PC-50x family

PC-50x family
ManufacturerSeveral companies; see Consoles list
TypeHome video game console
GenerationFirst generation
Lifespan1977–1982
MediaROM cartridge
CPUGeneral Instrument AY-3-8xxx

The PC-50x family (also known as SD-050, SD-070, SD-090, 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 serial number of the cartridges (PC-501, PC-502 ...).: 39 

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 coloured screens while others were black and white. Of the colour consoles some were marked with the initial letter S of SECAM, the French standard of the colour 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 050SITMCColourFrance
SD 90ITMCBlack and white or colourFrance
SD 050SSoundicColourEurope
Programmable systemSoundicBlack and whiteEurope
TV Jack 5000BandaiColour1978Japan
Palladium Tele-Cassetten GameNeckermannColour1978Germany
Video Cassette LockTakatokuColour1977Japan(CTV-8600 or TG 95 OI model).
SD 050HanimexBlack and whiteEurope
SD 070 couleurHanimexColourEurope
TVG 070CHanimexColourEurope
Secam Systeme vidéo cassettesSecamColourFranceOn the PCB is written SD-050S
Jeu Video SD 050SSecamColourFrance
SD-50 Program 2000CreatronicColour1978France
Programmable 2003ElbexColour 1977 Europe Produced in China but sold in Europe
4/303 'Video Secam System'RolletColour1983?FranceSold also with the name 'Secam Video Systeme' SD-050S
Programmable TV-GameUniversumColourGermany
SD-050GrandstandColourUnited Kingdom
Programmable gameGrandstandColourUnited KingdomAlso known as Mercury Commander Paul's Mark III – Programmable TV Game
Colour Programmable SD070
Video Sports Centre SD070		GrandstandColour1978United Kingdom
United States
Tournament Colour Programmable 2000PrinztronicColour
Programmable TV Game SD-050CTempest1977Austria
Superstar 01-4354 ProgrammableBinatoneColour1978United Kingdom
Cablestar 01-4354BinatoneBlack and white1978United Kingdom
Tele-Sports IIIRadofinColour1978Europe
Tele-Sports IVRadofin
Acetronic		Colour1978Europe
Tele-Sports programmableRadofinColour1978Europe
Colour TV GameAcetronicColour1978United Kingdom
Video SD-050AkurColour1978Germany
Color TVG-872Cam
Clipper		Colour1978 (Cam)
1977 (Clipper)		Italy
TVG-888IrradioColourItaly
PG-7 programmablePolyconColourUnited Kingdom
9015PoppyColourGermany
TVG 10PoppyColourGermany
9015SanwaColourGermany
9015MustangColourGermany
4A-8ConicColour1978Hong KongCartridge format in common with 9015
Jeu Video Cassette Interchangeables Tele-sports IIIUnivoxColour1977France
Color (model TVG 57253)Mark1978Europe
TV Game-programmable SD-070Tristar1978Sweden
Colour Cartridge VMV12VideomasterColour1979United KingdomCartridge format in common with Palson
Game Cassette System CX-336PalsonColour1978
1979		SpainCartridge 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. GmbHColour1978West Germany
Black Point FS 2000S.H.G. GmbHColour1978West Germany
Optim 600OptimColour1978United Kingdom

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
AY-3-8710 (PAL version) Tank Battle
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 (pong games)

References

  1. 1 2 3 https://www.pong-story.com/pc-50x.htm pc-50x cartridges
  2. 1 2 3 4 Amos, Evan (2021). The Game Console 2.0: A Photographic History from Atari to Xbox. No Starch Press. p. 35. ISBN 9781718500617 – via Google Books.
  3. ↑ Boellstorff, Tom (2024). Intellivision: How a Videogame System Battled Atari and Almost Bankrupted Barbie. MIT Press. p. 341. ISBN 9780262549509 – via Google Books.
  4. 1 2 Herman, Leonard (March 2018). "Revising History". Old School Gamer Magazine. No. 3. BC Productions. pp. 38–39 – via the Internet Archive.
  5. 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.
  6. 1 2 Videomaster su Pong-Story
  7. ↑ Robertson, Angus, ed. (1979). From Television to Home Computer: The Future of Consumer Electronics. Blandford Press. pp. 187–188. ISBN 9780806999142 – via the Internet Archive.
  8. ↑ "Sly DC's Retro Gaming Blog: PC-508 Fundamental cartridge". 19 November 2016.