Spectravideo

Spectravideo International Limited

Company type	Public company
Industry	Computer hardware, software, video games
Predecessor	SpectraVision
Founded	1981
Founder	Harry Fox, Alex Weiss
Defunct	1988
Fate	Closed due to financial troubles; trademark acquired by UK-based Logic3
Successor	Logic3 (trademark)
Headquarters	United States , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Harry Fox (founder, president until 1984), Christopher Chan (president after 1984)
Products	Video games, computer systems (SV-318, SV-328, SVI-728, SVI-738, SVI-838), CompuMate accessory, QuickShot controllers
Owner	Bondwell Holding (majority owner after 1984)

Spectravideo International Limited (abbreviated as SVI, and referred to as Spectra Video in some documentation) was an American computer manufacturer and software house established by entrepreneur Harry Fox in 1981. Originally operating under the name SpectraVision, the firm produced video games and software targeting platforms such as the VIC-20, Atari 2600, and its proprietary CompuMate accessory. Subsequently, Spectravideo developed computer systems compatible with both the Microsoft MSX standard and the IBM PC architecture.

Although the company experienced initial commercial success, financial troubles ultimately led to its closure in 1988. The Spectravideo trademark was later acquired by UK-based Logic3, which functioned independently of the original entity until its dissolution in 2016.

History

Established in 1981 by entrepreneurs Harry Fox and Alex Weiss, SpectraVision began as a distributor of computer games, relying on external developers for production. Their primary offerings comprised game cartridges for platforms including Atari 2600, Colecovision, and VIC-20. Due to a trademark conflict, the company rebranded as Spectravideo toward the end of 1982.

Fox, together with Peter Law, secured a patent for an ergonomic joystick design that became the foundation for the successful QuickShot series of controllers compatible with gaming consoles and home computers.

During the early 1980s, Spectravideo produced eleven titles for the Atari 2600 system, including uncommon releases such as Chase the Chuckwagon and Bumper Bash. Certain games were distributed exclusively through Columbia House’s music club.

Their initial hardware product was the CompuMate add-on for the Atari 2600, which incorporated a membrane keyboard and basic programming capabilities.

In 1983, Spectravideo introduced its first personal computers: the SV-318 and SV-328. Both models featured a Z80 A processor running at 3.6 MHz but differed in memory capacity—32KB RAM in the SV-318 versus 80KB RAM in the SV-328—as well as keyboard design. These machines operated Microsoft Extended BASIC stored in ROM and could optionally boot CP/M if equipped with a floppy disk drive. Although these computers predated the MSX standard, minor modifications allowed them to achieve MSX compatibility. The product range also included adapters for running ColecoVision games and peripherals such as the QuickShot SVI-2000 Robot Arm designed for use with the Commodore 64.

In May 1983, Spectravideo conducted an initial public offering (IPO), issuing one million shares priced at $6.25 each underwritten by D. H. Blair & Co. However, by December of that year, share prices had fallen sharply to $0.75.

By early 1984, mounting financial pressures led to efforts to sell controlling interests: one proposed transaction involved transferring 60% ownership to Hong Kong's Bondwell Holding contingent on executive resignations but failed due to unresolved negotiations over restructuring $2.6 million in debt. Another attempt involved Fanon Courier U.S.A. Inc., which pursued an 80% acquisition deal that also did not materialize.

Following these unsuccessful negotiations, Harry Fox stepped down as president in September 1984; subsequently, Bondwell Holding obtained majority ownership and appointed Christopher Chan as president.

Spectravideo expanded its MSX-compatible computer line with the release of the SVI-728 in May 1984 and followed with the SVI-738 in 1985, which incorporated a built-in 360 KB 3.5-inch floppy disk drive.

The company’s final model was the SVI-838 (marketed as Spectravideo X'Press 16) launched in 1986, offering compatibility with both PC and MSX2 standards.

This timeline illustrates Spectravideo’s commitment to innovation within emerging personal computing sectors despite encountering financial difficulties and undergoing significant corporate restructuring during its lifespan.

Legacy

The Spectravideo trademark was subsequently obtained by SpectraVideo Plc, a UK-based firm originally known as Ash & Newman and established in 1977. In 1988, this entity acquired the Spectravideo brand from Bondwell and marketed products under the Logic3 label, which bore no connection to the initial Spectravideo product range. The company rebranded itself as Logic3 in 2006 but entered administration in 2013 after a failed licensing agreement with Ferrari. It was officially wound up in April 2016.

List of video games

Spectravideo published a total of 68 titles that were not compatible with MSX systems.

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External links

• Samdal.com: Roger's history of SpectraVision—Spectravideo webpage
• Spectravideo.se: Glenn's Spectravideo webpage

Title	Publisher	Release year
21	Spectravideo
Antimeteor	Spectravideo
Armoured Assault	Spectravideo	1983
Bobo	Spectravideo
Bone of Contention	Spectravideo
Busy Bee	Spectravideo
Cake Bandit	Spectravideo
Chest	Spectravideo
Crunch	Spectravideo	1984
Cryptic Cube	Spectravideo	1984
Emergency Landing	Spectravideo	1984
Findit	Spectravideo	1984
First Step	Softy	1983
First Steps	Spectravideo	1983
Flipper Slipper	Spectravideo	1984
Fluffy	JTM Soft	1987
Frantic Freddie	Spectravideo	1984
Ghostrap	Spectravideo	1983
Gobble	Spectravideo
Graphic Chess	JTM Soft	1986
Grave Digger	Spectravideo	1984
Hare & Tortoise	Spectravideo
Jet Alf and the Manic Masters Revenge	ELS	1984
Killer Car	Spectravideo	1983
Kiwi Country	Spectravideo	1984
Kung Fu Master	Spectravideo	1984