Difference between revisions of "First and second generations of video game consoles"

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(Handhelds: Select-A-Game EDIT)
(Replaced old Pong Console text with links to the Dedicated Consoles page)
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In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the video game market experienced an explosion of products hoping to capitalize on the success of the Odyssey and Atari. From the nigh-infinite Pong clones to the suspiciously similar consoles, consumers had far more options than they do today. This is a list of those first and second generation machines. Not all of them can be emulated or preserved, though some that can't be emulated have simulations instead. See also [[Strange and Forgotten Console emulators]], a similar page but for later generations. Amazingly, over 900 first-generation home video game consoles are known to exist. More than 200 different companies were involved in the first generation, and while more than half only released one console, it's still a large number of companies compared to the 20 that partook on the second generation.
 
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the video game market experienced an explosion of products hoping to capitalize on the success of the Odyssey and Atari. From the nigh-infinite Pong clones to the suspiciously similar consoles, consumers had far more options than they do today. This is a list of those first and second generation machines. Not all of them can be emulated or preserved, though some that can't be emulated have simulations instead. See also [[Strange and Forgotten Console emulators]], a similar page but for later generations. Amazingly, over 900 first-generation home video game consoles are known to exist. More than 200 different companies were involved in the first generation, and while more than half only released one console, it's still a large number of companies compared to the 20 that partook on the second generation.
  
==Pong Consoles (First Generation)==
+
==First Generation (Discrete Circuitry-Based & Pong)==
It's [[wikipedia:Pong|Pong]]. You can play it [http://www.ponggame.org/ anywhere]. Emulating first generation systems like these can be tricky, as the games were heavily tied to their hardware, and most were just variations of Pong.
 
{|width="100%"
 
|- valign="top"
 
|
 
* [[wikipedia:APF TV Fun series|APF TV Fun]]
 
* [[wikipedia:Video Pinball series|Atari Video Pinball]]<ref group=N name="vps">These 3 bizarre Atari models made use of bumper controllers to control some games. Other 2 models were "Sears Tele-Games Pinball Breakaway (99713)" and "Epoch TV Block" (Japan).</ref>
 
* [[wikipedia:Binatone|Binatone TV Master Series]]
 
* [[wikipedia:Binatone|Binatone Color TV Game Series]]
 
* [[wikipedia:BSS 01|BSS 01]]
 
* [[gametech:Coleco_Telstar|Coleco Telstar]]
 
* [[wikipedia:Coleco Telstar Arcade|Coleco Telstar Arcade]]<ref group=N name="cta">Only 4 cartridges were released for this triangular abomination, but because of the console's design they can't be dumped and "emulated." They're more like activation discs for data already in the console. No known emulators.</ref>
 
* [[wikipedia:Colorsport VIII|Colorsport VIII]]<ref group=N name="cviii">The VIII model is based on the same chip as the Coleco Telstar Arcade. It features eight (4x2) different sport games including a gun-shooting game.</ref>
 
* [https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=3&c=676 Commodore TV Game 2000K/3000H]<ref group=N name="commodoretv">Aesthetically different but same console hardware. Their chip is also the base for other consoles such as the Coleco Telstar Arcade. Allows to play Pong-like & other games such as ''Target shooting'' (optionally playable with the optical gun), ''Tennis, Football'' & ''Squash''.</ref>
 
* [[wikipedia:Gameroom Tele-Pong|Entex Gameroom Tele-Pong]]<ref group=N name="egt-p">The Entex model is similar to the first Japanese video game console, Epoch's TV Tennis Electrotennis, released a year prior. There was an UK version marketed by Binatone called the TV Game Unit.</ref>
 
|
 
* [[Magnavox Odyssey emulators|Magnavox Odyssey/Series]]<ref group=N name="mo#">Besides the normal Odyssey and Odyssey² consoles released in 1972 and 1978 respectively, Magnavox also produced the [[wikipedia:Magnavox Odyssey series|X00 and X000 series (1975-1977) of home Pong consoles]]. Released models were: 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 2000, 3000 and 4000. Then owner Philips also released three Odyssey variants in Europe between 1976-1978. They played "Ball and Paddle" games such as ''Hockey'', ''Tennis'', ''Smash'', ''Squash'' and others. No known emulator exists for any of these machines.</ref>
 
* [[wikipedia:PC-50x_Family|PC-50X]]<ref group=N name="pc-50x">There were over 200 variations of the PC-50X home game consoles family. The units were made in various countries and were marketed by Creatronic, Hanimex, ITMC, Rollet, GrandStand, Soundic and plenty other manufacturers.</ref>
 
