Video Pinball series explained

Video Pinball series
Generation:First generation
Manufacturer:Atari, Inc.
Developer:Harold Lee[1]
Display:Horizontal orientation, Raster, medium resolution
Type:Series of dedicated home video game consoles
Predecessor:Atari Stunt Cycle
Successor:Atari 2600

The Video Pinball brand is a series of first-generation single-player dedicated home video game consoles manufactured, released and marketed by Atari, Inc. starting in 1977. Bumper controllers on the sides or a dial on the front are used to control the games depending on the game selected. There are three game types in the first model of the Video Pinball series: Pinball, Basketball, and Breakout.

The first model is based on the single chip 011500-11/C011512-05 ("Pong-on-a-chip") produced by Atari.[2] [3]

Gameplay

Video Pinball allows 7 games—4 pinball variations, a basketball game, and two versions of Breakout (Breakout and a variant called Break Away) -- for one to two players. The unit provides digital on-screen scoring, automatic serves, and color graphics.[4] Video Pinball uses a micro-controller and a small amount of RAM rather than the "Pong on a chip" IC's that had been used in the slew of pong machines Atari Inc. had been releasing. Pinball was played primarily with the side bumper buttons, and Breakout and Basketball with the dial and top buttons.

Models

There were three different models of Video Pinball released over its lifetime. Atari released both woodgrain and cream colored versions as "Atari Video Pinball" Model C-380. An OEM version whose name was changed to "Pinball Breakaway" was also produced for Sears under the Sears' Tele-Games label.[5]

Arcade

An arcade video game version, called Video Pinball, was released by Atari in February 1979. It sold a total of 1,505 arcade cabinets.[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://books.google.com/books?id=3FwGMtRafrAC&pg=PA149 Page 149
  2. Web site: Winter. David . David Winter's Pong Rarity List and Price Guide . Pong-Story.com . 2013. 2013-10-05.
  3. https://books.google.com/books?id=3FwGMtRafrAC&dq=Atari+%22Pong-on-a-chip%22&pg=PA154 Page 154
  4. Winter 1978 . Kaplan. Deeny. The Video Games . Video (Buyer's Guide). Reese Communications. 1. 1. 17–30. 0147-8907.
  5. Winter, David. "Atari PONG: The Home Systems". Pong-Story.com. 2013.
  6. Book: Product: Total Build . . 1999 . 2021-05-09 . 2021-04-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210417061521/http://www.atarigames.com/atarinumbers90s.pdf . dead .