BSS 01

Last updated

Bilschirmspiel 01
TV-Spiel, black-8034 Fertig 1500.jpg
BSS 01
Also known as
  • BSS 01
  • RFT TV-Spiel
  • TV-Spiel
Manufacturer VEB Halbleiterwerk Frankfurt (Oder)
Type Dedicated home video game console
Generation First generation
Release date1979
Introductory price550 East German Mark
Discontinued1981
Units soldc. 1,000
Units shippedc. 1,000
SoundPlayed via an internal mono speaker
Controller input2 hardwired joystick-based game controllers
Power220 V, 2 W
Dimensions32.5 x 5.5 x 17.5 cm (w x h x d)

The Bildschirmspiel 01 (BSS 01) is the only game console that was developed and manufactured in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). It is based on the integrated circuit AY-3-8500 by General Instrument. The gameplay, controls and audiovisual presentation of the four individually selectable games are similar to Pong. The BSS 01 was designed and produced by VEB Halbleiterwerk Frankfurt an der Oder (HFO). Its sales were started in 1979 under the RFT brand at a price of 550 East German marks. Due to a lack of profitability, production was discontinued after just two years. A successor device with more game options and additional colored image output did not pass the prototype stage.

Contents

History

In the 1980s, video games in East Germany were to introduce children and young people to technology and show that the GDR was a progressive country. [1] [2] [3] The BSS 01 was manufactured between 1979 [4] and 1981 [5] by the to the Kombinat Mikroelektronik Erfurt belonging VEB Halbleiterwerk Frankfurt (Oder) [6] [7] [8] as a part of the Konsumgüterproduktion. The basis for this was the Pong integrated circuit AY-3-8500, [9] imported by American company General Instrument from the Nichtsozialistisches Wirtschaftsgebiet (NSW). The word BSS 01 is derived from the German word Bildschirmspiel 01, [1] [2] [6] [7] [8] meaning Screen Game 01 [9] or Video Screen Game 01. [8] The console was sold under the brand RFT, [8] where RFT stands for Rundfunk- und Fernmelde-Technik which is a manufacturers' association of various telecommunication companies in East Germany, [10] for 550 East German marks [11] (this is about half of an average monthly income in East Germany at that time [2] [3] [12] ). It was mostly delivered to youth centers, leisure and educational institutions, where they were set up for free play. [3] [2] [7] The BSS 01 sold about 1,000 times in its first production series. [13] [14] There were no further production series. [13]

In the ZKM Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe, you can play on an old chair in the style of the 1980s on a tube TV with the BSS 01. [15]

Versions

A BSS 01 with white housing BSS 01 (Bildschirmspiel 01)pong console.jpg
A BSS 01 with white housing

There are different colored versions of the BSS 01. Depending on the current material stock, the plastic colors of the console could differ slightly from each other, [7] for example, in the housing color (white or black), the paddles (white, gray or black) or used on the right buttons (orange, red, yellow or black). [16] However, the buttons on the left side are always black and the on/off switch on the top right is always red.

Successor

A successor of the BSS 01 named BSS 02, probably with color output instead of black-and-white, was planned, but then discarded for the production of radio clocks. [9] [17] [2] [18] Whether prototypes, sketches etc. of the BSS 02 exist is unknown.

Technical specifications

The BSS 01 has a width of 32.5 cm, a height of 5.5 cm, a depth of 17.5 cm and a mass of 1.3 [19] or 1.5 [20] kg. It is based on the AY-3-8500-7 chipset from General Instrument. [2] [9] [8] [20] [3] The sound is played through an internal mono speaker [21] (model ARZ 090 [19] ), rather than the TV set. The output was black-and-white via the TV's RF port on channel 3 (VHF). [20] Power was supplied to the BSS 01 via a power cord with 220 V, [20] 2 W [20] and 75 Ohm. [19]

There are two columns of mechanical buttons on the console, with which you can make various game settings such as deflection angle, ball speed, club size, ball throw and zero position (right column), and the console can be switched on and off and the games can be selected (left column).

