1292 Advanced Programmable Video System FAQ By Dale Hansen (www.ConsoleDatabase.com) Version APVS.01 - July 2002 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) 2002 Dale Hansen. This document may not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission from the author. Please contact me first if you want to post this FAQ on your website. I will probably say yes as long as it remains intact, including this copyright statement, and no fee is charged for the information. Please contact me via the Console Database website at http://www.consoledatabase.com/contactus The information provided here is for informational purposes only. While care is taken to make sure information is as correct as possible, no warranty is made with regards to the accuracy of the information in this FAQ. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Additional contributions are welcome. Please contact me via the Console Database website at http://www.consoledatabase.com/contactus Where to find this FAQ: - Console Database: http://www.consoledatabase.com - Digital Press: http://www.digitpress.com - Game FAQs: http://www.gamefaqs.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents ----------------- 1.0) Introduction 2.0) What is the 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System? 3.0) 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System Technical Specifications 4.0) The Interton VC-4000 Group 5.0) Compatibility 5.1) Cross-compatibility 5.2) Emulation 5.3) Emerson Arcadia 2001 Compatibility 6.0) Games List for the 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System 7.0) Other Questions 8.0) Links/References 9.0) Credits 1.0) Introduction ----------------- Hello and welcome to the 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System FAQ. The 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System is a machine that is not well known and only a few websites give useful information on this system. There is still a lot of information that some websites do not include. When working on my website, I like to include as much information as I can while keeping it clear and simple. This FAQ is an addition to what is written on my website to help clarify information that some people are unsure of. A 1292 FAQ has never been made before and I felt it was time we got one on the net so that more people can be educated about this system. I hope you find this FAQ very informative. 2.0) What is the 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System? --------------------------------------------------------- The 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System is an early video game console. It was first made by Radofin in Europe in 1976 and was then licensed to other companies to make their versions in other countries. These companies and their countries are: Radofin (Germany and other parts of Europe) Hanimex (Australia and parts of Europe) Fountain (Australia and New Zealand) Prinztronic (United Kingdom) Lansay (Parts of Europe) Grandstand (United Kingdom and parts of Europe) Audiosonic (Parts of Europe) Acetronic (Parts of Europe) On the base of some systems, patent numbers and countries are included. This gives us some indication as to what parts of the world received the system. This is the patent list: * Australia: 440,524 440,977 441,126 442,967 * Belgium: 730.002 739.124 751.008 754.932 * Canada: Patented 1972 and 1973 * England: Patent no. 1,256,224 Patent no. 1,328,223 Patent no. 1,319,410 Patent no. 1,268,821 Patent no. 1,318,051 Patent no. 1,268,822 * France: Licence Without Guarantee of Government. Cert S.G.D.G. * Germany: Patented * Italy: Licence N. 897,269 Licence N. 901,545 Licence N. 899,737 * Switzerland: Plus no. 512,864 Plus no. 512,865 Plus no. 529,491 Plus no. 534,989 * Venezuela: Patented * Covered by one or more of the following U.S. Patents: 3,728,480 RE 28,507 3,809,395 RE 28,598 * British Design Registration no. 984366 The specific systems in this series and their years are: * Radofin 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System (a.k.a. "Radofin Programmierbares Video System" in Germany) (1976) * Radofin 1392 Advanced Programmable Video System (1976) * Hanimex HMG-1292 Advanced Programmable Video System * Hanimex HMG-1392 Advanced Programmable Video System * Fountain Force 2 * Fountain 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System * Fountain 1392 Advanced Programmable Video System * Grandstand Advanced Programmable Video System * Lansay 1392 * Audiosonic PP-1292 Advanced