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Info for vc4000


====== Interton VC4000 (1978) ======




===== Features =====

* grid
* 4 8x10 single color sprites
* single channel sound
* special << load/reset button (must be pressed after power up)
* special > select button
* special start button
* 2 controller with analog joystick and 14 key keypad



===== Usage =====

== Controller keypad ==

(keys do not have a label)

a b

c d e

f g h

i j k

l m n

Note that a,b,d are the same: fire

== Dumping Cartridges ==

9316 type ROMs are commonly used in these cartridges (a little bit different to 2716). Look into messroms for a pinout of it.





===== History and Trivia =====

Driver based on info by Paul Robson, Christian Windler, sponsored by Andreas W.

The Interton VC 4000 was quite popular in Germany. Interton produced a series of pong systems before releasing the VC-4000 in 1978. The console is quite obscure outside Germany, but many "software compatible" systems can be found in many countries (at least in Europe). It's unclear if Interton really made the VC-4000 from scratch or if they bought the rights and the design to produce it, as many other brands produced similar systems the following years. The same thing will happen with very similar systems: Emerson Arcadia 2001 & "clones"...

According to the excellent research work from Dale Hansen, the 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System from Radofin would be the first member of the line as it was released in 1976! Radofin then licensed its system wordlwide to different companies.

The VC-4000 is powered by a Sgnetics 2650A CPU (same as Arcadia 2001) and a Signetics 2636 Video Controller (Arcadia 2001 uses a 2637). The two controllers are composed of a 12 keys keypad, 2 fire buttons and an analog joystick. On the control panel of the system, one can find an on/off switch and three buttons: RESET, SELECT and START.

One particularity about this videogame "family" (VC-4000 & clones), is that they seem to be the only systems which required the game to be loaded into internal RAM from the cartridge, before being able to play (generally through a LOAD PROGRAM or equivalent button found on the control panel. On the VC-4000 it's the RESET button).

About 40 cartridges were released (37 so far). The games are not bad for 1978, but not impressive too...

//(info from old-computers.com)//

== Models ==

The Interton VC-4000 is part of a group of consoles that all use a Signetics 2650A CPU inside (the same processor used in the Emerson Arcadia 2001). This group of consoles is believed to have started with the Interton VC-4000 (produced as early as 1974, but sold in 1978), because out of the group this console has the largest amount of games. The games on the 1292 are also similar to the games on the Interton VC-4000 (some have same titles and numbers). There are about six sub-groups within the Interton VC-4000 group. These are:

* Interton VC-4000 consoles
* Grundig: Super Play Computer 4000
* Interton: VC-4000
* 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System consoles
* Acetronic: MPU-1000, MPU-2000
* Audiosonic: PP-1292 Advanced Programmable Video System, PP-1392 Advanced Programmable Video System
* Fountain: 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System, 1392 Advanced Programmable Video System, Force 2
* Grandstand: Advanced Programmable Video System
* Hanimex: HMG-1292 Advanced Programmable Video System, HMG-1392 Advanced Programmable Video System
* Lansay: Lansay 1392
* Prinztronic: VC-6000, Prinztronic Tournament
* Radofin: 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System, 1392 Advanced Programmable Video System
* Database consoles
* Videomaster: Database
* Waddington/Voltmace: Database
* Television Computer System consoles
* Rowtron: Television Computer System
* Video TV Game consoles
* Karvan: Jeu Video TV
* Societe Occitane Electronique: OC-2000
* MPT-05 consoles
* ITMC MPT-05

To the 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System sub-group there possibly belong also the Lansay 1292 (needs confirmation as to whether this console exists) and the Acetronic MPU-3000, released 1980 (compatibility with the 1292 series needs to be confirmed).

Notice that consoles are directly compatible with the other consoles in its sub-group, i.e. the cartridge sizes are the same. It is quite possible (in some cases, depending on which machine is being used) that games can be played on another sub-group's console, but a converter would be needed. It is known for a fact that games made for the Database group of consoles can be played on the 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System sub-group because Voltmace made a converter that would allow this. The converter was advertised but its release is unconfirmed. Database games can definitely be played on Interton VC-4000 sub-group consoles. Voltmace made a converter to allow this and it was released. It is quite possible that all of the consoles in the Interton VC-4000 are cross-compatible, if only the correct converters were made. This would mean that the only thing restricting us from playing one system's games on another system within a different sub-group would be the cartridge size and only the cartridge size.

//(info on the models from 1292 FAQ -- http://www.consoledatabase.com/faq/1292/1292faq.txt)//



===== Links =====

* VC4000.de -- http://www.vc4000.de/
* Obscure Pixels (Many interesting weird & obscure stuff, including Arcadia 2001 / Interton VC 4000 compatible systems) -- http://www.retrogames.co.nz/
* VC-4000 & 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System FAQ -- http://www.consoledatabase.com/faq/1292/1292faq.txt
* VC4000 at old-computers.com -- http://old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=726




Generated on Sun Jul 19 10:17:28 2009