* [[wikipedia:TV Scoreboard|Radio Shack TV Scoreboard]]<ref group=N name="rstvs">The TV Scoreboard is an handheld Pong with dials or paddles made by Tandy, with support for 10 games. Also released in Germany under the name Universum Multispiel. Hanimex Model 666 & Model 677 are very similar.</ref>
 
* Ricochet<ref group=N name="rs">4 different Ricochet models? MT-1A, MT-5A, MT-1A8, MT-4A with their own names.</ref>
 
* [[wikipedia:Atari_2600#Sears_Video_Arcade|Sears Tele-Games]]<ref group=N name="stg">There were about 18 models in Sears' Tele-Games line, bar for one linked to Atari's Visual Pinball line. Many models were licensed from Atari and APF</ref>
 
* [[wikipedia:TV Tennis Electrotennis|TV Tennis Electrotennis]]<ref group=N name="tvte">Epoch's unit is the first Japanese home video game console ever & released in 1975, a few months before Atari's home Pong console.</ref>
 
* [https://diamondminerstudios.fandom.com/wiki/TV-4_Four-Way_Video_Game TV4 Four Way Video Game]<ref group=N name="tv+4wvg">This TV+4 unit plays [https://www.mobygames.com/game/tv4-four-way-video-game 4 Pong variants].</ref>
 
* [[wikipedia:Unisonic Products Corporation|Unisonic series]]<ref group=N name="upc">Unisonic released a series of 10  dedicated consoles between 1976-1978.</ref>
 
* [https://diamondminerstudios.fandom.com/wiki/Volley_VI Volley VI]<ref group=N name="vvi">Volley VI is a dedicated console actually made by company Roberts from Korea. Plays [https://www.mobygames.com/game/dedicated-console/ricochet_____ 4 coloured Pong variants].</ref>
 
* [[wikipedia:Wonder Wizard (7702)|Wonder Wizard]]<ref group=N name="ww7702">The W.W. model 7702 is basically a Magnavox Odyssey 300 with a different case.</ref>
 
|
 
* [[gametech:Color TV Game|Nintendo Color TV-Game]] (5 different versions)
 
:* Color TV-Game 6
 
:* Color TV-Game 15  [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjnfLwUdEjI JPN Commercial]
 
:* Color TV-Game Racing 112
 
:* Color TV Block Kusure  [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFtplNmtxM JPN Commercial]
 
:* Computer TV Game
 
|}
 
 
 
<references group=N />
 
 
 
 
 
==First Generation (Discrete Circuitry-Based)==
 
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
 
! scope="col"|Name
 
! scope="col"|Name
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|-
 
|-
 
|[[Magnavox Odyssey emulators|Magnavox Odyssey]]
 
|[[Magnavox Odyssey emulators|Magnavox Odyssey]]
|None
+
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
|
+
|No
|
+
|No
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [https://www.pong-story.com/spiel.htm Philips Tele-Spiel]
 
| [https://www.pong-story.com/spiel.htm Philips Tele-Spiel]
|None
+
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
|
+
|No
|
+
|No
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| [[Dedicated Consoles| Pong Consoles]]
 +
|style="background:gainsboro;"|NA
 +
|
 +
|
 
|
 
|
 
|}
 
|}
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|[[APF MP1000 emulators|APF Imagination Machine/MP1000]]
 
|[[APF MP1000 emulators|APF Imagination Machine/MP1000]]
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
|
+
|No
|[https://archive.org/details/apfm1000_library ]
+
|[https://archive.org/details/apfm1000_library Yes]
 
|A PC with a game console mounted on top of it [[Sega Genesis emulators|32X-style]] (take that, master race!) Only 25 games were released (15 cartridges), one being built-in, and a lot of homebrews. ROMs are [http://www.theoldcomputer.com/roms/index.php?folder=APF/Imagination-Machine here].
 
|A PC with a game console mounted on top of it [[Sega Genesis emulators|32X-style]] (take that, master race!) Only 25 games were released (15 cartridges), one being built-in, and a lot of homebrews. ROMs are [http://www.theoldcomputer.com/roms/index.php?folder=APF/Imagination-Machine here].
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Atari 2600 emulators|Atari 2600]]
 
|[[Atari 2600 emulators|Atari 2600]]
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
|
+
|Yes
|[https://archive.org/details/atari_2600_library ]
+
|[https://archive.org/details/atari_2600_library Yes]
 
|[http://www.atarimania.com/rom_collection_archive_atari_2600_roms.html ROM Hunter v15 Collection]
 