Games

Due to the integrated AY-3-8500 chipset from General Instrument, the BSS 01 is able to play the following four games: [22] [9]

The first three games can only be played with two players, a computer opponent is not available because the BSS 01 has no CPU built in. The game Pelota is designed for one player. The two shooting games can only be played with a lightgun that was never officially available for the BSS 01. By intervening in the hardware, it is possible to connect such a lightgun to the BSS 01, which unlocks the two games. [16] If none of the game selection buttons is pressed when the power is off and the console is then switched on, the activated, but often hidden, handicapped version of soccer, which is included in the AY-3-8500-7 chip, is activated, in which the right player directly hits another racket right striker, which makes the game more difficult for the left player.

The throw-in of the ball could be set to automatic or manual. [20] [6] After the first player reaches 15 points, each of the games was over. [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coleco Telstar series</span> Series of home video game consoles

The ColecoTelstar brand is a series of dedicated first-generation home video game consoles produced, released and marketed by Coleco from 1976 to 1978. Starting with Coleco Telstar Pong clone based video game console on General Instrument's AY-3-8500 chip in 1976, there were 14 consoles released in the Coleco Telstar series. About one million units of the first model called Coleco Telstar were sold.

<i>Poly-Play</i> Only arcade cabinet released in East Germany

Poly-Play is an arcade cabinet developed in East Germany in 1985; it is the only such machine to originate in the GDR. It was created by VEB Polytechnik and contained a number of games, including a Pac-Man clone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KC 85</span> Microcomputers made in East Germany from 1984 until 1990.

The KC 85 were models of microcomputers built in East Germany by VEB Mikroelektronik "Wilhelm Pieck" Mühlhausen. The first model in the series, the HC 900, originally designed as a home computer and introduced in 1984, was renamed to KC 85/2 in 1985 to de-emphasize its use as consumer good.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amstrad GX4000</span> Video game console

The GX4000 is a video game console that was manufactured by Amstrad. It was the company's short-lived attempt to enter the games console market. The console was released in Europe in 1990 and was an upgraded design based on the then still-popular CPC technology. The GX4000 shared hardware architecture with Amstrad's CPC Plus computer line, which was released concurrently. This allowed the system to be compatible with the majority of CPC Plus software.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interton Video Computer 4000</span> Home video game console released by Interton in 1978

The IntertonVideo Computer 4000 is an early 8-bit ROM cartridge-based second-generation home video game console that was released in Germany, England, France, Spain, Austria, the Netherlands and Australia in 1978 by German hearing aid manufacturer Interton. The console is quite obscure outside Germany, but many software-compatible systems can be found in numerous European countries. The console is the successor of the Interton Video 3001 and was sold for 298 Deutsche Mark and discontinued in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TV Scoreboard</span> Home video game console by Tandy

The TV Scoreboard is a Pong-like dedicated home video game console manufactured in Hong Kong from 1976 through the early '80s and made by Tandy. Distribution was handled exclusively by RadioShack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AY-3-8500</span> Integrated circuit by General Instrument

The AY-3-8500 "Ball & Paddle" integrated circuit was the first in a series of ICs from General Instrument designed for the consumer video game market. These chips were designed to output video to an RF modulator, which would then display the game on a domestic television set. The AY-3-8500 contained six selectable games — tennis, hockey, squash, practice, and two shooting games. The AY-3-8500 was the 625-line PAL version and the AY-3-8500-1 was the 525-line NTSC version. It was introduced in 1976, Coleco becoming the first customer having been introduced to the IC development by Ralph H. Baer. A minimum number of external components were needed to build a complete system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robotron KC 87</span> Microcomputers made in East Germany from 1984 until 1990.

The Robotron KC 87, fully known as Kleincomputer robotron KC 87, was an 8-bit microcomputer released in 1987 and produced in East Germany by VEB Robotron-Meßelektronik "Otto Schön" Dresden, part of Kombinat Robotron.

