Engineering:VideoSport MK2

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Short description: Dedicated home video game console by Henry's
VideoSport MK2
VideoSport MK2.jpg
A VideoSport MK2
ManufacturerHenry's
TypeDedicated home video game console
GenerationFirst generation
Release dateNot clear; Late 1974 or 1975
LifespanLate 1974 or 1975–?
Introductory price£34.72
DiscontinuedUnknown
Units sold>10,000 (as of May 1976)
Units shippedUnknown
MassUnknown
PredecessorNone
SuccessorNone

The VideoSport MK2 is a dedicated home video game console that was produced by Henry's, a British retailer of television and Hi-fi equipment, starting in 1974 or early 1975 until 1977.[1][2][3] Customers could purchase the console in stores or have it delivered to them by mail.[2] The original price was £34.72; it dropped to £29.50 in May 1976 and to £20.20 later in 1976 or early 1977.[2] By May 1976, over 10,000 units of the console had been sold.[2]

It was one of the first European video game consoles.[2]

Hardware

Console and controllers

A close up of the VideoSport MK2 showing the knob used to choose between the console's three games

The console has a central body with only a power switch and a knob to select one of three games: Football, Tennis/Pong and Hole-in-the-wall.[2] There are two controllers with cables that connect to the console, with two paddles each (for vertical and horizontal movement) and a button (for serving and goal kicking).[2] There were two variations of the console, the original VideoSport MK2 with gold letters and a later VideoSport MK2 without gold letters, likely introduced in an attempt to reduce production costs.[2] The VideoSport MK2 was mostly assembled by hand, and the colour of the push buttons depended on what parts had been purchased "on the fly".[2]

Technical specifications

Inside the console, there are only two TTL-type integrated circuits, each containing four NAND ports. The remaining circuitry comprises discrete components only.[2] The power supply is provided only through the mains current.[2]

References

  1. Tristan, Donovan (2010). "Hardware Glossary". Replay, The History of Video Games. Lewes (Regno Unito): Yellow Ant. ISBN 978-0-9565072-2-8. 
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 "Pong-Story : Henry's VideoSport MK2". http://www.pong-story.com/vsmk2.htm. 
  3. J. P. Wolf, Mark. The Video Game Explosion: A History from PONG to Playstation and Beyond. 

External links