1276:
475:
129:
535:-like system and software to drive it. Memory above 0x4000 was dedicated to the display, and memory below that to the ROM. If a program wrote to the ROM space (normally impossible, it is "read only" after all) the video chip would take the data, apply a function to it, and then copy the result into the corresponding location in the RAM. Which function to use was stored in a register in the display chip, and included common instructions like
25:
1332:
Channel capabilities: There are 3 square wave channels, all with a pitch accuracy of 8-bits (256 possible frequencies from which to choose), which can all play square waves. The chip also has a noise generator, which can be independent from the other 3 square wave channels, or it can add its value to
523:
they could be changed from line to line. An additional set of four color registers could be "swapped in" at any point along the line, allowing the creation of two screen "halves", split vertically. Originally intended to allow creation of a score area on the side of the screen, programmers also used
490:
buffer in between the two. The display chip had two modes, a low-resolution mode at 160 × 102, and a high-resolution mode at 320 × 204, both with 2-bits per pixel for four colors. This sort of color/resolution was normally beyond the capabilities of RAM of the era, which could not read out the data
657:
would be the same (white), so the presence, or lack, of a bit for BASIC had no effect on the screen. Additional memory was scavenged by using fewer lines vertically, only 88 instead of the full 102. This managed to squeeze out 1760 bytes of RAM for BASIC programs. The downside was that most of the
590:
On the front of the unit was a 24-key "hex-pad" keyboard used for selecting games and options as well as operating the calculator. On the back were a number of ports, including connectors for power, the controllers, and an expansion port. One oddity was that the top rear of the unit was empty, and
327:
and its branding changed to "Bally
Professional Arcade". It was marketed only for a limited time before Bally decided to exit the market. The rights were later picked up by a third-party company, who re-released it and sold it until around 1984. The Astrocade is particularly notable for its very
1356:
The bitmap structure of the Bally actually only allows for 4 color settings. However, through the use of 2 color palettes and a left/right boundary control byte you could have the left section of screen (this could be the play field) use 1 set of colors while the right side (this could show
1314:
568:, along with the simple but useful Calculator and a "doodle" program called Scribbling. Most cartridges included two games, and when they were inserted the machine would reset and display a menu starting with the programs on the cartridge and then listing the four built-in programs.
499:
On the
Astrocade the pins needed to use this "trick" were not connected. Thus the Astrocade system was left with just the lower resolution 160 × 102 mode. In this mode the system used up 160 × 102 × 2bits = 4080 bytes of memory to hold the screen. Since the machine had only
1315:
447:, along with programmers at Nutting. Midway felt that such a system, in an external box, would make the Astrocade more interesting to the market. However it was still not ready for release when Bally sold off the division. A small handful may have been produced as the
495:
allowing them to read one "line" at a time at very high speed into a buffer inside the display chip. The line could then be read out to the screen at a more leisurely rate, while also interfering less with the CPU, which was also trying to use the same memory.
1034:
The following sample program from the manual demonstrates the joystick input and graphics functions. "Try your skill... The first player's knob moves the phaser left or right and the trigger shoots... Player two controls the target while player one shoots."
661:
Programs were entered via the calculator keypad, with a plastic overlay displaying letters, symbols, and BASIC keywords. These were selected through a set of 4 colored shift keys. For example; typing "WORD"(gold) shift then the "+" key would result in
1339:
Miscellaneous features concerning sound: There are hardware registers for vibrato, with two bits for the vibrato speed and 6 bits for vibrato depth. This means that it wouldn't be necessary for vibrato to be done entirely with
1333:
the master oscillator that drives the 3 square wave channels. The master oscillator can be set to different frequencies, which means that the frequency range can be changed for the 3 square wave channels.
1316:
1326:
543:. This allowed the Astrocade to support any number of sprite-like objects independent of hardware, with the downside that it was up to the software to re-draw them when they moved.
634:
on the system was difficult, because the display alone used up almost all the available RAM. The solution to this problem was to store the BASIC program code in the video RAM.
669:
A simple line editor was supported. After typing the line number corresponding to an existing program, each press of the PAUSE key would load the next character from memory.
957:
The character display was 11 lines of 26 characters across. The resolution for the graphic commands is 88x160, with X ranging from -80 to 79 and Y ranging from -44 to 43.
405:, Bally grew less interested in the arcade market and decided to sell off their Consumer Products Division, including development and production of the game console.
504:(4096 bytes) of RAM, this left very little room for program functions such as keeping score and game options. The rest of the program would have to be placed in
1711:
2316:
519:, so the four colors could be picked from a palette of 256 colors. Color animation was possible by changing the values of the registers, and using a
3180:
458:. Aimed at the home computer market while being designed, the machine was now re-targeted as a system for outputting high-quality graphics to
1904:
323:
and initially made available for mail order in
December 1977. But due to production delays, the units were first released to stores in April
599:
along with its library of nearly 30 games in 1982 are some reasons that made it more versatile than its main competitors, and was listed by
1254:
in their "Top 100 Games of 1981", noting that "Our favorite cartridges are the classic
Gunfight, Red Baron air war, and Demolition Derby."
895:
in other BASIC implementations. Certain commands were handled by the keypad instead of by keywords: the RESET button was equivalent to
3175:
2040:
2045:
2025:
2015:
1917:
301:
161:
408:
At about the same time, a third-party group had been unsuccessfully attempting to bring their own console design to market as the
393:. Delays in the production meant none of the units actually shipped until 1978, and by this time the machine had been renamed the
2951:
2252:
2247:
2124:
2050:
2035:
2030:
2020:
2010:
1990:
641:
of the program along with the display itself; BASIC used all the even-numbered bits, and the display the odd-numbered bits. The
3200:
2309:
89:
3079:
1973:
683:, from which it was adapted for the Astro BASIC manual. Perkins subsequently developed the Astrocade cartridge of the game.
