Incredible Technologies

Founding and Early Years

Incredible Technologies was founded in July 1985 by Elaine Hodgson, a biochemist, and Richard Ditton, a NASA software engineer, operating from the co-founders’ basement in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, under the name Free Radical Software. Initially a work-for-hire software house, it developed titles such as Championship Wrestling for Epyx and ported Winter Games to Amiga and Atari ST. The company was renamed Incredible Technologies in 1987.

Golden Tee and Arcade Success

In 1988 IT released its first coin-operated game, Capcom Bowling, which introduced a trackball control scheme that became the company’s signature. This led to the landmark Golden Tee Golf in 1989, evolving through multiple hardware generations: Golden Tee 3D (1995), Golden Tee Fore! (2000), and the online-tournament-enabled Golden Tee LIVE (2005)—the first coin-op game to support cash-prize online competition. Golden Tee remains the flagship product, with annual updates and a dedicated player community. During the 1990s, IT also produced arcade titles under the Strata Games brand, including Strata Bowling, Time Killers, BloodStorm, Hard Yardage, and Rim Rockin’ Basketball.

Diversification into Casino Gaming

As the coin-op market declined, IT diversified into casino gaming. In 2008 it launched the Magic Touch platform, a suite of Class III video slot, poker, and keno games that initially appeared on Royal Caribbean cruise ships before expanding to land-based casinos. The company’s technological innovations include ITNet, a server-based, CDMA-powered system that compiles player scores and tournament data without requiring telephone lines or internet connections, and the Silent Partner route management tool, the first computerized system for coin-op route operators.

Recent Developments and Leadership

In January 2025 IT announced an iGaming partnership with ODDSworks to bring its slot titles to West Virginia’s online market. That same year, co-founders Hodgson and Ditton stepped back from day-to-day management, handing executive leadership to Dan Schrementi (overseeing casino operations) and Adam Kramer (overseeing arcade/mobile). The company also appointed Brad Splear as Chief Financial Officer. Despite industry shifts, IT remains a family-owned, privately held enterprise with approximately 200 employees at its suburban Chicago headquarters.