VTech CreatiVision

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VTech CreatiVision
VTech CreatiVision Logo.png
CreatiVision-Console-Set.jpg
VTech CreatiVision
Manufacturer VTech
Type Home video game console/Home computer
Generation Second generation
Release date1982;43 years ago (1982) (Hong Kong)
DiscontinuedEarly 1986
CPU Rockwell 6502 @ 2 MHz
Memory1 Kb RAM, 16 Kb VRAM
Storage Cassette tapes
Removable storage ROM cartridges
Graphics Texas Instruments TMS 9918/9929
Sound TI SN76489
Controller input Joystick/membrane keypad controllers
Successor VTech Socrates

The VTech CreatiVision is a hybrid computer and home video game console introduced by VTech in 1981 and released in 1982 during the second generation of video game consoles. It cost $295 Australian Dollars in Australia. [1] The hybrid unit was similar in concept to computers such as the APF Imagination Machine, [2] the older VideoBrain Family Computer, and to a lesser extent the Intellivision game console and Coleco Adam computer, all of which anticipated the trend of video game consoles becoming more like low-end computers. It was discontinued in 1986. [3] [1]

Contents

History

The CreatiVision was distributed in many European countries, including most German-speaking countries like West Germany, Austria and Switzerland and also Italy, South Africa, in Israel under the Educat 2002 name, as well as in Australia and New Zealand under The Dick Smith Wizzard name. Other names for the system (all officially produced by VTech themselves) include the FunVision Computer Video Games System, Hanimex Rameses (both released in Australia and New Zealand) and VZ 2000 (planned for release in France, likely unreleased). All CreatiVision and similar clones were designed for use with PAL standard television sets, except the Japanese CreatiVision (distributed by Cheryco) which was NTSC and is nowadays much sought after by collectors. However, the US release was planned but never sold efficiently.

VTech CreatiVision rebranded as The Dick Smith Wizzard VTech-CreatiVision-Console-02.jpg
VTech CreatiVision rebranded as The Dick Smith Wizzard

The CreatiVision console sports an 8-bit Rockwell 6502 CPU at a speed of 2 MHz, 1KB of RAM and 16KB of Video RAM, and has a graphics resolution of 256 × 192 with 16 colors and 32 sprites. [3] [1] The console has two integrated joystick/membrane keypad controllers (much like the ColecoVision and Atari 5200) which, when set in a special compartment on top of the console, can be used as a computer keyboard. The CreatiVision has interfaces for a cassette player, an extra rubber keyboard, parallel I/O interface, floppy disk drive and modem (likely unreleased) and one memory expansion module for use with the Basic language cartridge. Any Centronics-compatible printer can be connected to the I/O module if present.

The CreatiVision was discontinued in late 1985/early 1986. [3] [1]

Laser 2001 computer

A computer was produced by VTech in 1984-1986, based on CreatiVision hardware and compatible with most of its games: Laser 2001, which is also sold in West Germany and was brought to France. It was also available in Finland through Salora , with the name of Manager. [3] [4] The Manager had a Finnish keyboard layout and character set.

Colecovision module

A module to allow ColecoVision games to be played was designed for use with the CreatiVision Mark-2 model (a later revision of the 1st model, incorporating hardware changes specifically designed to make the Coleco-module work). Before being produced, the module was modified internally and released for use on the Laser 2001 and Manager computers only. A special adaptor (homebrew) would be needed to make the Coleco-module work on the CreatiVision Mark-2.

List of games

In some regions, the console and its games were distributed by different companies, such as Cheryco in Japan, and Hanimex in Australia. VTech reissued several previous existing games in 1985.

There were 18 titles known to have been released.

  Background shading indicates games that were reissued in 1985.
#TitleAKA title(s)Genre(s)Clone ofRelease year
1Air/Sea Attack Flag of Japan.svg Submarine
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Air/Sea Battle
Fixed shooter 1981
2Astro Pinball Pinball None1982
3Auto Chase Flag of Australia (converted).svg Car Chase Maze, Driving Rally-X 1981
4BASIC Interpreter 1.0NoneNone1982
5Chopper Rescue Scrolling shooter 1983
6Crazy Chicky Flag of Japan.svg Crazy Paku Maze Pac-Man(with modified gameplay)1982
7Crazy Pucker [note 1] Maze Pac-Man 1981
8Deep Sea Adventure Scrolling shooter Defender1982
9Locomotive Platformer BurgerTime 1983
10Mouse Puzzle Puzzle Loco-Motion 1982
11Music Maker Music None1983
12Planet Defender Flag of Japan.svg Earth Defense Force (Chikyū Bōeigun)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Galaxy Defender
Scrolling shooter Defender 1981
13Police Jump Platformer Donkey Kong 1982
14Soccer Sports None1983
15Sonic Invader Flag of Australia (converted).svg Invaders Fixed shooter Space Invaders 1981
16Stone Age Puzzle Pengo 1984
17Tank Attack Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tank Battle Multi-directional shooter Combat (video game) 1981
18Tennis Flag of Australia (converted).svg Who's for Tennis? Sports None1981

Notes

  1. Crazy Pucker was reissued with two different titles; Crazy Chewy and Crazy Moonie.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "CreatiVision by VTech – The Video Game Kraken" . Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  2. "VTech CreatiVision - Player's Choice Video Games". www.playerschoicevideogames.com. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum". 2010-11-21. Archived from the original on 2010-11-21. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  4. "Dick Smith's Wizzard-ry 8 (Bit)". Archived from the original on 2025-04-09. CreatiVision is a video game console. It was developed by VTech [..who..] themselves turned it into the Laser 2001, Salora sold it as the Salora Manager in Finland