61:
3185:
1851:
492:
2651:
2002:
444:
1740:
68:
3170:
3115:
2302:
2200:
1897:
440:
108:
1985:
649:
of code. This was rendered invisible by setting two of the colors to be the same as the other two, such that colors
3151:
1937:
42:
1980:
373:, although to access this mode required memory that could be accessed at a faster rate than the common 2 MHz
1357:
information such as lives and score) used an entirely different set of colors, thus 8 total colors were possible.
642:
75:
1213:
The ZGRASS unit sat under the
Astrocade and turned it into a "real" computer, including a full keyboard, a math
571:
The
Astrocade featured a relatively complex input device incorporating several types of control mechanisms: the
328:
powerful graphics capabilities for the time of release, and for the difficulty in accessing those capabilities.
2992:
2273:
2175:
1949:
46:
2646:
353:
system. The system
Nutting delivered was used in most of Midway's classic arcade games of the era, including
416:
who was in charge of the Bally system put the two groups in contact, and a deal was eventually arranged. In
57:
2977:
2947:
2278:
2120:
2115:
1890:
1205:
This listing illustrates how keywords, which were tokenized, were always displayed with a following space.
3047:
3032:
2694:
2258:
1267:
stated in 1983 that
Astrocade "has one of the best graphics and sound packages of any home video game".
2605:
2215:
1754:
1431:
1222:
528:
520:
2483:
1823:
1843:
2727:
2394:
2371:
2149:
1320:
Demonstration of Bally Arcade's multi-voice sound chip, including noise and various vibrato effects
954:, meaning that characters could be read in from the keyboard, stored in an array, and then output.
429:
345:
to design a video display chip that could be used in all of their videogame systems, from standup
3018:
2475:
2325:
1932:
1634:
1086:
30 CLEAR 40 X=X+JX(2)×3 50 Y=Y+JY(2)×3 60 BOX X,Y,4,4,3 70 K=KN(1)÷2 80 BOX K,-40,3,8,1 90
645:
would read out two bytes, drop all the odd-numbered bits, and assemble the results into a single
342:
304:
212:
151:
35:
1768:
2185:
1642:
1838:
1818:
2856:
2755:
2516:
2460:
2268:
1961:
1944:
1455:
1275:
926:
statement for dimensioning the arrays, the size of which was determined by available memory (
420:
they re-released the unit with the BASIC cartridge included for free, this time known as the
82:
397:. In this form it sold mostly at computer stores and had little retail exposure (unlike the
2526:
2283:
1833:
1828:
624:
575:
was shaped as a pistol-style grip with trigger switch on the front; a small 4-switch/8-way
487:
463:
417:
402:
324:
320:
236:
2399:
1882:
968:
command, as a side effect, produced a unique tone for each character or keyword displayed.
369:
supported what was at that time relatively high resolution of 320×204 in four colours per
8:
3195:
3190:
2942:
2180:
2110:
1578:
1419:
1218:
591:
could be opened to store up to 15 cartridges. The system's ability to be upgraded from a
316:
276:
139:
930:) not used by the program listing (2 bytes per item). Ports were accessed via the array
435:
Midway had long been planning to release an expansion system for the unit, known as the
2894:
2722:
2210:
2154:
2134:
1913:
1262:
592:
512:
474:
1870:
1861:
1689:
546:
The
Astrocade was one of the early cartridge-based systems, using cartridges known as
3074:
2982:
1968:
1646:
1524:
ICBM Attack (1982) (Spectre
Systems) With the Spectre Systems handle (Extremely rare)
631:
596:
584:
2828:
2717:
1874:
1670:
1654:
1565:
1246:
505:
241:
2676:
2511:
2366:
2231:
2190:
2105:
1855:
911:
572:
413:
248:
1848:
1782:
3053:
3023:
3008:
2899:
2590:
2488:
1473:
1425:
673:
319:. It was originally announced as the "Bally Home Library Computer" in October
3164:
2876:
2871:
2866:
2861:
2778:
2750:
2623:
2562:
2195:
2139:
2129:
1685:
1650:
1594:
1257:
939:
922:- which was stored from the top of memory, descending. The language lacked a
580:
551:
454:
The system, combined into a single box, would eventually be released as the
361:
350:
253:
579:
was placed on top of the grip, and the shaft of the joystick connected to a
3013:
2972:
2783:
2465:
2414:
2404:
2376:
2361:
2294:
2263:
2100:
2080:
1956:
1214:
620:
616:
555:
455:
308:
3136:
3038:
2847:
2800:
2699:
2656:
2442:
2170:
1230:
374:
346:
272:
1329:, or a custom I/O chip since the sound chip also performs I/O functions.
2967:
2932:
2833:
2539:
2493:
2356:
2351:
2346:
2341:
2205:
2090:
2085:
2075:
1741:"Source code for emulating the Astrocade custom "IO" chip in MESS/MAME"
600:
439:. The system was being developed by a group of computer artists at the
398:
390:
128:
3084:
2805:
2686:
2577:
2567:
2503:
2419:
1865:
1437:
1380:
560:
550:
that were designed to be as close in size and shape as possible to a
540:
483:
459:
312:
221:
217:
1755:"Internet Archive - Conan the Barbarian Prototype by Astrocade, Inc"
1569:
Magazine. 1980. Video Buyer's Guide. Article "Video Games". page 78.
1229:
on this machine). The unit also added I/O ports for a cassette and
24:
3131:
3069:
3028:
2661:
2638:
2600:
2595:
2534:
1449:
1292:
RAM: 4 kB (up to 64 kB with external modules in the expansion port)
576:
501:
370:
232:
1796:
1350:
Resolution: True 160×102 / Basic 160×88 / Expanded RAM 320×204
1336:
Volume control: Each channel has independent 4-bit volume control.
2987:
2909:
2904:
2819:
2788:
2773:
2709:
2437:
2409:
2144:
680:
532:
366:
280:
2554:
2544:
2452:
2386:
918:- which was stored starting after the program, ascending - and
3110:
3094:
3089:
3043:
2886:
2671:
2628:
2429:
2333:
1813:
1494:
947:
612:
491:
fast enough to keep up with the TV display. The system used
2843:
2765:
2732:
2581:
1912:
1591:
The Complete Guide to Conquering Video Games, by Jeff Rovin
1234:
672:
An Astro BASIC program that later became commercialized is
646:
355:
2815:
2793:
2742:
2666:
2615:
1025:(VibRato). (Added to Astro BASIC but not in Bally BASIC.)