|[http://www.atarimania.com/rom_collection_archive_atari_2600_roms.html ROM Hunter v15 Collection]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Atari 5200 emulators|Atari 5200]]
 
|[[Atari 5200 emulators|Atari 5200]]
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
|
+
|Yes
|[https://archive.org/details/atari_5200_library ]
+
|[https://archive.org/details/atari_5200_library Yes]
 
|[https://archive.org/details/Atari5200_201602 No-intro]
 
|[https://archive.org/details/Atari5200_201602 No-intro]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[gametech:Bally Astrocade|Bally Astrocade]]<ref group=N name=mame>Emulated by [[MAME]] only.</ref>
 
|[[gametech:Bally Astrocade|Bally Astrocade]]<ref group=N name=mame>Emulated by [[MAME]] only.</ref>
 
|style="background: Orange;"|Imperfect
 
|style="background: Orange;"|Imperfect
|
+
|No
|[https://archive.org/details/bally_astrocade_library ]
+
|[https://archive.org/details/bally_astrocade_library Yes]
 
|[https://ia801700.us.archive.org/zipview.php?zip=/17/items/Bally_Professional_Arcade_and_Astrocade_TOSEC_2012_04_23/Bally_Professional_Arcade_and_Astrocade_TOSEC_2012_04_23.zip TOSEC]
 
|[https://ia801700.us.archive.org/zipview.php?zip=/17/items/Bally_Professional_Arcade_and_Astrocade_TOSEC_2012_04_23/Bally_Professional_Arcade_and_Astrocade_TOSEC_2012_04_23.zip TOSEC]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Bandai Super Vision 8000|Bandai Super Vision 8000]]<ref group=N name=mame />
 
|[[wikipedia:Bandai Super Vision 8000|Bandai Super Vision 8000]]<ref group=N name=mame />
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
|
+
|No
|[https://archive.org/details/sv8000_library ]
+
|[https://archive.org/details/sv8000_library Yes]
 
|Only 7 games.
 
|Only 7 games.
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[ColecoVision emulators|ColecoVision]]<ref group=N name="cv">The ColecoVision was sold as NTSC and PAL variants in different regions. Clones: Spectravideo SVI-603 Coleco Game Adapter (For hooking up to the [http://www.progettoemma.net/mess/results_sys.php?publisher=Spectravideo SVI-318 or SVI-328] computers), Bit Corporation's [[wikipedia:Dina (video game console)|Dina]] (AKA "Chuang Zao Zhe 50". Taiwan. 1986.), [[wikipedia:Telegames#Telegames_Personal_Arcade|Telegames' The Personal Arcade]] (1988. Clone of [https://segaretro.org/Dina_2_in_one Dina 2 in 1].).</ref>
 
|[[ColecoVision emulators|ColecoVision]]<ref group=N name="cv">The ColecoVision was sold as NTSC and PAL variants in different regions. Clones: Spectravideo SVI-603 Coleco Game Adapter (For hooking up to the [http://www.progettoemma.net/mess/results_sys.php?publisher=Spectravideo SVI-318 or SVI-328] computers), Bit Corporation's [[wikipedia:Dina (video game console)|Dina]] (AKA "Chuang Zao Zhe 50". Taiwan. 1986.), [[wikipedia:Telegames#Telegames_Personal_Arcade|Telegames' The Personal Arcade]] (1988. Clone of [https://segaretro.org/Dina_2_in_one Dina 2 in 1].).</ref>
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
|
+
|Yes
|[https://archive.org/details/coleco_colecovision_library ]
+
|[https://archive.org/details/coleco_colecovision_library Yes]
 
|Coleco marketed different add-ons for their console, with one of them being the fast-selling Atari VCS adapter which enables the ColecoVision to play Atari cartridges! Atari sued them, but lost the case. [https://archive.org/details/ColecoColecoVision_201602 No-intro]
 
|Coleco marketed different add-ons for their console, with one of them being the fast-selling Atari VCS adapter which enables the ColecoVision to play Atari cartridges! Atari sued them, but lost the case. [https://archive.org/details/ColecoColecoVision_201602 No-intro]
 +
|-
 +
|[[wikipedia:Coleco Telstar Arcade|Coleco Telstar Arcade]]
 +
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 +
|No
 +
|
 +
|Coleco's first attempt at making a video game console was an odd one, a triangle console with triangle cartridges and each side of system had a different controller type. the console itself dose not have a CPU built-in, instead, each cartridge had a [[Dedicated Consoles| MPS-7600-00x POC]] inside it. Only four games were released for Telstar Arcade before being pulled off shelves.
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Commodore MAX Machine|Commodore MAX Machine]]
 
|[[wikipedia:Commodore MAX Machine|Commodore MAX Machine]]
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
|
+
|No
|
+
|No
 
|Also known as Ultimax (USA) and VC-10 (DEU), though it was only briefly sold in Japan. It's a cut-down console version of the C64 hardware family (Later used in C64) with limited computing capability & a membrane keyboard. TOSEC: ([https://archive.org/details/Commodore_Max_Machine_and_Vic_10_TOSEC_2012_04_23 2012]), ([https://archive.org/details/tosec-20161111-commodore-max-machine-vic-10 2016]).
 
