PC-50x Family

Last updated
PC-50x Family
ManufacturerSeveral companies; see Consoles list
Type Home video game console
Generation First generation
Lifespan1977–1982
Media ROM cartridge
CPU General Instrument AY-3-8xxx

The PC-50x Family (also known as SD-050, [1] SD-070, [1] SD-090, [1] 9015) is a series of home video game consoles belonging to the first generation prevalent in Europe between 1977 and the early 1980s, all produced in Asia. The designation PC-50x of the series derives from the name of the cartridges (PC-501, PC-502 ...).

Contents

The consoles do not have a central processor; all the games are implemented thanks to the individual chips in the cartridges, all based on the chip family AY-3-8xxx of General Instrument. The family also includes the so-called "9015" series in which it changes the name (9015-A, 9015-B ...) and changes the shape of the cartridges but uses the same AY-3-8xxx chips.

Common features

Some consoles produced colored screens while others were black and white. Of the color consoles some were marked with the initial letter S of SECAM, the French standard of the color coding, used for example in France (and colonies) and Russia.

Features common to all the consoles in the family are the 10 keys for choosing the game, a start/reset button, 4/5 switches for game settings and two joystick with one button on each.

For many models, in the name there are the SD letters, which stand for Soundic (Hong Kong), the real manufacturer of the console.

Consoles list

The consoles were produced in China, imported and rebranded by several companies and sold under different names. Below is a non-exhaustive list of them.

NameCompanyDisplayYearCountryNotePhoto
SD 050S ITMC Colors France
SD 90 ITMC Black and white or color France ITMC tele eu SD 90.jpg
SD 050S Soundic Colors Europe Soundic - Programmable TV-game (SD 050).jpg
Programmable system Soundic Black and white Europe
TV Jack 5000 Bandai Colors1978 Japan BANDAI TV JACK 5000.jpg
Palladium Tele-Cassetten Game Neckermann Colors1978 Germany Palladium Tele-Cassetten-Game (825-581) (5).jpg
Video Cassette Lock Takatoku Colors1977 Japan (CTV-8600 or TG 95 OI model). TAKATOKU Video Cassetty Lock.jpg
SD 050 Hanimex Black and white Europe
SD 070 couleur Hanimex Colors Europe
TVG 070C Hanimex Colors Europe Hanimex TVG-070C (with cartridge and joysticks).webp
Secam Systeme vidéo cassettes Secam Colors France On the PCB is written SD-050S Secam systeme video cassettes.jpg
Jeu Video SD 050S Secam Colors France
SD-50 Program 2000 [2] Creatronic Colors [2] 1978 [2] France [2]
Programmable 2003 Elbex Colors1977EuropeProduced in China but sold in Europe
4/303 'Video Secam System' Rollet Colors1983? France Sold also with the name 'Secam Video Systeme' SD-050S
Programmable TV-GameUniversumColors Germany
SD-050 Grandstand Colors United Kingdom
Programmable game Grandstand Colors United Kingdom Also known as Mercury Commander Paul's Mark III – Programmable TV Game 1978 ITMC Soundic SD 90.jpg
Colour Programmable SD070
Video Sports Centre SD070
Grandstand Colors1978 United Kingdom Grandstand Video Sports Center SD070.jpg
Tournament-colour-programmable-2000 Prinztronic Colors Prinztronic-tournament-colour-programmable-2000.jpg
Programmable TV Game SD-050C Tempest 1977 Austria
Superstar 01-4354 Programmable [2] Binatone Colors [2] 1978 [2] United Kingdom [2] Binatone Superstar.jpg
Cablestar 01-4354 [2] Binatone Black and white [2] 1978 [2] United Kingdom [2]
tele-sports III [2] Radofin Colors [2] 1978 [2] Europe Radofin Tele-Sports III Tietokonemuseo.JPG
tele-sports IV [2] Radofin e Acetronic Colors [2] 1978 [2] Europe Acetronic-Telesports-IV.jpg
tele-sports programmable [2] Radofin Colors [2] 1978 [2] Europe
Colour TV Game [2] Acetronic Colors [2] 1978 [2] United Kingdom [2]
Video SD-050 [2] Akur Colors [2] 1978 [2] Germany [2]
Color TVG-872 [2] Cam e ClipperColors [2] 1978(Cam) 1977(clipper) [2] Italy [2]
TVG-888 Irradio Colors Italy
PG-7 programmable Polycon ColorsUnited Kingdom Polycon PG-7 Tietokonemuseo.JPG
9015 Poppy ColorsGermany
TVG 10 Poppy ColorsGermany Poppy TVG 10.jpg
9015 Sanwa ColorsGermany
9015 Mustang ColorsGermany
4A-8 Conic Colors1978 Hong Kong Cartridge format in common with 9015 Conic 4A8 F1a.jpg
Jeu Video Cassette Interchangeables Tele-sports III Univox colors1977 France Jeu Video Cassette Interchangeables Tele-sports III.jpg ,
Color (model TVG 57253)@Mark1978Europe Mark Color (model TVG 57253) (2).webp
TV Game-programmable SD-070Tristar1978Sweden Tristar TV Game-programmable SD-070.webp
Colour Cartridge VMV12 [3] VideomasterColors1979UKCartridge format in common with Palson Videomaster colour cartridge (16).jpg
Game Cassette System CX-336 [3] PalsonColor1978/79SpainCartridge format in common with Videomaster CX-336 Game Cassette System.jpg
Aureac Video PlayAureac VP Electronics1978SpainThe 10 game select keys were on one of the two controllers Aureac VP Electronics Video Play.jpg
Black Point FS 1003 S.H.G. GmbHColors1978West Germany SHG Black Point (FS 1003).png
Black Point FS 2000 S.H.G. GmbHColors1978West Germany S.G.H. Black point FS 2000 F1.jpg