638:
583:, meaning that the stick could be rotated to double as a
536:
462:. These were offered for sale some time between 1980 and
676:. John Perkins wrote the game first and submitted it to
527:
Unlike the VCS, the Astrocade did not include hardware
1446:
Galactic Invasion (1981) (originally titled Galaxian)
389:, it was released in 1977 but available only through
1416:
Tornado Baseball / Tennis / Hockey / Handball (1978)
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1674:. No. 26. November–December 1981. p. 42.
451:after the machine was re-released by Astrovision.
978:Ports 16 through 23 accessed a music synthesizer.
307:and simple computer system designed by a team at
3162:
1678:
1461:Letter Match / Spell'n Score / Crosswords (1981)
1375:officially released video games for the system.
1362:Graphic type: Bitmap, 2 bit per pixel bit map.
1325:Sound chip model: 0066-117XX, also known as the
1221:), 32k of RAM, and a new 32k ROM containing the
603:as one of the seven major video game suppliers.
2201:Palmtex Portable Videogame System / Super Micro
1709:
1283:
950:value of a key press, which could be output to
691:Astro BASIC supported the following keywords:
2647:Family Computer/Nintendo Entertainment System
2310:
1898:
1304:Ports: 4 controller, 1 expansion, 1 light pen
1185:130 BOX K,0,1,80,3 140 MU="4" 150 BC=A×8 160
2324:
1613:
1611:
1609:
1607:
1605:
1603:
902:The language supported 26 integer variables
797:(specified joystick's horizontal position),
637:This was accomplished by interleaving every
424:, with the name changing again, in 1982, to
1694:Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games
891:at the start of the line was equivalent to
627:. First published as Bally BASIC in 1978.
615:programming language cartridge, written by
2317:
2303:
1905:
1891:
1712:"Bally Professional Arcade Service Manual"
1641:. Vol. 53, no. 4. New York, NY:
1038:1 .PHASER PHUN 2 .BY DICK AINSWORTH 10
127:
1617:
1600:
1452:(1981) (later retitled Galactic Invasion)
1434:(1981) (originally titled Space Invaders)
658:graphics system's power was unavailable.
466:, but it is unknown how many were built.
109:Learn how and when to remove this message
1873:playable for free in the browser at the
1312:
1274:
934:, and memory was accessed via the array
473:
2952:1292 Advanced Programmable Video System
2125:1292 Advanced Programmable Video System
1684:
1383:/ Checkmate (1977) (Built into Console)
524:this feature to emulate 8 color modes.
3163:
1690:"Home Video Games: Video Games Update"
1533:Treasure Cove (1983) (Spectre Systems)
1392:Blackjack / Poker / Acey-Deucey (1978)
975:variable converted numbers into notes.
960:Music could be produced in four ways:
3181:Second-generation video game consoles
2298:
1886:
1849:What is a Bally/Astrocade - Dead Link
1632:
1398:Elementary Math and Speed Math (1978)
942:. While the language lacked strings,
880:Relational operators: < > = #
341:In the late 1970s, Midway contracted
336:
1858:- history overview at Glankonian.com
1734:
1732:
1730:
1728:
1705:
1703:
1626:
1428:(1979) (later retitled Astro Battle)
1404:Grand Prix / Demolition Derby (1978)
686:
531:support. It did, however, include a
432:, and then disappeared around 1985.
428:. It sold under this name until the
192: (equivalent to $ 1,500 in 2023)
47:adding citations to reliable sources
18:
1819:Astrocade history at The Dot Eaters
13:
1353:Colors: True 8* / Basic 2
482:The basic system was powered by a
14:
3212:
1807:
1738:
1725:
1700:
1389:Amazing Maze / Tic Tac Toe (1978)
1270:
441:University of Illinois at Chicago
3176:Discontinued video game consoles
1579:Chronology of Video Game Systems
1407:Panzer Attack / Red Baron (1978)
981:The sound-synthesizer variables
486:driving the display chip with a
263:160×102 or 320×204 in 4/8 colors
23:
1789:
1775:
1761:
1747:
1530:Sneaky Snake (1983) (New Image)
1527:Blast Droids (1983) (Esoterica)
1482:Ms. CandyMan (1983) (very rare)
1366:
1195:
1186:
1165:
1117:
1087:
1066:
1039:
235:–64 KB (with external modules)
34:needs additional citations for
2993:View-Master Interactive Vision
1783:"Bally Astrocade Rarity Guide"
1769:"Bally Alley - Barry McCleave"
1661:
1584:
1572:
1558:
1289:CPU: Zilog Z80, 1.789 MHz
1233:, allowing it to be used with
1029:
831:(remainder of last division),
801:(joystick vertical position),
611:The Astrocade also included a
606:
469:
385:Originally referred to as the
380:
1:
3201:Z80-based video game consoles
1551:
554:. The unit also included two
2978:Gakken Compact Vision TV Boy
2116:Gakken Compact Vision TV Boy
1622:. Astrocade, Inc. p. 3.
1284:Circuit board and cartridges
1252:Bally Professional Astrocade
1240:
7:
3186:Products introduced in 1977
3048:3DO Interactive Multiplayer
3033:3DO Interactive Multiplayer
2695:3DO Interactive Multiplayer
2176:Children's Discovery System
1279:Bally Astrocade motherboard
387:Bally Home Library Computer
10:
3217:
2216:Epoch Game Pocket Computer
2171:Milton Bradley Microvision
1844:Player's Choice Videogames
1824:Video Game Console Library
1633:Stern, Marc (April 1982).