|Also known as Ultimax (USA) and VC-10 (DEU), though it was only briefly sold in Japan. It's a cut-down console version of the C64 hardware family (Later used in C64) with limited computing capability & a membrane keyboard. TOSEC: ([https://archive.org/details/Commodore_Max_Machine_and_Vic_10_TOSEC_2012_04_23 2012]), ([https://archive.org/details/tosec-20161111-commodore-max-machine-vic-10 2016]).
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Emerson Arcadia 2001 emulators|Emerson Arcadia 2001]]<ref group=N name=arcadia2001>Clones and variants: Advision Home Arcade, Arcadia, Cosmos, Dynavision, Ekusera, Hanimex MPT-03, HMG-2650, Home Arcade Centre, Intelligent Game MPT-03, Intercord XL 2000 System, Intervision 2001, ITMC MPT-03, Leisure-Vision, Leonardo, Ormatu 2001, Palladium Video-Computer-Game, Polybrain Video Computer Game, Poppy MPT-03 Tele Computer Spiel, Prestige Video Computer Game MPT-03, Robdajet MPT-03, Rowtron 2000, Schmid TVG-2000, Sheen Home Video Centre 2001, Soundic MPT-03, Tele Brain, Tele-Fever, Tempest MPT-03,Tobby MPT-03, Trakton Computer Video Game, Tryom Video Game Center, Tunix Home Arcade, UVI Compu-Game, Video Master.</ref>
 
|[[Emerson Arcadia 2001 emulators|Emerson Arcadia 2001]]<ref group=N name=arcadia2001>Clones and variants: Advision Home Arcade, Arcadia, Cosmos, Dynavision, Ekusera, Hanimex MPT-03, HMG-2650, Home Arcade Centre, Intelligent Game MPT-03, Intercord XL 2000 System, Intervision 2001, ITMC MPT-03, Leisure-Vision, Leonardo, Ormatu 2001, Palladium Video-Computer-Game, Polybrain Video Computer Game, Poppy MPT-03 Tele Computer Spiel, Prestige Video Computer Game MPT-03, Robdajet MPT-03, Rowtron 2000, Schmid TVG-2000, Sheen Home Video Centre 2001, Soundic MPT-03, Tele Brain, Tele-Fever, Tempest MPT-03,Tobby MPT-03, Trakton Computer Video Game, Tryom Video Game Center, Tunix Home Arcade, UVI Compu-Game, Video Master.</ref>
 
|style="background: Orange;"|Imperfect
 
|style="background: Orange;"|Imperfect
|
+
|Yes
|[https://archive.org/details/emerson_arcadia_library ]
+
|[https://archive.org/details/emerson_arcadia_library Yes]
 
|[http://adb.arcadeitalia.net/dettaglio_mame.php?game_name=arcadia&search_id= Over 50 games] made for it. The graphic quality is similar to that of the [[Intellivision emulators|Intellivision]] and the [[Magnavox Odyssey emulators|Odyssey]]. Sound still imperfect in games. [https://archive.org/details/Emerson_Arcadia_2001_TOSEC_2012_04_23 TOSEC]
 
|[http://adb.arcadeitalia.net/dettaglio_mame.php?game_name=arcadia&search_id= Over 50 games] made for it. The graphic quality is similar to that of the [[Intellivision emulators|Intellivision]] and the [[Magnavox Odyssey emulators|Odyssey]]. Sound still imperfect in games. [https://archive.org/details/Emerson_Arcadia_2001_TOSEC_2012_04_23 TOSEC]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:Cassette Vision|Epoch Cassette Vision]]
 
|[[wikipedia:Cassette Vision|Epoch Cassette Vision]]
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
|
+
|No
|
+
|No
 
|Only 12 games exist for this console, and some have been dumped. Seanriddle has succeded to dump the graphic sprites of Kikori no Yosaku. Apparently, the BIOS for the console is inside each cart. Latest MAME forum [http://forums.bannister.org//ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=102087&page=4 thread].
 