Games

Format difference between Palson CX 336 "Supersport", Radofin Programmable Video System "1001 Superstar" and PC-501 "Supersportic", all with AY-3-8610 inside PC-50x cartridge comparision.jpg
Format difference between Palson CX 336 "Supersport", Radofin Programmable Video System "1001 Superstar" and PC-501 "Supersportic", all with AY-3-8610 inside
Prinztronic Superstar cartridge interior, based on the AY-3-8610 chip Prinztronic Superstar 2001 AY-3-8610 Cart Inside Back.jpg
Prinztronic Superstar cartridge interior, based on the AY-3-8610 chip
AY-3-8710 (PAL version) Tank Battle Panzerspiel.png
AY-3-8710 (PAL version) Tank Battle
CodeFrench nameEnglish nameChip
PC-501
9015-A
SupersportifSports / Supersportic / Superten / SuperstarAY-3-8610 (8 pong games + 2 rifle games)
PC-502
9015-B
MotocycletteMotor cycleAY-3-8760 (4 race games)
PC-503
9015-C
Bataille de charsTank BattleAY-3-8710 (2 tank games)
PC-504
9015-D
Course de voitures GPRacing cars / Grand Prix / Race Car GPAY-3-8603 (2 racing games)
PC-505
9015-G
Bataille navaleSubmarineAY-3-8605 (2 games)
PC-506
9015-E
Jeu de destructionSuper WipeoutAY-3-8606 (10 games)
PC-507
9015-H
Jeux de tirShooting GalleryAY-3-8607 (3 rifle games)
PC-508
9015-F?
6 jeux de baseFundamentalAY-3-8500 [4] (pong games)

References

  1. 1 2 3 http://www.pong-story.com/pc-50x.htm pc-50x cartridges
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 Michael, Starr (2009). VINTROPEDIA – Vintage Computer & Retro Console Price Guide 2009. Vintropedia. ISBN   978-1-4092-1277-5.
  3. 1 2 Videomaster su Pong-Story
  4. "Sly DC's Retro Gaming Blog: PC-508 Fundamental cartridge". 19 November 2016.