PC-50x Family
ManufacturerA lot of companies
TypeHome video game console
GenerationFirst generation
Lifespan1977–1982
MediaROM cartridge
CPUGeneral Instrument AY-3-8xxx.

The PC-50x Family (also known as SD-050,[1] SD-070,[1] SD-090,[1] 9015) is a series of home video game consoles belonging to the first generation prevalent in Europe between 1977 and the early 1980s, all produced in Asia. The designation PC-50x of the series derives from the name of the cartridges (PC-501, PC-502 ...).

The consoles do not have a central processor; all the games are implemented thanks to the individual chips in the cartridges, all based on the chip family AY-3-8xxx of General Instrument. The family also includes the so-called "9015" series in which it changes the name (9015-A, 9015-B ...) and changes the shape of the cartridges but uses the same AY-3-8xxx chips.

Common features

Some consoles produced colored screens while others were black and white. Of the color consoles some were marked with the initial letter S of SECAM, the French standard of the color coding, used for example in France (and colonies) and Russia.

Features common to all the consoles in the family are the 10 keys for choosing the game, a start/reset button, 4/5 switches for game settings and two joystick with one button on each.

For many models, in the name there are the SD letters, which stand for Soundic (Hong Kong), the real manufacturer of the console.

Consoles list

The consoles were produced in China, imported and rebranded by several companies and sold under different names. Below is a non-exhaustive list of them.

Name Company Display Year Country Note Photo
SD 050SITMCColorsFrance
SD 90ITMCBlack and white or colorFrance
SD 050SSoundicColorsEurope
Programmable systemSoundicBlack and whiteEurope
TV Jack 5000BandaiColors1978Japan
Video Cassette LockTakatokuColors1977Japan(CTV-8600 or TG 95 OI model).
SD 050HanimexBlack and whiteEurope
SD 070 couleurHanimexColorsEurope
TVG 070CHanimexColorsEurope
Secam Systeme vidéo cassettesSecamColorsFranceOn the PCB is written SD-050S
Jeu Video SD 050SSecamColorsFrance
SD-50 Program 2000[2]CreatronicColors [2]1978[2]France[2]
Programmable 2003ElbexColors 1977 Europe Produced in China but sold in Europe
4/303 'Video Secam System'RolletColors1983?FranceSold also with the name 'Secam Video Systeme' SD-050S
Programmable TV-GameUniversumColorsGermany
SD-050GrandstandColorsUnited Kingdom
Programmable gameGrandstandColorsUnited KingdomAlso known as Mercury Commander Paul's Mark III – Programmable TV Game
Colour Programmable SD070
Video Sports Centre SD070		GrandstandColors1978United Kingdom
Tournament-colour-programmable-2000PrinztronicColors
Programmable TV Game SD-050CTempest1977Austria
Superstar 01-4354 Programmable[2]BinatoneColors[2]1978[2]United Kingdom[2]
Cablestar 01-4354[2]BinatoneBlack and white [2]1978 [2]United Kingdom[2]
tele-sports III[2]RadofinColors[2]1978[2]Europe
tele-sports IV[2]Radofin e AcetronicColors[2]1978[2]Europe
tele-sports programmable[2]RadofinColors [2]1978 [2]Europe
Colour TV Game[2]AcetronicColors [2]1978 [2]United Kingdom[2]
Video SD-050[2]AkurColors [2]1978 [2]Germany[2]
Color TVG-872[2]Cam e ClipperColors [2]1978(Cam) 1977(clipper)[2]Italy[2]
TVG-888IrradioColorsItaly
PG-7 programmablePolyconColorsUnited Kingdom
9015PoppyColorsGermany
TVG 10PoppyColorsGermany
9015SanwaColorsGermany
9015MustangColorsGermany
4A-8ConicColors1978Hong KongCartridge format in common with 9015
Jeu Video Cassette Interchangeables Tele-sports IIIUnivoxcolors1977France,
Color (model TVG 57253)@Mark1978Europe
TV Game-programmable SD-070Tristar1978Sweden
Colour Cartridge VMV12[3]VideomasterColors1979UKCartridge format in common with Palson
Game Cassette System CX-336[3]PalsonColor1978/79SpainCartridge format in common with Videomaster
Aureac Video PlayAureac VP Electronics1978SpainThe 10 game select keys were on one of the two controllers
Black Point FS 1003S.H.G. GmbHColors1978West Germany
Black Point FS 2000S.H.G. GmbHColors1978West Germany

Games

Format difference between Palson CX 336 "Supersport", Radofin Programmable Video System "1001 Superstar" and PC-501 "Supersportic", all with AY-3-8610 inside
Prinztronic Superstar cartridge interior, based on the AY-3-8610 chip
Code French name English name Chip
PC-501
9015-A		SupersportifSports / Supersportic / Superten / SuperstarAY-3-8610 (8 pong games + 2 rifle games)
PC-502
9015-B		MotocycletteMotor cycleAY-3-8760 (4 race games)
PC-503
9015-C		Bataille de charsTank BattleAY-3-8710 (2 tank games)
PC-504
9015-D		Course de voitures GPRacing cars / Grand Prix / Race Car GPAY-3-8603 (2 racing games)
PC-505
9015-G		Bataille navaleSubmarineAY-3-8605 (2 games)
PC-506
9015-E		Jeu de destructionSuper WipeoutAY-3-8606 (10 games)
PC-507
9015-H		Jeux de tirShooting GalleryAY-3-8607 (3 rifle games)
PC-508
9015-F?		6 jeux de baseFundamentalAY-3-8500 [4] (pong games)

References

  1. 1 2 3 http://www.pong-story.com/pc-50x.htm pc-50x cartridges
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 Michael, Starr (2009). VINTROPEDIA – Vintage Computer & Retro Console Price Guide 2009. Vintropedia. ISBN 978-1-4092-1277-5.
  3. 1 2 Videomaster su Pong-Story
  4. ↑ "Sly DC's Retro Gaming Blog: PC-508 Fundamental cartridge". 19 November 2016.
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