company was sold to William "Si" Redd. A Nevada company using the Nutting Associates name was later absorbed into Sircoma, a coin-operated video-poker manufacturer.

• 1971

  Nutting Associates manufactures Computer Space[1]Nutting Associatesen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  Nutting Associates manufactured approximately 1,500 units of Computer Space, Nolan Bushnell's pioneering coin-operated space-combat video game.

1. 1Nutting Associatesen.wikipedia.org