|Only 12 games exist for this console, and some have been dumped. Seanriddle has succeded to dump the graphic sprites of Kikori no Yosaku. Apparently, the BIOS for the console is inside each cart. Latest MAME forum [http://forums.bannister.org//ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=102087&page=4 thread].
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Fairchild Channel F emulators|Fairchild Channel F]]
 
|[[Fairchild Channel F emulators|Fairchild Channel F]]
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
|
+
|Yes
|[https://archive.org/details/channelf_library ]
+
|[https://archive.org/details/channelf_library Yes]
 
|[https://archive.org/details/FairchildChannelF No-intro]
 
|[https://archive.org/details/FairchildChannelF No-intro]
 
|-
 
|-
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|[[wikipedia: Gakken Compact Vision TV Boy|Gakken Compact TV Boy]]
 
|[[wikipedia: Gakken Compact Vision TV Boy|Gakken Compact TV Boy]]
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
|
+
|No
|
+
|No
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[gametech:Interton_VC_4000|Interton VC 4000]]<ref group=N name="vc4000">Clones: Radofin 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System, Jeu Video TV, Super Play Computer 4000, etc.</ref>
 
|[[gametech:Interton_VC_4000|Interton VC 4000]]<ref group=N name="vc4000">Clones: Radofin 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System, Jeu Video TV, Super Play Computer 4000, etc.</ref>
 
|style="background: Orange;"|Imperfect
 
|style="background: Orange;"|Imperfect
|
+
|No
 
|
 
|
 
|Has 40 games. ROMs are [http://www.theoldcomputer.com/roms/index.php?folder=Interton/VC-4000/Various here]
 
|Has 40 games. ROMs are [http://www.theoldcomputer.com/roms/index.php?folder=Interton/VC-4000/Various here]
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|[[Magnavox Odyssey² emulators|Magnavox Odyssey²/Videopac]]<ref group=N name="odyssey²">Clones: Jopac JO7400, Odyssey 3 Command Center (prototype), Videopac G7000/C52, Videopac Plus G7400.</ref>
 
|[[Magnavox Odyssey² emulators|Magnavox Odyssey²/Videopac]]<ref group=N name="odyssey²">Clones: Jopac JO7400, Odyssey 3 Command Center (prototype), Videopac G7000/C52, Videopac Plus G7400.</ref>
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
|
+
|Yes
|[https://archive.org/details/library_magnavox_odyssey2 ]
+
|[https://archive.org/details/library_magnavox_odyssey2 Yes]
 
|[https://archive.org/details/MagnavoxOdyssey2 No-intro]
 
|[https://archive.org/details/MagnavoxOdyssey2 No-intro]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Intellivision emulators|Mattel Intellivision]]<ref group=N name="mi1">Extra models with: Keyboard Component (Unreleased. 1981.), IntelliVoice expansion (1982), Entertainment Computer System + Intellivoice expansions (1983). Clones: Sears' Super Video Arcade (1982), Intellivision II (1982).</ref>
 
|[[Intellivision emulators|Mattel Intellivision]]<ref group=N name="mi1">Extra models with: Keyboard Component (Unreleased. 1981.), IntelliVoice expansion (1982), Entertainment Computer System + Intellivoice expansions (1983). Clones: Sears' Super Video Arcade (1982), Intellivision II (1982).</ref>
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
|
+
|Yes
|[https://archive.org/details/intellivision ]
+
|[https://archive.org/details/intellivision Yes]
 
|[https://archive.org/details/Mattel_Intellivision_TOSEC_2012_04_23 TOSEC]
 
|[https://archive.org/details/Mattel_Intellivision_TOSEC_2012_04_23 TOSEC]
 
|-
 
|-
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|[[gametech:RCA_Studio_II|RCA Studio II]]
 
|[[gametech:RCA_Studio_II|RCA Studio II]]
 
|style="background: Orange;"|Imperfect
 
|style="background: Orange;"|Imperfect
|
+
|Yes
 
|
 
|
 
|[https://archive.org/details/RCA_Studio_2_TOSEC_2012_04_23 TOSEC]. [https://github.com/ajavamind/rca-studio2 rca-studio2 programmer emulator]. [https://www.emma02.hobby-site.com/studio.html EMMA 0.2].
 
