PC-50x Family
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 1975 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 ...).
 | |
| Manufacturer | A lot of companies |
|---|---|
| Type | Home video game console |
| Generation | First generation |
| Lifespan | 1975–1982 |
| Media | ROM cartridge |
| CPU | General Instrument AY-3-8xxx. |
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. Those in color were often marked with the initial letter S of SECAM, the French standard of the color coding.
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 | .jpg.webp) | ||
| 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 | .jpg.webp) | ||
| 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 | |||
| Jeu Video Cassette Interchangeables Tele-sports III | Univox | colors | 1977 | France |  |
Games
| 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 [3] (pong games) |
References
- http://www.pong-story.com/pc-50x.htm pc-50x cartridges
- Michael, Starr (2009). VINTROPEDIA – Vintage Computer & Retro Console Price Guide 2009. Vintropedia. ISBN 978-1-4092-1277-5.
- http://discreteconsoles.blogspot.com/2016/11/pc-508-fundamental-cartridge.html