1292 Advanced Programmable Video System

{{short description|Second-generation home video game console}}

{{Multiple issues|

{{Refimprove|date=April 2024}}

{{Self-contradictory|about=the console's release date; online sources seem to disagree as to when it was first released, so additional research is needed|date=April 2024}}

{{Missing information|cartridge release dates and sourced information about the Hobby Module|date=April 2024}}

}}

{{Infobox information appliance

| name = 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System

| title =

| logo =

| image = Acetronic-MPU-1000.jpg

| caption = An Acetronic MPU 1000 (right) and its controller

| developer =

| manufacturer = Radofin & Others

| family =

| type = Home video game console

| generation = Second generation

| releasedate = {{Start date and age|1976}}

| lifespan =

| price =

| discontinued = 1983

| unitssold =

| unitsshipped =

| media =

| os =

| power = Input 250{{nnbsp}}V, 50{{nnbsp}}Hz; Output 9.5{{nnbsp}}V, 0.4{{nnbsp}}A & 15{{nnbsp}}V, 0.11{{nnbsp}}A

| soc =

| cpu = 8-bit Signetics 2650AI @ 0.887{{nnbsp}}MHz

| memory = 43 bytes

| storage =

| memory card = Cartridge 2k, 4k or 6k ROM, optional 1k RAM{{Clarify|Information about cartridges with additional RAM should be added to table below|date=April 2024}}

| display =

| graphics = Signetics 2636N @ 3.58{{nnbsp}}MHz

| sound =

| input =

| controllers = 2 × 12-button with 2-axis control stick

| connectivity =

| platform =

| service =

| dimensions =

| weight =

| topgame =

| compatibility =

| predecessor =

| successor =

| related =

}}

The 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System is a second-generation home video game console released by European company Radofin in 1976{{Contradictory inline|reason=The Hobby Module is listed as having released in 1977|date=April 2024}}. 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

Image:Acetronic-Mpu-1000-pcb.jpg

=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 KB ROM, later ones, such as Activision branded ones, up to 8 KB{{Contradictory inline|reason=No Activision or 8 KB games are listed in the table of games below or on the list of games released by Activision; if they exist, they should be added. Otherwise, this statement should be amended.|date=April 2024}}
  • Very basic arcade machine sound

=User programming=

An expensive (£49 in the UK in 1977{{Contradictory inline|reason=The lead paragraph lists the console as having released in 1978|date=April 2024}}) Hobby Module was available which gave 6.5 kilobits 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 halfway 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.

Released versions

The console was produced by different companies and sold with different names. Although all variants have identical computational hardware, changes to the dimensions of the cartridge slot on some variants result in cartridges not always being interchangeable between systems. The following is a table of the console variants grouped by cartridge compatibility.

class="wikitable sortable"
Name

! Brand / Manufacturer

! Country

! Compatibility family

! Notes

! Image

1292 Advanced Programmable Video Systemrowspan=2|Radofin / RadofinGermanyrowspan=14|1292 Advanced Programmable Video SystemReleased in 1979. Known also as "Radofin Programmierbares Video System". Has an external power supply.200px
1392 Advanced Programmable Video SystemEuropeReleased in 1979. Has an internal power supply.
HMG-1292 Advanced Programmable Video Systemrowspan=2|Hanimex / RadofinAustralia and New Zealand
HMG-1392 Advanced Programmable Video SystemAustralia and New Zealand200px
Force 2rowspan=3|Fountain / RadofinAustralia and New ZealandReleased in 1979.
1292 Advanced Programmable Video SystemAustralia and New ZealandReleased in 1979.
1392 Advanced Programmable Video SystemAustralia and New ZealandReleased in 1979.

Has an internal power supply

|

Advanced Programmable Video SystemGrandstand / Radofin
Lansay 1392Lansay / RadofinEuropeReleased in 1979.

Internal power supply.

|

PP-1292 Advanced Programmable Video Systemrowspan=2|Audiosonic / RadofinEuropeReleased in 1978.
PP-1392 Advanced Programmable Video SystemEuropeReleased in 1978.

Has an internal power supply.

|

VC-6000rowspan=1| Prinztronic / RadofinUnited KingdomReleased in 1979.
MPU-1000rowspan=2| Acetronic / RadofinUnited KingdomReleased in 1979.200px
MPU-2000United KingdomReleased in 1979.
DatabaseVideomaster\VoltmaceUnited KingdomDatabase SystemFile:Videomaster Database Games-Computer.jpg
Television Computer SystemRowtronUnited Kingdomrowspan=2|Television Computer SystemReleased in 1979.200px
Television Computer SystemTelengUnited KingdomReleased in 1979.
Jeu Video TVKarvanFrancerowspan=2|Video TV Game
OC-2000Societe Occitane ElectroniqueFranceReleased in 1979.200px
Vidéo Ordinateur MPT-05ITMCFranceMPT-05Released in 1983.200px
Super Play Computer 4000GrundigGermanyrowspan="4" |Interton VC-4000200px
VC 4000IntertonEuropeReleased in 1978.200px
CX-3000 Data Bass SistemPalsonSpain200px
Tele ComputerAureacSpainPalson CX-3000 clone.
Video Computer H-21TRQSpainInterton VC-4000 (partial)TRQ carts fit and work on Interton consoles. Interton carts don't fit in TRQ consoles.200px