|[https://archive.org/details/RCA_Studio_2_TOSEC_2012_04_23 TOSEC]. [https://github.com/ajavamind/rca-studio2 rca-studio2 programmer emulator]. [https://www.emma02.hobby-site.com/studio.html EMMA 0.2].
Line 175: Line 149:
 
|[http://videogamekraken.com/visicom-c-100-by-toshiba Toshiba Visicom C-100]
 
|[http://videogamekraken.com/visicom-c-100-by-toshiba Toshiba Visicom C-100]
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
|
+
|No
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 +
|-
 +
|[[wikipedia:PC-50x Family| Soundic PC-50x Series]]
 +
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 +
|No
 +
|
 +
|Designed by Soundic and Released by many different companies, the PC-50x is a series of consoles is similar to Telstar Arcade, these systems has no built-in CPU and use cartridges that have a [[Dedicated Consoles| POC]] inside. These system were first released in 1977 with only around 8 games were released in its lifetime.
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Vectrex emulators|Vectrex]]<ref group=N name="vectrex">Clone: Spectrum I+ (1984. Roy Abel & Associates.).</ref>
 
|[[Vectrex emulators|Vectrex]]<ref group=N name="vectrex">Clone: Spectrum I+ (1984. Roy Abel & Associates.).</ref>
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
|
+
|Yes
|[https://archive.org/details/vectrex ]
+
|[https://archive.org/details/vectrex Yes]
 
|[https://archive.org/details/GCEVectrex No-intro]
 
|[https://archive.org/details/GCEVectrex No-intro]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[wikipedia:VTech CreatiVision|VTech CreatiVision]]<ref group=N name="vtech">Clones and variants: Educat 2002 (Israel), Dick Smith Wizzard (Australia/New Zealand), FunVision Computer Video Games System (Oceania), Hanimex Rameses (Oceania), VZ 2000 (Oceania), etc.<br />Computers: Laser 2001, Salora Manager (Finland).</ref>
 
|[[wikipedia:VTech CreatiVision|VTech CreatiVision]]<ref group=N name="vtech">Clones and variants: Educat 2002 (Israel), Dick Smith Wizzard (Australia/New Zealand), FunVision Computer Video Games System (Oceania), Hanimex Rameses (Oceania), VZ 2000 (Oceania), etc.<br />Computers: Laser 2001, Salora Manager (Finland).</ref>
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
|
+
|Yes
|[https://archive.org/details/vtech_creativision_library ]
+
|[https://archive.org/details/vtech_creativision_library Yes]
 
|This [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VTech_CreatiVision hybrid computer and console] were [https://computer.wikia.com/wiki/VTech_CreatiVision distributed to many different countries around the world and some variants were rebadged units with different names]. [http://www.madrigaldesign.it/creativemu/emulators.php Emulators list]. [https://archive.org/details/VTech_Laser_2001_and_CreatiVision_TOSEC_2012_04_23 TOSEC].
 
|This [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VTech_CreatiVision hybrid computer and console] were [https://computer.wikia.com/wiki/VTech_CreatiVision distributed to many different countries around the world and some variants were rebadged units with different names]. [http://www.madrigaldesign.it/creativemu/emulators.php Emulators list]. [https://archive.org/details/VTech_Laser_2001_and_CreatiVision_TOSEC_2012_04_23 TOSEC].
 
|}
 
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|[[gametech:Entex_Adventure_Vision|Entex Adventure Vision]]
 
|[[gametech:Entex_Adventure_Vision|Entex Adventure Vision]]
 
|style="background: Orange;"|Imperfect
 
|style="background: Orange;"|Imperfect
|
+
|Yes
|[https://archive.org/details/adventurevision_library ]
+
|[https://archive.org/details/adventurevision_library Yes]
 
|Like the Vectrex, this console had its own screen and operated like a miniature arcade cabinet, that said, this system was aimed at the Tabletop market, a class of somewhat portable gaming devices. Only four games were released for it. [https://archive.org/details/Entex_Adventure_Vision_TOSEC_2012_04_23 TOSEC]
 
|Like the Vectrex, this console had its own screen and operated like a miniature arcade cabinet, that said, this system was aimed at the Tabletop market, a class of somewhat portable gaming devices. Only four games were released for it. [https://archive.org/details/Entex_Adventure_Vision_TOSEC_2012_04_23 TOSEC]
 
|-
 
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|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
 
|style="background:palegreen;"|Good
 
|
 
|
|
+
|No
 
|12 games were made and all are dumped except for some revisions.  
 
|12 games were made and all are dumped except for some revisions.  
 