Programmable Video System * Audiosonic PP-1392 Advanced Programmable Video System * Prinztronic VC-6000 (1977) * Prinztronic Tournament * Acetronic MPU-1000 (1979) * Acetronic MPU-2000 (1979) (See http://www.consoledatabase.com soon for pictures of these systems) All of these systems use a Radofin XM-2050-# PCB inside (the # varies from system to system. The Hanimex HMG-1292 uses an XM-2050-F circuit board and both the Audiosonic PP-1292 and Acetonic MPU-1000 use an XM- 2050-0 circuit board). The 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System uses 32-pin cartridges (16 pins on either side). The system comes with 2 controllers, which are hard-wired to the system. These controllers have 12 buttons and a 2- axis analogue control stick (look similar to ColecoVision, Intellivision, etc). The pack-in games that came with most systems were "Olympics" and "Invaders". The Acetronic MPU-1000 is one of the more well-known systems in the series because their systems were one of the more widely distributed in the series. Acetronic seem to have been a sub-distributor below Radofin, channelling games with their names on them out to different parts of the world, where a smaller company would distribute them again. For example, the Hanimex HMG-1292 game boxes are actually Acetronic boxes but a Hanimex sticker has been placed over the top of the Acetronic logo. In this case, Acetronic has manufactured the games under the direction of the main company, Radofin, and then distributed them out to different countries, including Australia where Hanimex was the distributor for games and systems. 3.0) 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System Technical Specifications --------------------------------------------------------------------- * CPU: 8-bit Signetics 2650AN at 4.43MHz * Audiovisual co-processor (video chipset, I/O Processor): Signetics 2636N at 3.58MHz, addressing 32Kb of memory in 8Kb banks. This chipset is powerless, unlike the later model Signetics 2637N used in the Arcadia 2001. * Data Memory: 43 bytes * 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 * Controllers: 2 x 12-button with 2-axis control stick * Power Supply: Input 250V, 50Hz; Output 9.5V, .4A & 15V, .11A (note that the 1392 and MPU-2000 systems have the power pack inside the console rather than an exterior power pack) 4.0) The Interton VC-4000 Group ------------------------------- The 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System is part of a group of consoles that all use a Signetics 2650A CPU inside (the same processor used in the Emerson Arcadia 2001). This group of consoles is believed to have started with the Interton VC-4000 (produced as early as 1974, but sold in 1978), because out of the group, this console has the largest amount of games. The games on the 1292 are also similar to the games on the Interton VC-4000 (some have same titles and numbers). There are about six sub-groups within the Interton VC-4000 group. These are: * The Interton VC-4000 sub-group Interton VC-4000 Grundig Super Play Computer 4000 * The 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System sub-group Radofin 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System Radofin 1392 Advanced Programmable Video System Hanimex HMG-1292 Advanced Programmable Video System Hanimex HMG-1392 Advanced Programmable Video System Fountain Force 2 Fountain 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System Fountain 1392 Advanced Programmable Video System Grandstand Advanced Programmable Video System Lansay 1392 Audiosonic PP-1292 Advanced Programmable Video System Audiosonic PP-1392 Advanced Programmable Video System Prinztronic VC-6000 Prinztronic Tournament Acetronic MPU-1000 Acetronic MPU-2000 ...and possibly Lansay 1292 (needs confirmation as to whether this console exists) and Acetronic MPU-3000, released 1980 (compatibility with the 1292 series needs to be confirmed). * The Database sub-group Videomaster Database Waddington/Voltmace Database * The Television Computer System sub-group Rowtron Television Computer System * The Video TV Game sub-group Karvan Jeu Video TV (Karvan Video TV Game) Societe Occitane Electronique OC-2000 (Occitane Electronic Company OC- 2000) * The MPT-05 sub-group ITMC MPT-05 5.0) Compatibility ------------------ 5.1) Cross-compatibility Consoles are directly compatible with the other consoles in its sub- group, i.e. the cartridge sizes are the same. It is quite possible (in some cases, depending on which machine is being used) that games can be