PC-50x Family
ManufacturerA lot of companies
TypeHome video game console
GenerationFirst generation
Lifespan1977–1982
MediaROM cartridge
CPUGeneral 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 ...).

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.

Name Company Display Year Country Note Photo
SD 050S ITMC Colors France
SD 90 ITMC Black and white or color France
SD 050S Soundic Colors Europe
Programmable system Soundic Black and white Europe
TV Jack 5000 Bandai Colors 1978 Japan
Video Cassette Lock Takatoku Colors 1977 Japan (CTV-8600 or TG 95 OI model).
SD 050 Hanimex Black and white Europe
SD 070 couleur Hanimex Colors Europe
TVG 070C Hanimex Colors Europe
Secam Systeme vidéo cassettes Secam Colors France On the PCB is written SD-050S
Jeu Video SD 050S Secam Colors France
SD-50 Program 2000[2] Creatronic Colors [2] 1978[2] France[2]
Programmable 2003 Elbex Colors 1977 Europe Produced in China but sold in Europe
4/303 'Video Secam System' Rollet Colors 1983? France Sold also with the name 'Secam Video Systeme' SD-050S
Programmable TV-Game Universum Colors 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
Colour Programmable SD070
Video Sports Centre SD070		 Grandstand Colors 1978 United Kingdom
Tournament-colour-programmable-2000 Prinztronic Colors
Programmable TV Game SD-050C Tempest 1977 Austria
Superstar 01-4354 Programmable[2] Binatone Colors[2] 1978[2] United Kingdom[2]
Cablestar 01-4354[2] Binatone Black and white [2] 1978 [2] United Kingdom[2]
tele-sports III[2] Radofin Colors[2] 1978[2] Europe
tele-sports IV[2] Radofin e Acetronic Colors[2] 1978[2] Europe
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 Clipper Colors [2] 1978(Cam) 1977(clipper)[2] Italy[2]
TVG-888 Irradio Colors Italy
PG-7 programmable Polycon Colors United Kingdom
9015 Poppy Colors Germany
TVG 10 Poppy Colors Germany
9015 Sanwa Colors Germany
9015 Mustang Colors Germany
4A-8 Conic Colors 1978 Hong Kong Cartridge format in common with 9015
Jeu Video Cassette Interchangeables Tele-sports III Univox colors 1977 France ,
Color (model TVG 57253) @Mark 1978 Europe
TV Game-programmable SD-070 Tristar 1978 Sweden
Colour Cartridge VMV12[3] Videomaster Colors 1979 UK Cartridge format in common with Palson
Game Cassette System CX-336[3] Palson Color 1978/79 Spain Cartridge format in common with Videomaster
Aureac Video Play Aureac VP Electronics 1978 Spain The 10 game select keys were on one of the two controllers
Black Point FS 1003 S.H.G. GmbH Colors 1978 West Germany
Black Point FS 2000 S.H.G. GmbH Colors 1978 West Germany

Games

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
Code French name English name Chip
PC-501
9015-A		 Supersportif Sports / Supersportic / Superten / Superstar AY-3-8610 (8 pong games + 2 rifle games)
PC-502
9015-B		 Motocyclette Motor cycle AY-3-8760 (4 race games)
PC-503
9015-C		 Bataille de chars Tank Battle AY-3-8710 (2 tank games)
PC-504
9015-D		 Course de voitures GP Racing cars / Grand Prix / Race Car GP AY-3-8603 (2 racing games)
PC-505
9015-G		 Bataille navale Submarine AY-3-8605 (2 games)
PC-506
9015-E		 Jeu de destruction Super Wipeout AY-3-8606 (10 games)
PC-507
9015-H		 Jeux de tir Shooting Gallery AY-3-8607 (3 rifle games)
PC-508
9015-F?		 6 jeux de base Fundamental AY-3-8500 [4] (pong games)

References

  1. ^ a b c http://www.pong-story.com/pc-50x.htm pc-50x cartridges
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag Michael, Starr (2009). VINTROPEDIA – Vintage Computer & Retro Console Price Guide 2009. Vintropedia. ISBN 978-1-4092-1277-5.
  3. ^ a b Videomaster su Pong-Story
  4. ^ "Sly DC's Retro Gaming Blog: PC-508 Fundamental cartridge". 19 November 2016.

External links

Video game consoles (first generation)
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