1292 Advanced Programmable Video System
 The Acetronic MPU 1000 | |
| Manufacturer | Audiosonic |
|---|---|
| Type | Home video game console |
| Generation | Second generation |
| Release date | 1978 |
| Discontinued | 1983 |
| CPU | 8-bit Signetics 2650AI @ 4.43MHz |
| Memory | 43 bytes |
| Removable storage | Cartridge 2 K.Byte ROM (Activision branded ones, up to 8 K.Bytes) |
| Controller input | 2 × 12-button with 2-axis control stick |
| Power | Input 250 V, 50 Hz; Output 9.5 V, 0.4 A & 15 V, 0.11 A |
The 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System is a second-generation home video game console released by European company Audiosonic in 1978. It is part of a group of software-compatible consoles which include the Interton VC-4000 and the Voltmace Database. The 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System included its power pack inside the console instead of an exterior power pack.
Specifications
- CPU: 8-bit Signetics 2650AI at 4.43 MHz
- Audiovisual co-processor (video chipset, I/O Processor): Signetics 2636N at 3.58 MHz, addressing 32 kB of memory in 8 kB banks. This chipset was less powerful than the later model Signetics 2637N used in the Arcadia 2001.
- Data Memory: 43 bytes
Graphics
- Sprites: 4 single colour sprites (1 can be 8 colours)
- 1 score line displaying 4 BCD digits
- Background consisting of a series of alternating lines
Misc
- The early games cartridges used a 2 KByte ROM, later ones, such as Activision branded ones, up to 8 KBytes
- Very basic arcade machine sound
User programming
An expensive (£49 in the UK in 1977) Hobby Module was available which gave 6.5 kb of user-programmable memory and had a 5 pin DIN socket to allow software to be saved to a cassette tape player. This converted the unit into a halfway house between a home computer and an ordinary gaming console.
The user had to be familiar with programming in Signetics 2650 assembly language and the unconventional ways and register architecture of the Signetics 2650 processor. For example, on many other processors an opcode 0 indicates "no operation" whereas on the 2650 it instructs the processor to Branch To Address In Immediate Register B. This was a source of many software debugging hassles for budding home programmers.[citation needed]
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). Here a table of the consoles grouped by compatibility family (due to the slots).
| Name | Manufacturer | Country | Compatibility family | Other | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System | Radofin | Germany | 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System | Known also as "Radofin Programmierbares Video System" (1979). The 1292 has an external power supply. | |
| 1392 Advanced Programmable Video System | Europe | (1979). The 1392 has an internal power supply. | |||
| HMG-1292 Advanced Programmable Video System | Hanimex | Australia and New Zealand | |||
| HMG-1392 Advanced Programmable Video System | Australia and New Zealand | 
| |||
| Force 2 | Fountain | Australia and New Zealand | (1979) | ||
| 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System | Australia and New Zealand | (1979) | |||
| 1392 Advanced Programmable Video System | Australia and New Zealand | (1979) | |||
| Advanced Programmable Video System | Grandstand | ||||
| Lansay 1392 | Lansay | Europe | (1979) | ||
| PP-1292 Advanced Programmable Video System | Audiosonic | Europe | (1978) | ||
| PP-1392 Advanced Programmable Video System | Europe | (1978) | |||
| VC-6000 | Prinztronic | United Kingdom | (1979) | ||
| MPU-1000 | Acetronic | United Kingdom | (1979) (Pictured) |
| |
| MPU-2000 | United Kingdom | (1979) | |||
| Database | Videomaster\Voltmace | United Kingdom | Database System | ||
| Television Computer System | Rowtron | United Kingdom | Television Computer System | (1979) | |
| Television Computer System | Teleng | United Kingdom | |||
| Jeu Video TV | Karvan | France | Video TV Game | ||
| OC-2000 | Societe Occitane Electronique | France | |||
| Vidéo Ordinateur MPT-05 | ITMC | France | MPT-05 | (1983) | 
|
| Super Play Computer 4000 | Grundig | Germany | Interton VC-4000 | 
| |
| VC 4000 | Interton | Europe | (1978) | 
| |
| CX-3000 Data Bass Sistem | Palson | Spain | |||
| Tele Computer | Aureac | Spain | Palson CX-3000 clone | ||
| Video Computer H-21 | TRQ | Spain | Interton VC-4000 (partial) | TRQ carts fit and work on Interton consoles. Interton carts don't fit in TRQ consoles. |
Games
Although, not much information is known about the release dates of the cartridges, the total number of the games should be 59 (33 games released by Radofin between 1977-1978, 19 games for the Interton VC-4000 and compatibles after 1978, and 7 more games released around 1980).[1]
References
- ^ "Amigan Software archive for 1292 APVS & Interton VC 4000 game charts". amigan.1emu.net. 2007-02-07. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
External links
- IGDB.com entry & 1292 APVS games list (With accurate explanation for misconception of the earlier 1976 release)
- SHAMELESSLIFE wordpress blog entry for details for 1292 APVS & Interton VC 4000
- Video Game Console Library entry for the 1292 APVS / VC 4000 family
- Arcade Italia entry for MAME compatibility