Ultimate list of pre-1989 programmable handhelds/tabletops
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 1:43 am
How many handhelds/tabletops that accpted media were released before 1989? To the average Joe, none. But we historians here all know about the Milton Bradley Microvision, Entex Adventure Vision, and GCE Vectrex. But there were quite a few others, so obscure they aren't even memtioned in major classic video game books! Here's what I have so far:
Romtec Colorvision: Tabletop that looked a bit like an Adventure Vision, with like 5 games.
Entex Select-a-Game: 1981 awkward system by Entex, 6 games released.
Entex Table Top Game Machine: The planned follow-up from Entex. Many improvements, but sadly was never released.
Bandai Digi: Two variations, both came with two cartridges. None apparently were sold seperatly. Has to be Japan-only.
Epoch Game Pocket Computer: Japan-only, looks cool.
Mattel Children's Discovery System: Looks like a mini, tabletop computer. Need more info on this.
Coleco Quiz Wiz: Not exactly sure this counts (it's a trivia machine), but it did indeed accept media.
Longoria Electrivia: Not much info on this, not sure if it's a system or not. Apparently, from 1986.
1974 HP-65 calculator: Programmable and accepted cards, although no games were released. Very expensive.
Come on historians, let's try and get the complete list!
Romtec Colorvision: Tabletop that looked a bit like an Adventure Vision, with like 5 games.
Entex Select-a-Game: 1981 awkward system by Entex, 6 games released.
Entex Table Top Game Machine: The planned follow-up from Entex. Many improvements, but sadly was never released.
Bandai Digi: Two variations, both came with two cartridges. None apparently were sold seperatly. Has to be Japan-only.
Epoch Game Pocket Computer: Japan-only, looks cool.
Mattel Children's Discovery System: Looks like a mini, tabletop computer. Need more info on this.
Coleco Quiz Wiz: Not exactly sure this counts (it's a trivia machine), but it did indeed accept media.
Longoria Electrivia: Not much info on this, not sure if it's a system or not. Apparently, from 1986.
1974 HP-65 calculator: Programmable and accepted cards, although no games were released. Very expensive.
Come on historians, let's try and get the complete list!