1225:(sometimes referred to as
1223:GRASS programming language
521:horizontal blank interrupt
478:Bally Astrocade controller
331:
3149:
3124:
3103:
3062:
3001:
2960:
2925:
2918:
2885:
2842:
2814:
2764:
2741:
2708:
2685:
2637:
2614:
2576:
2553:
2525:
2502:
2484:Commodore 64 Games System
2474:
2451:
2428:
2385:
2332:
2244:
2232:Nintendo Game & Watch
2224:
2163:
2068:
2059:
2001:
1925:
1668:"Top 100 Games of 1981".
1386:280 Zzzap / Dodgem (1978)
1208:
850:(display ASCII character)
511:The Astrocade used color
445:'Circle Graphics Habitat'
412:. A corporate buyer from
395:Bally Professional Arcade
267:
259:
247:
227:
211:
196:
185:
167:
157:
147:
135:
126:
3171:Home video game consoles
2326:Home video game consoles
2253:Third generation →
2248:← First generation
1618:Ainsworth, Dick (1982).
1499:Machine Language Manager
1410:Seawolf / Missile (1978)
1344:
1308:
1265:Video & Arcade Games
899:in other interpreters.
883:Logical operators: × +
430:video game crash of 1983
2652:Super Famicom/Super NES
2624:PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16
1933:Home video game console
1485:Sea Devil (1983) (rare)
343:Dave Nutting Associates
305:home video game console
152:Home video game console
16:Home video game console
2186:Entex Adventure Vision
1797:"Tiny Arcade Machines"
1643:Gernsback Publications
1467:Solar Conqueror (1981)
1321:
1301:Expansion: 64 kB total
1280:
1194:170 FC=7 180 BC=8 190
910:, and two pre-defined
479:
173:; 46 years ago
2517:Super Cassette Vision
2461:Coleco Telstar Arcade
2106:Epoch Cassette Vision
2046:Eighth (2012–present)
1945:Handheld game console
1871:Bally Astrocade games
1710:BALLY MANUFACTURING.
1479:Cosmic Raiders (1982)
1470:Space Fortress (1981)
1456:The Incredible Wizard
1319:
1278:
1021:(Vibrato Frequency),
985:(master oscillator),
477:
422:Bally Computer System
2051:Ninth (2020–present)
1464:Pirates Chase (1981)
938:, rather than using
868:(foreground color),
857:(background color),
839:(last LINE position)
625:Palo Alto Tiny BASIC
493:page mode addressing
279:and hardware global
43:improve this article
2943:Fairchild Channel F
2181:Entex Select-A-Game
2111:Fairchild Channel F
2041:Seventh (2005–2017)
1914:Video game consoles
1878:Console Living Room
1507:Conan the Barbarian
864:(cursor position),
820:Built-in variables
809:(pixel on or off),
311:, at that time the
140:Bally Manufacturing
123:
2784:Mega Drive/Genesis
2211:Romtec Colorvision
2155:VTech CreatiVision
2026:Fourth (1987–2004)
2016:Second (1976–1992)
1854:2018-11-18 at the
1829:TheGameConsole.com
1422:/ Brickyard (1979)
1413:Star Battle (1978)
1322:
1281:
1263:Creative Computing
1250:magazine included
1017:(Voice C volume),
1013:(Voice B volume),
1009:(Voice A volume),
946:would provide the
593:video game console
480:
337:Nutting and Midway
186:Introductory price
121:
3158:
3157:
3145:
3144:
3075:EVO Smart Console
2395:Super Vision 8000
2292:
2291:
2240:
2239:
2150:Super Vision 8000
2036:Sixth (1998–2013)
2031:Fifth (1993–2006)
2021:Third (1983–2003)
2011:First (1972–1980)
1969:Dedicated console
1918:second generation
1639:Radio-Electronics
1490:Other cartridges
1317:
687:Language features
632:BASIC interpreter
597:personal computer
585:paddle controller
517:color indirection
302:second-generation
296:and initially as
286:
285:
249:Removable storage
220:clocked at 1.789
162:Second generation
119:
118:
111:
93:
58:"Bally Astrocade"
3208:
2948:Interton VC 4000
2923:
2922:
2718:Magnavox Odyssey
2319:
2312:
2305:
2296:
2295:
2121:Interton VC 4000
2066:
2065:
1907:
1900:
1893:
1884:
1883:
1875:Internet Archive
1839:Console Database
1834:OldComputers.net
1801:
1800:
1793:
1787:
1786:
1779:
1773:
1772:
1765:
1759:
1758:
1757:. 9 August 2017.
1751:
1745:
1744:
1736:
1723:
1722:
1716:
1707:
1698:
1697:
1682:
1676:
1675:
1665:
1659:
1658:
1655:Internet Archive
1630:
1624:
1623:
1615:
1598:
1588:
1582:
1576:
1570:
1562:
1443:Biorhythm (1981)
1395:Dog Patch (1978)
1318:
1202:
1201:
1198:
1193:
1192:
1189:
1184:
1183:
1180:
1177:
1174:
1171:
1168:
1163:
1162:
1159:
1156:
1153:
1150:
1147:
1144:
1141:
1138:
1135:
1132:
1129:
1126:
1123:
1120:
1115:
1114:
1111:
1108:
1105:
1102:
1099:
1096:
1093:
1090:
1085:
1084:
1081:
1078:
1075:
1072:
1069:
1064:
1063:
1060:
1057:
1054:
1051:
1048:
1045:
1042:
1024:
1020:
1016:
1012:
1008:
1004:
1000:
996:
993:(Noise Volume),
992:
988:
984:
974:
967:
953:
945:
937:
933:
929:
925:
921:
917:
909:
905:
898:
894:
890:
871:
867:
863:
860:
856:
849:
845:
838:
834:
830:
826:
817:(trigger status)
816:
812:
808:
804:
800:
796:
792:
788:
782:
778:
774:
770:
764:
760:
756:
750:
749:FOR-TO-STEP/NEXT
746:
742:
738:
734:
730:
726:
720:
716:
710:
706:
702:
698:
665:
656:
652:
556:games built into
207:
205:
191:
181:
179:
174:
131:
124:
120:
114:
107:
103:
100:
94:
92:
51:
27:
19:
3216:
3215:
3211:
3210:
3209:
3207:
3206:
3205:
3161:
3160:
3159:
3154:
3141:
3120:
3099:
3058:
2997:
2956:
2938:Bally Astrocade
2914:
2881:
2838:
2810:
2760:
2737:
2728:Videopac+ G7400
2704:
2681:
2633:
2610:
2606:Xbox Series X/S
2572:
2549:
2521:
2512:Cassette Vision
2498:
2470:
2447:
2424:
2381:
2328:
2323:
2293:
2288:
2255:
2250:
2236:
2220:
2159:
2096:Bally Astrocade
2061:
2055:
1997:
1921:
1911:
1856:Wayback Machine
1810:
1805:
1804:
1795:
1794:
1790:
1781:
1780:
1776:
1767:
1766:
1762:
1753:
1752:
1748:
1737:
1726:
1714:
1708:
1701:
1688:(Spring 1983).
