1292_Advanced_Programmable_Video_System

1292 Advanced Programmable Video System

1292 Advanced Programmable Video System

Second-generation home video game console


The 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System is a second-generation home video game console released by European company Audiosonic in 1978. It is part of a group of software-compatible consoles which include the Interton VC 4000 and the Voltmace Database. The 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System included its power pack inside the console instead of an exterior power pack.

Quick Facts Manufacturer, Type ...

Specifications

PCB Scan of the Acetronic MPU-1000.

Graphics

  • Sprites: 4 single colour sprites (1 can be 8 colours)
  • 1 score line displaying 4 BCD digits
  • Background consisting of a series of alternating lines

Misc

  • The early games cartridges used a 2 KByte ROM, later ones, such as Activision branded ones, up to 8 KBytes
  • Very basic arcade machine sound

User programming

An expensive (£49 in the UK in 1977) Hobby Module was available which gave 6.5 kb of user-programmable memory and had a 5 pin DIN socket to allow software to be saved to a cassette tape player. This converted the unit into a halfway house between a home computer and an ordinary gaming console.

The user had to be familiar with programming in Signetics 2650 assembly language and the unconventional ways and register architecture of the Signetics 2650 processor.

Released versions

The console was produced by different companies and sold with different names. Not every console is compatible with others due to differences in the shapes and dimensions of the cartridge slots (but all of the consoles are software compatible). Here's a table of the consoles grouped by compatibility family (due to the slots).

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Games

Although, not much information is known about the release dates of the cartridges, the total number of the games should be 59 (33 games released by Radofin between 1977 and 1978, 19 games for the Interton VC 4000 and compatibles after 1978, and 7 more games released around 1980).[1]


More information Name, Size ...

References

  1. "INTERTON VC 4000 GAMING GUIDE". James Jacobs. 2021-09-01. Retrieved 2022-03-11.

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