Magnavox Odyssey is the general brand name of Magnavox's complete line of home video game consoles released from 1972 through 1978. The line includes the original Magnavox Odyssey console, the Magnavox Odyssey series of dedicated home video game consoles, and the Magnavox Odyssey 2 ROM cartridge-based video game console released in 1978. Philips Odyssey is the brand name that includes the Philips Odyssey series of dedicated home video game consoles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ameprod Television Game 10</span> Home video game console by PPZ Ameprod

The AmeprodTelevision Game 10 is a dedicated first-generation home video game console that was produced in Poland by Elwro from 1978 to 1981. In 1981, the production was transferred to PPZ Ameprod. In 1980, the system was released by PPZ Ameprod. In the first three years, about 10,000 consoles were sold. In 1984, the production ended and about 100,000 Ameprod TVG-10 consoles were sold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ping-O-Tronic</span> Home video game console by Zanussi

The Ping-O-Tronic is a dedicated first-generation home video game console produced by Zanussi, an Italian home appliance company, and released under their Sèleco brand in late-1974 only in Italy. It was the first Italian video game console, excluding Magnavox Odyssey imports and clones.

The Philips Tele-Game series was a series of six dedicated first-generation home video game consoles manufactured, released and marketed between 1975 and 1978 by Dutch company Philips.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turnir</span> Home video game console

The Turnir is a dedicated first-generation home video game console that was manufactured by the Ministry of the Electronics Industry and released in 1978 only in the Soviet Union. It was manufactured between 1978 and 1982 and is the only known Soviet video game console that uses the AY-3-8500 chipset from General Instrument. The price for the system varied from 150 Soviet rubles in 1978 to 96 rubles in the late 1980s. The console uses an integrated AC adapter with a voltage of 9 volt and has a mass of 2.5 kg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interton Video 2000</span> First-generation home video game console

The Interton Video 2000 is a dedicated first-generation home video game console released in 1975 by Interton in Germany and licensed by Philips (Magnavox). The console turns itself on automatically when a cartridge is inserted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interton Video 3000</span> First-generation home video game console

The Interton Video 3000 is a dedicated first-generation home video game console that was released in Germany in 1976 by German manufacturer Interton and sold by Quelle. Due to the AY-3-8500 chipset from General Instrument, the console has six integrated games: Tennis, Football, Practice, Squash, Skeet and Moving target. It had a list price of 198 Deutsche Mark (DM).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coleco Telstar Arcade</span> First-generation home video game console by Coleco

The Coleco Telstar Arcade, commonly abbreviated as Telstar Arcade, is a first-generation home video game console that was released in 1977 in Japan, North America and Europe by Coleco. It is the most advanced video game console in the Coleco Telstar series, based on the MOS Technology MPS-7600-00x chips series. Each chip is a microcontroller capable of storing 512 words of ROM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interton Video 3001</span> First-generation home video game console

The Interton Video 3001 is a dedicated first-generation home video game console that was released in 1978 by Interton. It is a Pong clone console and the successor to the Interton Video 3000 and the predecessor of the Interton Video Computer 4000. It could output games in color.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halbleiterwerk Frankfurt (Oder)</span> East Germanys largest manufacturer of semiconductor devices

VEB Halbleiterwerk Frankfurt (Oder) (abbreviated HFO or HWF) was the largest manufacturer of semiconductor devices in the German Democratic Republic. In 1989, HFO produced 110 million integrated circuits (70% of all integrated circuits produced in the GDR in that year), 9.7 million transistors, and 150 million transistor chips. Despite this, HFO did not rise to prominence like Zentrum Mikroelektronik Dresden (of megabit chip fame) or VEB Mikroelektronik "Karl Marx" Erfurt (known for its microprocessors). Also unlike Zentrum Mikroelektronik Dresden and VEB Mikroelektronik "Karl Marx" Erfurt, HFO did not survive long after German Reunification.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SHG Black Point FS 1003/FS 2000</span> Home video game console released in 1982 by Süddeutsche Elektro-Hausgeräte GmbH & Co. KG

The SHG Black Point FS 1003/FS 2000 is a first-generation PC-50x home video game console released in 1982 by Süddeutsche Elektro-Hausgeräte GmbH & Co. KG (SHG) only in Germany for 168 Deutsche Mark (DM). The console has been manufactured by Radofin.

