The Interton Video Computer 4000 (officially abbreviated as Interton VC 4000) is an early

8-bit In computer architecture, 8-bit Integer (computer science), integers or other Data (computing), data units are those that are 8 bits wide (1 octet (computing), octet). Also, 8-bit central processing unit (CPU) and arithmetic logic unit (ALU) arc ...

ROM cartridge A ROM cartridge, usually referred to in context simply as a cartridge, cart, or card, is a replaceable part designed to be connected to a consumer electronics device such as a home computer, video game console or, to a lesser extent, electroni ...

-based second-generation

home video game console A home video game console is a video game console that is designed to be connected to a display device, such as a television, and an external power source as to play video games. Home consoles are generally less powerful and customizable than ...

that was released in

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Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

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, the

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and

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1978 Events January * January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213. * January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of Republican People's Party, CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd go ...

by German hearing aid manufacturer Interton. The console is quite obscure outside Germany, but many software-compatible systems can be found in numerous European countries (see versions of the 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System). The console is the successor of the Interton Video 3001 and was sold for 298

Deutsche Mark The Deutsche Mark (; English: ''German mark''), abbreviated "DM" or "D-Mark" (), was the official currency of West Germany from 1948 until 1990 and later the unified Germany from 1990 until the adoption of the euro in 2002. In English, it was ...

and discontinued in 1983. It's unknown if Interton designed and produced the Interton VC 4000 within their own rights, or if they were sold the rights to design and produce it. This is because many other foreign brands have produced "clones" of this system in the preceding years. The Interton VC 4000's power comes from a

Signetics 2650 The Signetics 2650 was an 8-bit microprocessor introduced in July 1975. According to Adam Osborne's book ''An Introduction to Microprocessors Vol 2: Some Real Products'', it was "the most minicomputer-like" of the microprocessors available at the ...

CPU (which is the same as an

Arcadia 2001 The Arcadia 2001 is a second-generation 8-bit home video game console released by Emerson Radio in May 1982 for a price of US$ 99, several months before the release of ColecoVision. It was discontinued only 18 months later, with a total of 35 g ...

) and a

Signetics 2636 Signetics Corporation was an American electronics manufacturer specifically established to make integrated circuits. Founded in 1961, they went on to develop a number of early microprocessors and support chips, as well as the widely used 555 time ...

gaming controller. Both controllers contain a 12-button keypad, two fire buttons, and a joystick. Inside the systems control panel, there are four different buttons. The ON/OFF switch, RESET, SELECT, and START.

Released versions

The console was produced by different companies and sold with different names. Not every console is compatible with others due to differences in the shapes and dimensions of the cartridge slots, but all of the systems are software compatible. In the article about the 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System, there is a table with all the software-compatible consoles grouped by compatibility family (due to the slots).

Technical specifications

* CPU:

A at 0.887 MHz * Video controller: Signetics 2636 * Data memory: 37 bytes

List of games

The games for the Interton VC 4000 were released on ROM cartridges known as cassettes that were sold for 40-50

each. # Cassette - Car Races # Cassette - Blackjack # Cassette - Paddle Games # Cassette - Tank Battle # Cassette - Mathematics I # Cassette - Mathematics II # Cassette - Air/Sea Battle # Cassette - Memory/Flag Capture # Cassette - Intelligence I # Cassette - Winter Sports # Cassette - Hippodrome # Cassette - Hunting # Cassette - Chess # Cassette - Motocross # Cassette - Intelligence II # Cassette - Intelligence III # Cassette - Circus # Cassette - Boxing Match # Cassette - Outer Space Combat # Cassette - Melody/Simon # Cassette - Intelligence IV/Reversi # Cassette - Chess II # Cassette - Pinball # Cassette - Soccer # Cassette - Bowling/Ninepins # Cassette - Draughts # Cassette - Golf # Cassette - Cockpit # Cassette - Metropolis/Hangman # Cassette - Solitaire # Cassette - Casino # Cassette - Invaders # Cassette - Super Invaders # Cassette - Space Laser (Unreleased) # Cassette - Rodeo (Unreleased) # Cassette - Backgammon # Cassette - Monster Man # Cassette - Hyperspace # Cassette - Basketball (Unreleased) # Cassette - Super-Space

External links

SHAMELESSLIFE wordpress blog entry
for details for 1292 APVS & Interton VC 4000

for the 1292 APVS / VC 4000 family
Arcade Italia entry
for MAME compatibility

References

{{Home video game consoles Home video game consoles Second-generation video game consoles Products introduced in 1978

Released versions

Technical specifications

List of games

See also

External links

References