1683:
1679:
1667:
1666:
1662:
1631:
1627:
1616:
1601:
1589:
1585:
1577:
1573:
1563:
1559:
1554:
1488:
1401:Football (1978)
1369:
1347:
1327:Music Processor
1313:
1311:
1286:
1273:
1243:
1211:
1203:
1199:
1196:
1190:
1187:
1181:
1178:
1175:
1172:
1169:
1166:
1160:
1157:
1154:
1151:
1148:
1145:
1142:
1139:
1136:
1133:
1130:
1127:
1124:
1121:
1118:
1112:
1109:
1106:
1103:
1100:
1097:
1094:
1091:
1088:
1082:
1079:
1076:
1073:
1070:
1067:
1061:
1058:
1055:
1052:
1049:
1046:
1043:
1040:
1032:
1022:
1018:
1014:
1010:
1006:
1002:
998:
994:
990:
986:
982:
972:
965:
951:
943:
935:
931:
927:
923:
919:
915:
907:
903:
896:
892:
888:
869:
865:
861:
858:
854:
847:
846:(scroll mode),
843:
836:
835:(memory size),
832:
828:
824:
814:
810:
806:
805:(knob status),
802:
798:
794:
790:
786:
780:
776:
772:
768:
767:Tape Commands:
762:
758:
754:
748:
744:
740:
736:
732:
728:
724:
718:
714:
708:
704:
700:
696:
689:
663:
654:
650:
619:, who expanded
609:
472:
414:Montgomery Ward
383:
339:
334:
292:(also known as
290:Bally Astrocade
239:
203:
201:
189:
177:
175:
172:
142:
122:Bally Astrocade
115:
104:
98:
95:
52:
50:
40:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
3214:
3204:
3203:
3198:
3193:
3188:
3183:
3178:
3173:
3156:
3155:
3150:
3147:
3146:
3143:
3142:
3140:
3139:
3134:
3128:
3126:
3122:
3121:
3119:
3118:
3113:
3107:
3105:
3101:
3100:
3098:
3097:
3092:
3087:
3082:
3077:
3072:
3066:
3064:
3060:
3059:
3057:
3056:
3051:
3041:
3036:
3026:
3024:FM Towns Marty
3021:
3016:
3011:
3009:Amstrad GX4000
3005:
3003:
2999:
2998:
2996:
2995:
2990:
2985:
2980:
2975:
2970:
2964:
2962:
2958:
2957:
2955:
2954:
2945:
2940:
2935:
2929:
2927:
2920:
2916:
2915:
2913:
2912:
2907:
2902:
2897:
2891:
2889:
2883:
2882:
2880:
2879:
2874:
2869:
2864:
2859:
2853:
2851:
2840:
2839:
2837:
2836:
2831:
2825:
2823:
2812:
2811:
2809:
2808:
2803:
2798:
2797:
2796:
2791:
2781:
2776:
2770:
2768:
2762:
2761:
2759:
2758:
2753:
2747:
2745:
2739:
2738:
2736:
2735:
2730:
2725:
2720:
2714:
2712:
2706:
2705:
2703:
2702:
2697:
2691:
2689:
2683:
2682:
2680:
2679:
2674:
2669:
2664:
2659:
2654:
2649:
2643:
2641:
2635:
2634:
2632:
2631:
2626:
2620:
2618:
2612:
2611:
2609:
2608:
2603:
2598:
2593:
2587:
2585:
2574:
2573:
2571:
2570:
2565:
2559:
2557:
2551:
2550:
2548:
2547:
2542:
2537:
2531:
2529:
2523:
2522:
2520:
2519:
2514:
2508:
2506:
2500:
2499:
2497:
2496:
2491:
2486:
2480:
2478:
2472:
2471:
2469:
2468:
2463:
2457:
2455:
2449:
2448:
2446:
2445:
2440:
2434:
2432:
2426:
2425:
2423:
2422:
2417:
2412:
2407:
2402:
2397:
2391:
2389:
2383:
2382:
2380:
2379:
2374:
2369:
2364:
2359:
2354:
2349:
2344:
2338:
2336:
2330:
2329:
2322:
2321:
2314:
2307:
2299:
2290:
2289:
2287:
2286:
2281:
2276:
2271:
2266:
2261:
2251:
2246:
2245:
2242:
2241:
2238:
2237:
2235:
2234:
2228:
2226:
2222:
2221:
2219:
2218:
2213:
2208:
2203:
2198:
2193:
2188:
2183:
2178:
2173:
2167:
2165:
2161:
2160:
2158:
2157:
2152:
2147:
2142:
2137:
2132:
2127:
2118:
2113:
2108:
2103:
2098:
2093:
2088:
2083:
2078:
2072:
2070:
2063:
2057:
2056:
2054:
2053:
2048:
2043:
2038:
2033:
2028:
2023:
2018:
2013:
2007:
2005:
1999:
1998:
1996:
1995:
1994:
1993:
1983:
1981:Hybrid console
1978:
1977:
1976:
1966:
1965:
1964:
1954:
1953:
1952:
1942:
1941:
1940:
1929:
1927:
1923:
1922:
1910:
1909:
1902:
1895:
1887:
1881:
1880:
1868:
1859:
1846:
1841:
1836:
1831:
1826:
1821:
1816:
1809:
1808:External links
1806:
1803:
1802:
1788:
1774:
1760:
1746:
1739:Giles, Aaron.