The Palladium Tele-Cassetten Game is a PC-50x home video game console which was released by Neckermann's technology and multimedia home brand Palladium in 1978 only in Germany. The console, like all the PC-50x consoles, is a first-generation console, even though it is often considered a console of the second or third generation.

References

  1. 1 2 Bojaryn, Jan (27 March 2015). "BSS 01: Wie die DDR mit volkseigener Konsole den sozialistischen Nachwuchs erzog". Vice (in German). Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "pongmuseum.com - and the ball was square... RFT - TV Spiel BSS 01 made in DDR - GDR". pongmuseum.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Wolf, Mark J. P. (2012). Encyclopedia of Video Games: A-L. ABC-CLIO. ISBN   978-0-313-37936-9.
  4. ↑ Karla Sofia Höß, Bengt Jöran Eitel, Emily Claire Völker: Das Bildschirmspiel 01 - Versuch einer symmetrischen Netzwerkanalyse in drei Teilen: Teil 2. M.A. - Arbeit Studiengang Europäische Medienwissenschaft an der Universität Potsdam, April 2011, S. 4.
  5. ↑ Karla Sofia Höß, Bengt Jöran Eitel, Emily Claire Völker: Das Bildschirmspiel 01 - Versuch einer symmetrischen Netzwerkanalyse in drei Teilen: Teil 2. M.A. - Arbeit Studiengang Europäische Medienwissenschaft an der Universität Potsdam, April 2011, S. 37.
  6. 1 2 3 "Bildschirmspiel 01". mediengeschichten (in German). 12 July 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "RFT Bildschirmspiel 01 – BSS01 – Retro-Konsolen.de" (in German). Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Vom Hörgerät zum Computerspiel | HNF Blog". blog.hnf.de. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum". old-computers.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  10. ↑ Holler, Torsten. "Und die Ost-Marke lebt weiter - Unternehmeredition.de" (in German). Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  11. ↑ Heiner Pachmann: Die Mattscheibe als Spielfeld. Berliner Zeitung, 26. März 1980, S. 3.
  12. ↑ Frankfurt, Halbleiterwerk. "BSS 01 :: Computerspielemuseum Berlin :: museum-digital:berlin". berlin.museum-digital.de. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  13. 1 2 robotron-net.de/images/sonst/BSS-01.pdf
  14. ↑ "Quiz: Erkennen Sie diese Retro-Konsolen?". t-online.de (in German). 20 May 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  15. ↑ "Bildschirmspiel 01 | ZKM". zkm.de (in German). Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  16. 1 2 "Pong Picture Page". 25 September 2015. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  17. ↑ Huberts, Christian (3 October 2016). "Poly-Play, BSS 01 & KC85-4 – Spielen für den Sozialismus". piqd.de (in German). Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  18. ↑ Germany, Süddeutsche de GmbH, Munich. "Mit Pittiplatsch auf Pixelfang". Süddeutsche.de (in German). Retrieved 18 June 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. 1 2 3 "Bildschirmspielgerät BSS01 Misc Halbleiterwerk Frankfurt /Od". radiomuseum.org. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "www.robotrontechnik.de - Die Geschichte der Computertechnik der DDR". www.robotrontechnik.de. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  21. ↑ "RFT BSS 01". www.heimcomputer.de. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  22. ↑ "Spielkonsole "Bildschirmspiel 01"". DDR Museum (in German). 18 February 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.