VideoSport MK2

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VideoSport MK2
VideoSport MK2.jpg
A VideoSport MK2
ManufacturerVideoSport Ltd. / Redbourn Plastics
Type Dedicated home video game console
Generation First generation
Release dateMarch 1975
Lifespan1975 - 1977?
Introductory price£37.50
DiscontinuedUnknown
Units sold>10,000 (as of May 1976)
Units shippedUnknown
WeightUnknown
PredecessorNone
SuccessorNone

The VideoSport MK2 is a dedicated home video game console produced by VideoSport Ltd. and Redbourn Plastics, based on Saint Albans (Hertfordshire). [1] It was mostly distributed by Henry's, a British retailer of television and Hi-fi equipment, starting in 1975 until 1977. [2] [3] [4] Customers could purchase the console in stores or have it delivered to them by mail. [3] The original price was £37.50 in March 1975; it dropped to £34.72 in May 1975, to £29.50 in May 1976 and to £20.20 later in 1976 or early 1977. [3] By May 1976, over 10,000 units of the console had been sold. [3]

Contents

It was one of the first European video game consoles. [3]

Hardware

Console and controllers

A close up of the VideoSport MK2 showing the knob used to choose between the console's three games Video Sport MK2 TV Game, c.1974 - detail (2008-06-05 by Mads Bodker).jpg
A close up of the VideoSport MK2 showing the knob used to choose between the console's three games

The console has a central body with only a power switch and a knob to select one of three games: Football, Tennis/Pong and Hole-in-the-wall. [3] There are two controllers with cables that connect to the console, with two paddles each (for vertical and horizontal movement) and a button (for serving and goal kicking). [3] There were two variations of the console, the original VideoSport MK2 with gold letters and a later VideoSport MK2 without gold letters, likely introduced in an attempt to reduce production costs. [3] The VideoSport MK2 was mostly assembled by hand, and the colour of the push buttons depended on what parts had been purchased "on the fly". [3]

Technical specifications

Inside the console, there are only two TTL-type integrated circuits, each containing four NAND ports. The remaining circuitry comprises discrete components only. [3] The power supply is provided only through the mains current. [3]

References

  1. ↑ Martorell, Martin F. (8 July 2024). "VideoSport MK2 (1975)". prehistoricgaming (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  2. ↑ Tristan, Donovan (2010). "Hardware Glossary". Replay, The History of Video Games. Lewes (Regno Unito): Yellow Ant. ISBN   978-0-9565072-2-8.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Pong-Story : Henry's VideoSport MK2". pong-story.com. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  4. ↑ J. P. Wolf, Mark. The Video Game Explosion: A History from PONG to Playstation and Beyond.
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