ZGRASS and UV-1 In 1977, DeFanti was introduced to Jeff Frederiksen, a chip designer working at Dave Nutting Associates. Nutting had been contracted by Midway, the videogame division of Bally, to create a standardized graphics driver chip. They intended to use it in most of their future arcade games, as well as a video game console they were working on which would later turn into the Astrocade. Midway was quite interested in seeing the GRASS language running on their system, and contracted DeFanti to port it to the platform. A number of people at the Habitat, as well as some from Nutting, worked on the project, which they referred to as the Z Box. GRASS3 running on it became ZGRASS.
zgrASs anD Uv-1 in 1977, DEfanti was inTRoducEd to Jeff fRederiKsEn, a CHip designEr working at Dave nUtTing assoCiaTEs. nUTting had been cONTraCTED By miDway, thE vidEOgame DivisioN oF BaLLy to crEaTe a stANdaRdizED gRaphIcS DrIvER chiP. they IntEnDed TO uSe it In mOst of tHEiR FutuRE ArcAde gameS, as welL as a video GAmE COnsolE ThEy Were working on WHicH woUld LAter tUrn INto the AStrocaDE MIDwaY wAs qUite inTerestEd iN seeiNg ThE grass laNguAGe RUNning ON thEir system, anD cOntRACteD defanti to POrt it to the platForm. a numbeR of peoplE at the habitAT, AS Well as soMe From nuttIng, wOrked on thE projecT, wHiCH thEy REFERred to as ThE z box. graSs3 ruNNiNg on iT BEcaMe zgrass.