FAX

Test your knowledge against an opponent in FAX, a trivia game released by Exidy in 1983. Two players face off, answering questions across categories like general knowledge, sports, history, and entertainment. The game presents prompts on a central nine-inch monitor surrounded by a distinctive black woodgrain cabinet—a design choice intended to appeal to venues beyond traditional arcades. Players use buttons positioned beside the screen to select their answers in a race against time. FAX’s unique feature was its ability to store an impressive number of questions, nearly 3700, thanks to an advanced compression technique employed at the time. This technology allowed Exidy to pack a substantial amount of data into a relatively small memory space, though it contributed to the game's higher-than-average price point when released. Follow-up kits with additional question sets were later produced but have become quite rare. The game’s design and technical capabilities paved the way for its sequel, FAX II. While originally available in arcades, FAX was also ported to several home computer platforms including the Apple II, Commodore C64, and PC.