played on another sub-group's console, but a converter would be needed. It is known for a fact that games made for the Database group of consoles can be played on the 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System sub-group because Voltmace made a converter that would allow this. The converter was advertised but its release is unconfirmed. Database games can definitely be played on Interton VC-4000 sub-group consoles. Voltmace made a converter to allow this and it was released. It is quite possible that all of the consoles in the Interton VC-4000 are cross-compatible, if only the correct converters were made. This would mean that the only thing restricting us from playing one system's games on another system within a different sub-group would be the cartridge size and only the cartridge size. 5.2) Emulation With cross-compatibility in mind, it is appropriate to mention emulation. It may be difficult to make converters to test the compatibility between these systems. It would be easier to test game compatibility using an emulator. Paul Robson attempted writing an emulator for the system but says he "got no further than a program which would display the game options on the Pong game. The hardware of the machine is very limited (worse than the Odyssey 2) and is quite timing dependent". He also said that Peter Trauner of the MESS team dumped a large number of games, but does not have a working emulator. Paul Robson's emulator was intended to be for the 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System sub-group, the Interton VC-4000 sub-group and the Database sub-group. These are the systems that we already know are compatible with each other because, as mentioned above, converters were made for them. But if one day an emulator is complete, it would be interesting to try dumping games from the other three sub-groups and testing their compatibility. 5.3) Emerson Arcadia 2001 Compatibility It was mentioned above that the Arcadia 2001 also uses a Signetics 2650A Processor. Some people believe that it is even possible that the Arcadia 2001 can play games from the Interton VC-4000 group if the right converter was made (or with emulation) but other than the processor and a few other parts, the Arcadia 2001 is quite different inside and compatibility may not be possible. Ward Shrake (from the Arcadia 2001 website. See links below) believes it is not and tests have been done to prove it. 6.0) Games List for the 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System --------------------------------------------------------------- Games for the 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System came with boxes, instructions and overlays to place over the controller buttons so you know which button does what. There were 34 advertised games for this system. Three of these are unconfirmed as to whether they were released. These are: Bowling, Backgammon and Sea Wolf. Hobby Module was released in Radofin format (#3016) but it is unconfirmed as to whether it was released in the other format. Each game was numbered. The games with the Radofin label were numbered differently to all of the other labels. Some of the games with the other labels have different game titles. In the other series, games are available with red boxes or black (Acetronic) boxes. Games with the Radofin label #3001 Pro Sport 60 #3002 Autosports 10 #3003 Blackjack #3004 Tank/Plane Battle #3005 Air/Sea Attack #3006 Shooting Gallery #3007 Basic Math #3008 Math 2 #3009 Computer Challenge #3010 Code Breaker #3011 Super Maze #3012 Horse Racing #3013 Circus #3014 Prizefight #3015 Soccer #3016 Hobby Module #3017 Follow the Leader/Electronic Music #3018 Treasure Hunt #3019 Golf #3020 Head On #3021 Draughts #3022 Spiders Web #3023 Chess #3024 Othello #3025 Electronic Pinball #3026 Super Knockout #3027 Invaders #3028 Bowling #3029 Shoot Out #3030 Space Attack #3031 Laser Attack #3032 Backgammon #3033 Planet Defender #3034 Sea Wolf Games for all other systems #1 Olympics (a.k.a. Pro Sport 60 in Radofin series) #2 Grand Prix (a.k.a. Autosports 10 in Radofin series) #3 Blackjack #4 Tank/Plane Battle #5 Air/Sea Attack #6 Shooting Gallery #7 Basic Math #8 Math 2 #9 Challenge (a.k.a. Computer Challenge in Radofin series) #10 Codebreaker #11 Supermaze #12 Horse Racing #13 Circus #14 Prizefight #15 Soccer #16 Hobby Module #17 Musical Games (a.k.a. Follow the Leader/Electronic Music in Radofin series) #18 Treasure Hunt #19 Golf #20 Head On #21 Draughts #22 Spiders Web #23 Chess #24 Othello #25 Electronic Pinball #26 Super Knockout #27 Invaders #28 Bowling #29 Shoot Out #30 Space War (a.k.a. Space Attack in Radofin series) #31 Laser Attack #32 Backgammon #33 Planet Defender #34 Sea Wolf See http://www.consoledatabase.com for pictures of games. 