</br>These games are: Block Buster, Connect Four, Bowling, Star Trek: Phaser Strike (aka Shooting Star in Europe), Pinball, Vegas Slots, Mindbuster, Baseball, Sea Duel, Alien Raiders (aka Space Blitz or Blitz in Europe), Cosmic Hunter, Super Blockbuster
 
</br>These games are: Block Buster, Connect Four, Bowling, Star Trek: Phaser Strike (aka Shooting Star in Europe), Pinball, Vegas Slots, Mindbuster, Baseball, Sea Duel, Alien Raiders (aka Space Blitz or Blitz in Europe), Cosmic Hunter, Super Blockbuster

Revision as of 21:30, 23 May 2022

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the video game market experienced an explosion of products hoping to capitalize on the success of the Odyssey and Atari. From the nigh-infinite Pong clones to the suspiciously similar consoles, consumers had far more options than they do today. This is a list of those first and second generation machines. Not all of them can be emulated or preserved, though some that can't be emulated have simulations instead. See also Strange and Forgotten Console emulators, a similar page but for later generations. Amazingly, over 900 first-generation home video game consoles are known to exist. More than 200 different companies were involved in the first generation, and while more than half only released one console, it's still a large number of companies compared to the 20 that partook on the second generation.

First Generation (Discrete Circuitry-Based & Pong)

Name MAME support No-intro collection Internet Archive Description
Magnavox Odyssey None No No
Philips Tele-Spiel None No No
Pong Consoles NA

Second Generation (Cartridge Consoles)

Best-selling game consoles: Atari 2600, Intellivision, Magnavox Odyssey², ColecoVision.

Name MAME support No-intro collection Internet Archive Description
APF Imagination Machine/MP1000 Good No Yes A PC with a game console mounted on top of it 32X-style (take that, master race!) Only 25 games were released (15 cartridges), one being built-in, and a lot of homebrews. ROMs are here.
Atari 2600 Good Yes Yes ROM Hunter v15 Collection
Atari 5200 Good Yes Yes No-intro
Bally Astrocade[N 1] Imperfect No Yes TOSEC
Bandai Super Vision 8000[N 1] Good No Yes Only 7 games.
ColecoVision[N 2] Good Yes Yes Coleco marketed different add-ons for their console, with one of them being the fast-selling Atari VCS adapter which enables the ColecoVision to play Atari cartridges! Atari sued them, but lost the case. No-intro
Coleco Telstar Arcade None No Coleco's first attempt at making a video game console was an odd one, a triangle console with triangle cartridges and each side of system had a different controller type. the console itself dose not have a CPU built-in, instead, each cartridge had a MPS-7600-00x POC inside it. Only four games were released for Telstar Arcade before being pulled off shelves.
Commodore MAX Machine Good No No Also known as Ultimax (USA) and VC-10 (DEU), though it was only briefly sold in Japan. It's a cut-down console version of the C64 hardware family (Later used in C64) with limited computing capability & a membrane keyboard. TOSEC: (2012), (2016).
Emerson Arcadia 2001[N 3] Imperfect Yes Yes Over 50 games made for it. The graphic quality is similar to that of the Intellivision and the Odyssey. Sound still imperfect in games. TOSEC
Epoch Cassette Vision None No No Only 12 games exist for this console, and some have been dumped. Seanriddle has succeded to dump the graphic sprites of Kikori no Yosaku. Apparently, the BIOS for the console is inside each cart. Latest MAME forum thread.
Fairchild Channel F Good Yes Yes No-intro
Fairchild Channel F II Good NA An update to the Channel F, with no known exclusive games.
Gakken Compact TV Boy None No No
Interton VC 4000[N 4] Imperfect No Has 40 games. ROMs are here
Magnavox Odyssey²/Videopac[N 5] Good Yes Yes No-intro
Mattel Intellivision[N 6] Good Yes Yes TOSEC
Mattel Intellivision II Good NA An update to the Intellivision, with no known exclusive games.
RCA Studio II Imperfect Yes TOSEC. rca-studio2 programmer emulator. EMMA 0.2.
Toshiba Visicom C-100 None No
Soundic PC-50x Series None No Designed by Soundic and Released by many different companies, the PC-50x is a series of consoles is similar to Telstar Arcade, these systems has no built-in CPU and use cartridges that have a POC inside. These system were first released in 1977 with only around 8 games were released in its lifetime.
Vectrex[N 7] Good Yes Yes No-intro
VTech CreatiVision[N 8] Good Yes Yes This hybrid computer and console were distributed to many different countries around the world and some variants were rebadged units with different names. Emulators list. TOSEC.
  1. 1.0 1.1 Emulated by MAME only.
  2. The ColecoVision was sold as NTSC and PAL variants in different regions. Clones: Spectravideo SVI-603 Coleco Game Adapter (For hooking up to the SVI-318 or SVI-328 computers), Bit Corporation's Dina (AKA "Chuang Zao Zhe 50". Taiwan. 1986.), Telegames' The Personal Arcade (1988. Clone of Dina 2 in 1.).
  3. Clones and variants: Advision Home Arcade, Arcadia, Cosmos, Dynavision, Ekusera, Hanimex MPT-03, HMG-2650, Home Arcade Centre, Intelligent Game MPT-03, Intercord XL 2000 System, Intervision 2001, ITMC MPT-03, Leisure-Vision, Leonardo, Ormatu 2001, Palladium Video-Computer-Game, Polybrain Video Computer Game, Poppy MPT-03 Tele Computer Spiel, Prestige Video Computer Game MPT-03, Robdajet MPT-03, Rowtron 2000, Schmid TVG-2000, Sheen Home Video Centre 2001, Soundic MPT-03, Tele Brain, Tele-Fever, Tempest MPT-03,Tobby MPT-03, Trakton Computer Video Game, Tryom Video Game Center, Tunix Home Arcade, UVI Compu-Game, Video Master.
  4. Clones: Radofin 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System, Jeu Video TV, Super Play Computer 4000, etc.
  5. Clones: Jopac JO7400, Odyssey 3 Command Center (prototype), Videopac G7000/C52, Videopac Plus G7400.
  6. Extra models with: Keyboard Component (Unreleased. 1981.), IntelliVoice expansion (1982), Entertainment Computer System + Intellivoice expansions (1983). Clones: Sears' Super Video Arcade (1982), Intellivision II (1982).
  7. Clone: Spectrum I+ (1984. Roy Abel & Associates.).
  8. Clones and variants: Educat 2002 (Israel), Dick Smith Wizzard (Australia/New Zealand), FunVision Computer Video Games System (Oceania), Hanimex Rameses (Oceania), VZ 2000 (Oceania), etc.
    Computers: Laser 2001, Salora Manager (Finland).