1724:
1719:ballyalley.com
1699:
1686:Goodman, Danny
1677:
1660:
1645:. p. 53.
1635:"Bally Arcade"
1625:
1599:
1583:
1581:by Ken Polsson
1571:
1556:
1555:
1553:
1550:
1549:
1548:
1545:
1542:
1541:Muncher (1981)
1535:
1534:
1531:
1528:
1525:
1518:
1517:
1514:
1511:
1508:
1501:
1500:
1497:
1487:
1486:
1483:
1480:
1477:
1474:Artillery Duel
1471:
1468:
1465:
1462:
1459:
1453:
1447:
1444:
1441:
1435:
1429:
1426:Space Invaders
1423:
1417:
1414:
1411:
1408:
1405:
1402:
1399:
1396:
1393:
1390:
1387:
1384:
1377:
1368:
1365:
1364:
1363:
1360:
1359:
1358:
1351:
1346:
1343:
1342:
1341:
1337:
1334:
1330:
1310:
1307:
1306:
1305:
1302:
1299:
1298:Cart ROM: 8 kB
1296:
1293:
1290:
1285:
1282:
1272:
1271:Specifications
1269:
1242:
1239:
1210:
1207:
1037:
1031:
1028:
1027:
1026:
989:(Noise Mode),
979:
976:
969:
885:
884:
881:
878:
875:
874:
873:
853:(read/write):
851:
842:(write only):
840:
818:
783:
765:
751:
721:
711:
688:
685:
674:Artillery Duel
608:
605:
471:
468:
382:
379:
338:
335:
333:
330:
298:Bally ABA-1000
284:
283:
269:
265:
264:
261:
257:
256:
251:
245:
244:
229:
225:
224:
215:
209:
208:
198:
194:
193:
187:
183:
182:
169:
165:
164:
159:
155:
154:
149:
145:
144:
137:
133:
132:
117:
116:
31:
29:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
3213:
3202:
3199:
3197:
3194:
3192:
3189:
3187:
3184:
3182:
3179:
3177:
3174:
3172:
3169:
3168:
3166:
3153:
3148:
3138:
3135:
3133:
3130:
3129:
3127:
3123:
3117:
3116:Steam Machine
3114:
3112:
3109:
3108:
3106:
3102:
3096:
3093:
3091:
3088:
3086:
3083:
3081:
3078:
3076:
3073:
3071:
3068:
3067:
3065:
3061:
3055:
3052:
3049:
3045:
3042:
3040:
3037:
3034:
3030:
3027:
3025:
3022:
3020:
3017:
3015:
3012:
3010:
3007:
3006:
3004:
3000:
2994:
2991:
2989:
2986:
2984:
2981:
2979:
2976:
2974:
2971:
2969:
2966:
2965:
2963:
2959:
2953:
2949:
2946:
2944:
2941:
2939:
2936:
2934:
2931:
2930:
2928:
2924:
2921:
2917:
2911:
2908:
2906:
2903:
2901:
2898:
2896:
2893:
2892:
2890:
2888:
2884:
2878:
2877:PlayStation 5
2875:
2873:
2872:PlayStation 4
2870:
2868:
2867:PlayStation 3
2865:
2863:
2862:PlayStation 2
2860:
2858:
2855:
2854:
2852:
2849:
2845:
2841:
2835:
2832:
2830:
2827:
2826:
2824:
2821:
2817:
2813:
2807:
2804:
2802:
2799:
2795:
2792:
2790:
2787:
2786:
2785:
2782:
2780:
2779:Master System
2777:
2775:
2772:
2771:
2769:
2767:
2763:
2757:
2754:
2752:
2751:RCA Studio II
2749:
2748:
2746:
2744:
2740:
2734:
2731:
2729:
2726:
2724:
2721:
2719:
2716:
2715:
2713:
2711:
2707:
2701:
2698:
2696:
2693:
2692:
2690:
2688:
2684:
2678:
2675:
2673:
2670:
2668:
2665:
2663:
2660:
2658:
2655:
2653:
2650:
2648:
2645:
2644:
2642:
2640:
2636:
2630:
2627:
2625:
2622:
2621:
2619:
2617:
2613:
2607:
2604:
2602:
2599:
2597:
2594:
2592:
2589:
2588:
2586:
2583:
2579:
2575:
2569:
2566:
2564:
2563:Intellivision
2561:
2560:
2558:
2556:
2552:
2546:
2543:
2541:
2538:
2536:
2533:
2532:
2530:
2528:
2524:
2518:
2515:
2513:
2510:
2509:
2507:
2505:
2501:
2495:
2492:
2490:
2487:
2485:
2482:
2481:
2479:
2477:
2473:
2467:
2464:
2462:
2459:
2458:
2456:
2454:
2450:
2444:
2441:
2439:
2436:
2435:
2433:
2431:
2427:
2421:
2418:
2416:
2413:
2411:
2408:
2406:
2403:
2401:
2398:
2396:
2393:
2392:
2390:
2388:
2384:
2378:
2375:
2373:
2370:
2368:
2365:
2363:
2360:
2358:
2355:
2353:
2350:
2348:
2345:
2343:
2340:
2339:
2337:
2335:
2331:
2327:
2320:
2315:
2313:
2308:
2306:
2301:
2300:
2297:
2285:
2282:
2280:
2277:
2275:
2272:
2270:
2267:
2265:
2262:
2260:
2257:
2256:
2254:
2249:
2243:
2233:
2230:
2229:
2227:
2223:
2217:
2214:
2212:
2209:
2207:
2204:
2202:
2199:
2197:
2194:
2192:
2189:
2187:
2184:
2182:
2179:
2177:
2174:
2172:
2169:
2168:
2166:
2162:
2156:
2153:
2151:
2148:
2146:
2143:
2141:
2140:RCA Studio II
2138:
2136:
2133:
2131:
2130:Intellivision
2128:
2126:
2122:
2119:
2117:
2114:
2112:
2109:
2107:
2104:
2102:
2099:
2097:
2094:
2092:
2089:
2087:
2084:
2082:
2079:
2077:
2074:
2073:
2071:
2067:
2064:
2058:
2052:
2049:
2047:
2044:
2042:
2039:
2037:
2034:
2032:
2029:
2027:
2024:
2022:
2019:
2017:
2014:
2012:
2009:
2008:
2006:
2004:
2000:
1992:
1989:
1988:
1987:
1986:Retro console
1984:
1982:
1979:
1975:
1972:
1971:
1970:
1967:
1963:
1960:
1959:
1958:
1955:
1951:
1948:
1947:
1946:
1943:
1939:
1936:
1935:
1934:
1931:
1930:
1928:
1924:
1919:
1915:
1908:
1903:
1901:
1896:
1894:
1889:
1888:
1885:
1879:
1876:
1872:
1869:
1867:
1863:
1860:
1857:
1853:
1850:
1847:
1845:
1842:
1840:
1837:
1835:
1832:
1830:
1827:
1825:
1822:
1820:
1817:
1815:
1812:
1811:
1798:
1792:
1784:
1778:
1770:
1764:
1756:
1750:
1742:
1735:
1733:
1731:
1729:
1720:
1713:
1706:
1704:
1696:. p. 32.