7.0) Other Questions -------------------- Q. What does "MPU" stand for? A. Micro Processor Unit Q. What's the difference between a 1292 and 1392 (or MPU-1000 and MPU- 2000)? A. The 1392 (or MPU-2000) has its power pack inside the console rather that an exterior power pack. According to Hanimex Australia, the 1392 was marketed to appeal to schools as an educational tool (probably because of the Mathematics games and other games that may have educational value), even though the games are the same as the 1292 (which Hanimex could not find any information for. On a related note, Hanimex also said that the 1392 would have retailed for about AU$220 in the early 1980s). Q. Why are "Olympics" and "Invaders" the easiest games to find? A. Because these games were the pack-in games with many systems. It's like Super Mario Bros. with the NES. Q. I'm confused! Why is game #3001 in the Radofin series called "Pro Sport 60" and why is number #3002 called "Auto Sports 10"? Why are those numbers there? Is it because "Pro Sport" is listed as game number 60 in another series and "Auto Sports" is listed as game number 10 in another series? A. "Pro Sport 60" is called this because there are 60 game variations on the cartridge. Games 1-10 are different Ping-Pong variations, games 10-20 are different Hockey variations, games 21-25 are different Tennis variations, games 26-30 are different Volleyball variations, games 31- 40 are different Basketball variations and games 41-60 are different Breakthrough/Knockout variations. These games can be selected using the "Select" button on the console. "Auto Sports 10" is similar, with 10 variations of play. Q. I thought the Acetronic MPU-1000 came first. A. No. Radofin was first to produce this system in 1976. Acetronic was 1979. Because the Acetronic systems were so widely distributed, some people believe this was the main system and it came first. Q. The Acetronic MPU-1000 and the 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System aren't compatible, right? A. Wrong! The systems are the same inside, the cartridges are the same size and games are interchangeable between these systems. The Acetronic cartridges even say "Suitable for Acetronic, Radofin 1292 & Prinztronic Microprocessor Systems". Some people have said that the two aren't compatible. This is either a false assumption or it may be because of some sort of compatibility problem of an unknown cause or maybe even just dirty cartridge connectors. These systems should all be cross- compatible. Q. Is there are relationship between the Emerson Arcadia 2001 and the 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System? A. The Emerson Arcadia 2001, released in 1982, uses the same CPU as the 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System. The Audiovisual co-processor in the Arcadia 2001 uses a Signetics 2637N chipset while the 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System uses a powerless chipset, the Signetics 2636N, which is an earlier version of the 2637N. See the "Compatibility" section for more information. Q. Is the Grandstand Database another version of the Videomaster/Waddington/Voltmace Database? A. No. The Grandstand Database is a clone of the Emerson Arcadia 2001. Q. What other information is there? A. There was an Acetronic club that could be joined by those who bought Acetronic MPU systems. There was also an Invaders Club that could be joined by those who bought the game "Invaders". 8.0) Links/References --------------------- * Console Database: http://www.consoledatabase.com * Chris Hind's Classic Video Games Page: http://www.geocities.com/chris.hind * The Video Game Consoles FAQ by Sylvain De Chantal (Sly DC) and Olivier Boisseau: http://www.consoledatabase.com/faq/vgcfaq.txt * Digital Archaeology - Arcadia 2001: http://www.digitpress.com/the_digs/arcadia * Classic Consoles Center: http://www.dieterkoenig.at/ccc * Old-Computers: http://www.old-computers.com * CyberYogi=CO=Windler's Historical Videogames Page: http://www.informatik.fh-hamburg.de/~windle_c/e_vgames.html 9.0) Credits ------------ This FAQ was written by Dale Hansen with contributions from: * Chris Hind * Peter de Vroomen * Paul Robson * Ward Shrake * Gary Guymer * Hanimex Australia Many thanks to all those who contributed.