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 and 1978, 19 games for the Interton VC 4000 and compatibles after 1978, and 7 more games released around 1980).{{cite web|url=http://amigan.yatho.com/igg/ |title=INTERTON VC 4000 GAMING GUIDE |publisher=James Jacobs |date=2021-09-01|accessdate=2022-03-11}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="width:75%; font-size:95%;" id="softwarelist"

!rowspan="1"|Name

!colspan="1"|Size

!rowspan="1"|Platform

!rowspan="1"|Year

Air/Sea Attack / Air/Sea Battle

|2K

|Fountain #5 + Palson #9 + Interton #7

|

Arcade (Voltmace)/Pinball (Interton)

|2K

|Interton #23 + Voltmace #20

|

Backgammon

|4K

|Interton #36

|

Basic Maths (Fountain)/Mathematics 1 (Interton)

|2K

|Fountain #7 + Interton #5

|

Bat & Ball (Voltmace)/Olympics (Fountain)/Paddle Games (Interton/Palson)/Sportsworld (Rowtron)

|2K

|Fountain #1 + Interton #3 + Palson #1 + Rowtron #1 + Voltmace #3

|

Blackjack

|2K

|Fountain #3 + Interton #2

|

Bowling/Ninepins

|2K

|Interton #25

|

Boxing (Voltmace)/Boxing Match (Interton)/Prizefight (Fountain)

|4K

|Fountain #14 + Interton #18 + Voltmace #13

|

Brain Drain (Voltmace)/Codebreaker (Fountain)/Mastermind (Interton)

|2K

|Fountain #10 + Interton #16 + Voltmace #9

|

Capture (Fountain)/Reversi (Interton)

|2K

|Fountain #24 + Interton #21

|

Car Races

|2K

|Interton #1

|

Casino

|2K

|Interton #31

|

Challenge! (Acetronic)/Four in a Row (Interton)

|2K

|Acetronic #9 + Interton #15 + Voltmace #14

|

Chess

|4K

|Interton #13

|

Chess 2

|6K

|Interton #22

|

Circus

|2K

|Fountain #13 + Interton #17 + Voltmace #12

|

Cockpit

|4K

|Interton #28

|

Come Come

|4K

|Palson #16

|

Come-Frutas

|4K

|TRQ

|

Come-Frutas (alternate version)

|4K

|TRQ?

|

Cowboy

|2K

|Rowtron

|1981

Crazy Crab

|4K

|Voltmace #29

|

Draughts

|4K

|Interton #26 + Voltmace #22

|

Electronic Pinball

|2K

|Fountain #25

|

Golf

|4K

|Fountain #19 + Interton #27

|

Grand Prix (Fountain)/Road Race (Voltmace)

|2K

|Fountain #2/Voltmace #4

|

Head On

|2K

|Fountain #20

|1981

Hippodrome

|2K

|Interton #11

|

Hobby Module

|2K

|Radofin #16

|1980

Horse Racing

|2K

|Fountain #12 + Voltmace #11

|

Hunting

|2K

|Interton #12

|

Hyperspace

|2K

|Interton #38

|

Invaders

|2K

|Fountain #27

|

Invaders

|2K

|Interton #32

|

Labyrinth

|2K

|Interton #9

|

Laser Attack

|2K

|Fountain #31

|1981

Leapfrog

|4K

|Voltmace

|1982

Math 2 (Fountain)/Mathematics 2 (Interton/Voltmace)

|2K

|Fountain #8 + Interton #6 + Voltmace #7

|

Melody/Simon (Interton)/Musical Games (Fountain)/Musical Memory (Voltmace)

|2K

|Fountain #17 + Interton #20 + Voltmace #21

|

Metropolis/Hangman

|4K

|Interton #29

|

Monster Munchers

|2K

|Rowtron

|

Motocross

|4K

|Interton #14

|

Munch & Crunch

|4K

|Voltmace #24

|1982

Planet Defender

|2K

|Fountain #33

|1982

Shoot Out

|2K

|Fountain #29

|1981

Shooting Gallery

|2K

|Fountain #6 + Voltmace #8

|

Soccer

|2K

|Fountain #15

|

Soccer

|2K

|Interton #24

|

Solitaire

|2K

|Interton #30

|

Space War (Fountain)/Outer Space Combat (Interton)/Galactic Space Battles (Rowtron)

|2K

|Fountain #30 + Interton #19 + Rowtron

|

Spider's Web (Fountain)/Monster-Man (Interton)

|4K

|Fountain #22 + Interton #37

|

Super Invaders

|2K

|Interton #33

|

Super Knockout

|2K

|Fountain #26

|1980

Super Maze (Fountain)/Maze (Palson/Voltmace)

|2K

|Fountain #11 + Palson #7 + Voltmace #10

|

Super-Space

|4K

|Interton #40

|

Tank Battle/Air Battle

|2K

|Interton #4

|

Tank/Plane Battle (Fountain)/Tank & Plane (Voltmace)

|2K

|Fountain #4 + Voltmace #5

|

Treasure Hunt (Fountain)/Memory 1/Flag Capture (Interton)

|2K

|Fountain #18 + Interton #8

|

Winter Sports

|4K

|Interton #10

|

References

{{Reflist}}