View source

{|cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" width: 22 em align="right" border="1" padding: 6px; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; background-color: #C0C0C0; border:1px solid #8888aa;"
|-bgcolor="#C0C0C0"
|align="center" colspan="2"|'''''Jay Smith'''''
|-
|align="center" colspan="2"|
[[File:Photo_jaysmith-prev.jpg‎|200px]]
|-
|'''Head of'''
|[[Smith Engineering]] and<br>[[Western_Technologies|Western Technology]]
|-
|'''Distributors'''
|[[Bandai]]<br>[[GCE]]<br>[[Milton Bradley]]<br>and others
|}
In 1979, '''Jay Smith''' designed [[Milton Bradley]]'s [[Microvision]], which was the world's first handheld system to use [[cartridge|cartridges]]. The compact design was incredibly innovative, featuring game cartridges that contained their own micro processors and overlays. Though the world wasn't quite ready for the [[Microvision]], the concept of independent, portable game systems and exchangeable screen overlays would experience a rebirth of sorts in Mr. Smith's next innovation, as he would become known as the "Father of the [[Vectrex]]".  
Smith, together with his companies of [[Western_Technologies|Western Technologies]] and [[Smith_Engineering|Smith Engineering]], gave birth to the idea for a "mini-arcade" in the early eighties, initially envisioned with a 5-inch monitor. The development of the [[Vectrex]] started with an idea from staffers (probably [[Mike Purvis]] and [[John Ross]]) after brainstorming about how to use cheap [[CRT_Display|CRT Displays]] that were found in a small liquidators' surplus store.  The idea took flight and form under the skilled cultivation of Jay Smith, guiding his talented staff. 
In [[1981]], Smith presented the concept of the "Mini Arcade" - a self-contained game system featuring vector graphics and its own 5" monitor. The idea was initially pitched to Kenner but it was rejected. A few tweaks to the design - most notably a bigger, 9" monitor - attracted another company, General Consumer Electronics ([[GCE]]). Known because of it's game and watches, [[GCE]] was enthusiastic and wanted to cooperate with Smith, on condition that a bigger monitor would be used. 
And that's how, after code names like HP-3000 and Vector-X, the [[Vectrex]] with a 9-inch CRT Display was born. Manufacturing of the newcomer among the game consoles started in the summer of [[1982]], and in November the first [[Vectrex]] consoles appeared in American stores. Now, for $199, the consumer could create their own arcade.
Jay Smith's son [[Spencer Smith]] was the first official [[Vectrex]] game Beta tester. Every [[Vectrex]] [[GCE]] game was produced only if he had played the game and liked it.
Canadian and overseas distribution of the [[Vectrex]] began in [[1983]] by [[Milton Bradley]], along with [[Bandai]] handling distribution of the system in Japan (under the name of [[Bandai]] [[Vectrex Kousokusen]]).
Unfortunately several factors killed off the [[Vectrex]] rather quickly, one being the Video Game Crash of [[1983|1983-]][[1984]].  Also, with [[Milton Bradley]] distributing the [[Vectrex]], they were looking to be bought out by Hasbro.  Hasbro was convinced that video games were a fad, so the [[Vectrex]] television commercials were withheld from any further airplay.  In order to try to make the [[Vectrex]] more competitive, the price of the unit was slashed repeatedly (from $150 U. S., to $100, then $50), but the [[Vectrex]] never saw a profit (losing over $30 million altogether), which ended up being canceled in [[1984]].  
In 1988, Jay Smith envisioned bringing back the [[Vectrex]] as a handheld unit, but the $100 price tag was deemed to be too high, so it was canceled.  All [[Vectrex]] rights were reverted back to Jay Smith, who deemed free, legal distribution of [[Vectrex]] ROMs and materials (as long as they were not sold for a profit), and in On October, 1993, a feature about the 10th anniversary of the [[Vectrex]] was published in the German "Video Games" magazine.  It contained technical descriptions, pictures of Jay Smith and [[Mark Indictor]], a [[Vectrex]] history and a list of games and accessories.  The article is based on information collected by the author Stefan Herr from the Usenet [[Vectrex]] newsgroup, various FTP archives, many emails from several former [[Vectrex]] developers and a historical overview about the development by Jay Smith. (Source: Vectrex FAQ 5.2)
Then in [[1995]], a rebirth of the [[Vectrex]] came with the first edition of the [[Sean Kelly Multicart]], followed by [[Vector Vaders]], the first [[Vectrex]] [[Terminology|homebrew]] ever, which has since been followed by dozens of other games to date.
==Trivia==
During the RetroGaming Roundup [[2010]] Podcast, with all the involvement Smith has had with video games for decades, he was asked what his all-time favorite product was.  He said it was the [[Vectrex]], as it was one of his “favorites of all time”.
==Interview==
Listen to a 45 minute interview with Jay Smith talking about Vectrex, Colour Vectrex, Microvision, Buzz Aldrin, etc. <br>
With the entertaining fellows at RetroGaming Roundup Podcast. :
 <flashmp3>/wiki/mp3/JaySmith-RoundUp029_2011.03_cutout.25.mp3</flashmp3>
==Timetable of Inventions==
<timelinetable title="Inventions by Jay Smith (Product lifespan)" footer="Work in progress...">
1979-10|1983-06|Microvision Handheld|Milton Bradley
1982-11|1983-06|Vectrex|GCE, MB
</timelinetable>
==References==
* [http://computermuseum.50megs.com/brands/vectrex.htm| computermuseum.50megs.com]
* [http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?13767-Jay-Smith-%28Vectrex-Microvision%29-at-CGE| digitpress.com]
* [/share/vecfaq.5.2.html vectrexmuseum.com - Vectrex FAQ version 5.2]
==Links==
* [http://www.retrogamingroundup.com/roundups/2011/RoundUp029_2011.03.25.mp3 Original file including the 45 minute interview with Jay Smith by retrogamingroundup.com]<br>
Jay Smith Interview – (from the 88 to 135 minute mark; right click on the [http://www.retrogamingroundup.com/roundups/2011/RoundUp029_2011.03.25.mp3 link] to download the .mp3 from [http://www.retrogamingroundup.com/shownotes/2011/roundup029_2011.03.htm www.retrogamingroundup.com])