Manufacturer Interton Introductory price €153 | Generation Second generation Discontinued 1983 | |
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Type Home video game console Release date 1978; 39 years ago (1978) | ||
The VC 4000 is an early 8-bit cartridge-based home video game console released in Germany in 1978 by Interton. The console is quite obscure outside Germany, but a myriad of software-compatible systems can be found in numerous European countries (see 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System).
Contents
It's unknown if Interton designed and produced the 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 VC-4000's power comes from a Signetics 2650 CPU (which is the same as an Arcadia 2001) and a Signetics 2636 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 consoles 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
List of games
The games for the VC 4000 were released on ROM cartridges known as cassettes.