APF TV Fun
Encyclopedia
The APF TV Fun is a series of early Pong clone consoles manufactured by APF Electronics Inc. and built in Japan
starting in 1976. The systems were among the first built on the General Instruments 'Pong on a chip', the AY-3-8500
, that allowed many manufacturers to compete against the Atari home pong.
The model 401 and 401a features four built in games, a built in speaker, and two controller knobs, Toggle Switches (choices are "Professional" and "Amateur") for the following settings - Angle / Bat Size / Ball Speed. There are 2 buttons - Power and Start Game, and a dial to select between the four built-in games.
The 402 model, the Sportsarama, had peripherals including two more wired analog paddle controllers, and a plastic all black light gun. The 402 had different options, lacking the angle / bat size/ ball speed, but adding in options for 4 player games, a manual or auto serve, a serve button, and the light gun game. The 401 and the 402 models were both built in the same faux woodgrain cabinet. Either could be powered by an AC adapter or by using six C size batteries.
Other models included the 405, the 442, the 444, and the 500. Most or all the consoles were manufactured in Japan. They also sold a 'Match' system, which was in a different, more boxy woodgrain cabinet. This had two detachable wired controllers, based on the same General Instruments chip.
The TV Fun package is the first excursion of APF into the video game market, APF was formerly a calculator and other small electronics developer. It was sold at Sears under the name Hockey Jockari. TV Fun was followed up by the 8 bit MP 1000 and then APF Imagination Machine
beginning in 1979. These were made to compete in the 2nd generation of early ROM cartridge consoles, namely the Atari VCS.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
starting in 1976. The systems were among the first built on the General Instruments 'Pong on a chip', the AY-3-8500
AY-3-8500
The AY-3-8500 "Ball & Paddle" integrated circuit was the first in a series of ICs from General Instrument designed for the consumer video game market. These chips were designed to output video to an RF modulator which would then display the game on a domestic TV set. The AY-3-8500 contained six...
, that allowed many manufacturers to compete against the Atari home pong.
The model 401 and 401a features four built in games, a built in speaker, and two controller knobs, Toggle Switches (choices are "Professional" and "Amateur") for the following settings - Angle / Bat Size / Ball Speed. There are 2 buttons - Power and Start Game, and a dial to select between the four built-in games.
The 402 model, the Sportsarama, had peripherals including two more wired analog paddle controllers, and a plastic all black light gun. The 402 had different options, lacking the angle / bat size/ ball speed, but adding in options for 4 player games, a manual or auto serve, a serve button, and the light gun game. The 401 and the 402 models were both built in the same faux woodgrain cabinet. Either could be powered by an AC adapter or by using six C size batteries.
Other models included the 405, the 442, the 444, and the 500. Most or all the consoles were manufactured in Japan. They also sold a 'Match' system, which was in a different, more boxy woodgrain cabinet. This had two detachable wired controllers, based on the same General Instruments chip.
The TV Fun package is the first excursion of APF into the video game market, APF was formerly a calculator and other small electronics developer. It was sold at Sears under the name Hockey Jockari. TV Fun was followed up by the 8 bit MP 1000 and then APF Imagination Machine
APF Imagination Machine
The APF Imagination Machine was a combination home video game console and computer system released by APF Electronics Inc. in late 1979. It was composed of two separate components, the APF-M1000 game system, and an add on docking bay with full sized typewriter keyboard and tape drive. The APF-M1000...
beginning in 1979. These were made to compete in the 2nd generation of early ROM cartridge consoles, namely the Atari VCS.