1695:
1691:
1687:
1681:
1673:
1672:
1664:
1656:
1652:
1648:
1644:
1640:
1636:
1629:
1621:
1614:
1612:
1610:
1608:
1606:
1604:
1596:
1595:Collier Books
1592:
1587:
1580:
1575:
1568:
1567:
1561:
1557:
1547:Crazy Climber
1546:
1543:
1540:
1539:
1538:
1532:
1529:
1526:
1523:
1522:
1521:
1515:
1512:
1509:
1506:
1505:
1504:
1498:
1496:
1493:
1492:
1491:
1484:
1481:
1478:
1475:
1472:
1469:
1466:
1463:
1460:
1457:
1454:
1451:
1448:
1445:
1442:
1439:
1436:
1433:
1430:
1427:
1424:
1421:
1418:
1415:
1412:
1409:
1406:
1403:
1400:
1397:
1394:
1391:
1388:
1385:
1382:
1379:
1378:
1376:
1374:
1361:
1355:
1354:
1352:
1349:
1348:
1338:
1335:
1331:
1328:
1324:
1323:
1303:
1300:
1297:
1294:
1291:
1288:
1287:
1277:
1268:
1266:
1264:
1259:
1258:Danny Goodman
1255:
1253:
1249:
1248:
1238:
1236:
1232:
1228:
1224:
1220:
1216:
1206:
1036:
980:
977:
970:
963:
962:
961:
958:
955:
949:
941:
940:PEEK and POKE
913:
900:
882:
879:
877:Math: + - × ÷
876:
852:
841:
827:(key press),
823:(read only):
822:
821:
819:
784:
766:
752:
722:
712:
694:
693:
692:
684:
682:
679:
675:
670:
667:
659:
648:
644:
640:
635:
633:
630:Developing a
628:
626:
622:
618:
614:
604:
602:
598:
594:
588:
586:
582:
581:potentiometer
578:
574:
569:
567:
563:
562:
557:
553:
552:cassette tape
549:
544:
542:
538:
534:
530:
525:
522:
518:
514:
509:
507:
503:
497:
494:
489:
485:
476:
467:
465:
461:
457:
452:
450:
446:
443:known as the
442:
438:
433:
431:
427:
423:
419:
415:
411:
406:
404:
400:
396:
392:
388:
378:
376:
372:
368:
364:
363:
362:Wizard of Wor
358:
357:
352:
351:home computer
348:
344:
329:
326:
322:
318:
314:
310:
306:
303:
299:
295:
291:
282:
278:
274:
270:
266:
262:
258:
255:
254:ROM cartridge
252:
250:
246:
243:
238:
234:
230:
226:
223:
219:
216:
214:
210:
199:
195:
188:
184:
170:
166:
163:
160:
156:
153:
150:
146:
141:
138:
134:
130:
125:
113:
110:
102:
91:
88:
84:
81:
77:
74:
70:
67:
63:
60: –
59:
55:
54:Find sources:
48:
44:
38:
37:
32:This article
30:
26:
21:
20:
3014:Apple Pippin
2973:Arcadia 2001
2937:
2895:CreatiVision
2466:ColecoVision
2415:Apple Pippin
2284:Manufacturer
2101:ColecoVision
2095:
2081:Arcadia 2001
1957:Microconsole
1877:
1791:
1777:
1763:
1749:
1718:
1693:
1680:
1669:
1663:
1653:– via
1638:
1628:
1619:
1590:
1586:
1574:
1564:
1560:
1536:
1519:
1516:Fawn Dungeon
1502:
1489:
1432:Astro Battle
1372:
1370:
1367:Game library
1261:
1256:
1251:
1245:
1244:
1226:
1215:co-processor
1212:
1204:
1116:100 N=1 110
1033:
959:
956:
901:
886:
872:(note time),
713:Statements:
690:
678:The Arcadian
677:
671:
668:
660:
636:
629:
621:Li-Chen Wang
617:Jamie Fenton
610:
589:
570:
565:
559:
547:
545:
526:
516:
510:
498:
481:
456:Datamax UV-1
453:
448:
436:
434:
425:
421:
409:
407:
394:
386:
384:
377:of the era.
