Milton Bradley
Board games go digital
Board game giant Milton Bradley entered video games with the Vectrex and various licensed titles, bringing traditional gaming expertise to the digital age.
Overview
Milton Bradley, the American board game company behind The Game of Life and Battleship, made an ambitious foray into video games. Their most notable contribution was the Vectrex, a unique vector-graphics console with built-in display. While the video game division didn’t survive the 1983 crash intact, the Vectrex remains a beloved curiosity.
Fast facts
- Founded: 1860 by Milton Bradley in Springfield, Massachusetts.
- Video game era: 1979-1984 (primary activity).
- Key hardware: Vectrex (1982).
- Acquired by: Hasbro (1984).
- Legacy: board game adaptations continued under Hasbro.
The Vectrex
A unique console:
- Built-in display: monochrome vector monitor.
- Vector graphics: crisp line-based visuals.
- Colour overlays: plastic screens added colour.
- Library: Mine Storm, Scramble, Star Trek.
- Market timing: released just before the 1983 crash.
Video game ventures
Beyond the Vectrex:
- Microvision (1979): early handheld with interchangeable cartridges.
- Licensed games: Battleship, Simon (electronic game).
- Publishing: various NES and SNES titles.