Fabtek

Fabtek Inc.
Company typeVideo game distributor
IndustryVideo games
Founded1987; 37 years ago (1987)
FounderFrank Ballouz
Defunct1999 (1999)
HeadquartersBellevue, Washington, U.S. (1987–1989)
Redmond, Washington, U.S. (1990–1999)
Key people
Frank Ballouz (president)[1]
Drew Maniscalco (national sales manager)[1]
ProductsArcade

Fabtek Inc. was a thriving video kit company founded in Bellevue, Washington, United States and started its operations there in 1987. Fabtek's name was derived from the initials of its founder Frank Ballouz (F.A.B.-tek), a former Atari and Nintendo of America executive who later also founded Irem America.[1] Fabtek was known for licensing arcade games mostly from two manufacturers for distribution: Seibu Kaihatsu and TAD Corporation. Around 1990, Fabtek moved to Redmond, Washington[2] and continued its business there until closing its business in 1999.

The Fabtek Inc. also worked, alongside Source Research & Development and Montague-Weston, on the "Workboy" a Game Boy accessory that could transform the Game Boy in to a portable workstation, which was planned for a summer 1992 release, but never materialized.[3][4]

  1. ^ a b c "Gameroom magazine volume 22 pages 19-21 (September 2010)". Gameroom magazine. 22: 19–21. September 2010.
  2. ^ Front side of Fabtek's Raiden arcade flyer, released in 1990.
  3. ^ Game Zone magazine, issue 6, April 1992 (Pages 14-17)
  4. ^ "WorkBoy: Lost Game Boy Add-on FOUND After 28 Years - Game History Secrets - YouTube". YouTube. 2020-12-26. Retrieved 2021-07-04.