Further info:

Handhelds

Name MAME support No-intro collection Internet Archive Description
Bandai Digi Casse None No Originally released in Japan by Bandai in 1984, another short-lived console from the early 80s. Only had around 4 to 6 games released for it. The console was released in Europe by an unknown company and in Russia as the Elektronika NM 26, both sometime in the late 80s.
Entex Adventure Vision Imperfect Yes Yes Like the Vectrex, this console had its own screen and operated like a miniature arcade cabinet, that said, this system was aimed at the Tabletop market, a class of somewhat portable gaming devices. Only four games were released for it. TOSEC
Entex Select-A-Game Good No
Epoch Game Pocket Computer Good Yes Only 5 games exist for this handheld (Released in 1984). All can be found here.
Milton Bradley MicroVision Good No 12 games were made and all are dumped except for some revisions.


These games are: Block Buster, Connect Four, Bowling, Star Trek: Phaser Strike (aka Shooting Star in Europe), Pinball, Vegas Slots, Mindbuster, Baseball, Sea Duel, Alien Raiders (aka Space Blitz or Blitz in Europe), Cosmic Hunter, Super Blockbuster
A Windows emulator that is front-end friendly can be found here, with all known games included.

Milton Bradley OMNI None No Released in 1980, The OMNI was a weird hybrid of a portable console, Mono 8-track player and a Tabletop game, graphics were limited to four 2-character seven segment displays, 8-track tapes were used to store the games instead of cartridges and because of its massive limitations, most of the games for it were trivia games, it's unknown how many units were sold or when it was discontinued, only 13 games are known to be released for it.
Palmtex PVS / Super Micro None No Released in 1984, Super Micro was a handheld console similar to the Milton Bradley Microvision in design. Bad timing, a lack of advertising, and issues with its design and quality (the plastic body is vary fragile) resulted in failure. Palmtex sold less then 37,000 units and discontinued the console the same year it was released. Only three of the eight games announced were released.
Romtec Colorvision None No Released in 1984, The Colorvision was another cheaply made console released during the Video Game Crash. It's unknown how many units were sold or when it was discontinued. Only 5 games were released for it.
VTech 3D Gamate None No An extremely rare console released in 1983 by VTech, it's unknown how many units were sold and was likely discontinued shortly after released. While six games were announced, only 3 are known to have been released.
VTech ProScreen None No Yet another extremely rare console from VTech, The ProScreen was released in 1984 and only three games are known to have been released.
VTech Variety None No Another extremely rare console released from VTech in 1983, like the 3D Gamate. It's unknown how many units were sold and was also likely discontinued shortly after released. Only six games are known to have been released for it.

Encyclopedia

External Links