360:
354:
347:arcade games
340:
315:division of
297:
294:Bally Arcade
293:
289:
287:
277:noise mixing
197:Discontinued
168:Release date
136:Manufacturer
105:
96:
86:
79:
72:
65:
53:
41:Please help
36:verification
33:
3137:Evercade VS
3054:Super A'Can
3039:LaserActive
3019:CPS Changer
2983:RDI Halcyon
2857:PlayStation
2848:PlayStation
2700:Panasonic Q
2657:Nintendo 64
2535:Leapster TV
2443:Casio Loopy
2003:Generations
1814:Bally Alley
1620:Astro BASIC
1520:Unlicensed
1503:Prototypes
1231:floppy disk
1030:Sample code
785:Functions:
723:Structure:
643:interpreter
607:Astro BASIC
470:Description
410:Astrovision
381:Console use
375:dynamic RAM
273:oscillators
143:Astrovision
3196:1980s toys
3191:1970s toys
3165:Categories
2968:Action Max
2933:APF-MP1000
2834:Neo Geo CD
2540:ClickStart
2494:Amiga CD32
2372:VCS (2021)
2352:Atari 7800
2347:Atari 5200
2342:Atari 2600
2206:Digi Casse
2091:Atari 5200
2086:Atari 2600
2076:APF-MP1000
2062:generation
1552:References
1371:There are
1005:(Tone C),
1001:(Tone B),
997:(Tone A),
753:Graphics:
695:Commands:
601:Jeff Rovin
573:controller
548:Videocades
437:ZGRASS-100
391:mail order
178:April 1978
171:April 1978
158:Generation
69:newspapers
3085:Hyperscan
3080:Game Wave
2806:Dreamcast
2723:Odyssey 2
2687:Panasonic
2578:Microsoft
2568:HyperScan
2476:Commodore
2420:Terebikko
2367:Flashback
2225:Dedicated
2191:3D Gamate
2135:Odyssey 2
1866:GiantBomb
1651:0033-7862
1537:Homebrew
1438:Bally Pin
1381:Gun Fight
1340:software.
1295:ROM: 8 kB
1241:Reception
887:A period
566:Checkmate
558:the ROM,
541:bit-shift
513:registers
484:Zilog Z80
460:videotape
449:ZGRASS-32
426:Astrocade
399:Atari VCS
313:videogame
218:Zilog Z80
3132:Polymega
3070:DISCover
3029:Goldstar
2900:Socrates
2756:RCA Nuon
2662:GameCube
2639:Nintendo
2601:Xbox One
2596:Xbox 360
2527:LeapFrog
2269:Services
2259:Emulator
2164:Handheld
1862:Database
1852:Archived
1450:Galaxian
739:(but no
577:joystick
561:Gunfight
260:Graphics
99:May 2018
2988:Vectrex
2910:V.Flash
2905:V.Smile
2829:Neo Geo
2820:Neo Geo
2789:Sega CD
2774:SG-1000
2710:Philips
2438:PV-1000
2410:Playdia
2400:Arcadia
2274:History
2196:Variety
2145:Vectrex
1510:Mazeman
932:&()
807:PX(X,Y)
743:and no
681:fanzine
533:blitter
367:chipset
349:, to a
332:History
300:) is a
281:vibrato
202: (
190:US$ 299
176: (
83:scholar
2919:Others
2801:Saturn
2677:Switch
2555:Mattel
2545:LeapTV
2453:Coleco
2387:Bandai
2362:Jaguar
2060:Second
1649:
1597:, 1982
1513:Soccer
1476:(1982)
1458:(1981)
1440:(1981)
1420:Clowns
1227:GRAFIX
1209:ZGRASS
912:arrays
791:CALL()
773::INPUT
769::PRINT
733:RETURN
529:sprite
401:). In
365:. The
309:Midway
228:Memory
85:
78:
71:
64:
56:
3125:2020s
3111:CT510
3104:2010s
3095:Zeebo
3090:Xavix
3063:2000s
3044:Sanyo
3002:1990s
2961:1980s
2926:1970s
2887:VTech
2672:Wii U
2629:PC-FX
2504:Epoch
2430:Casio
2405:RX-78
2377:2600+
2334:Atari
1926:Types
1715:(PDF)
1671:Games
1566:Video
1495:BASIC
1345:Video
1309:Audio
1247:Games
966:PRINT
948:ASCII
811:RND()
787:ABS()
777::LIST
759:CLEAR
729:GOSUB
719:INPUT
715:PRINT
709:TRACE
613:BASIC
515:, or
317:Bally
275:with
268:Sound
240:8 KB
90:JSTOR
76:books
3152:List
2844:Sony
2766:Sega
2733:CD-i
2591:Xbox
2582:Xbox
2489:CDTV
2357:XEGS
2279:List
2264:Game
2069:Home
1991:list
1974:list
1962:list
1950:list
1938:list
1647:ISSN
1235:CP/M
1197:GOTO
1188:NEXT
1164:120
1143:<
1125:>
1110:GOTO
971:The
964:The
815:TR()
803:KN()
799:JY()
795:JX()
781::RUN
763:LINE
745:ELSE
741:THEN
725:GOTO
705:STOP
697:LIST
664:GOTO
653:and
647:byte
564:and
539:and
464:1982
418:1981
403:1979
371:line
359:and
356:Gorf
325:1978
321:1977
288:The
271:3 ×
204:1983
200:1983
148:Type
62:news
2816:SNK
2794:32X
2743:RCA
2667:Wii
2616:NEC
1864:at
1544:War
1260:of
1219:FPU
1167:FOR
1074:RND
1065:20
1047:RND
936:%()
924:DIM
920:*()
916:@()
906:to
897:NEW
893:REM
848:TV=
844:SM=
755:BOX
747:),
701:RUN
639:bit
623:'s
595:to
537:XOR
506:ROM
502:kiB
488:RAM
242:ROM
237:RAM
222:MHz
213:CPU
45:by
3167::
1727:^
1717:.
1702:^
1692:.
1637:.
1602:^
1593:,
1373:28
1237:.
1200:10
1179:TO
1161:15
1137:IF
1119:IF
1113:30
1092:TR
1089:IF
1080:20
1062:31
1053:60
1023:VR
1019:VF
1015:VC
1011:VB
1007:VA
1003:TC
999:TB
995:TA
991:NV
987:NM
983:MO
973:MU
952:TV
944:KP
928:SZ
914:,
870:NT
866:FC
862:CY
859:CX
855:BC
837:XY
833:SZ
829:RM
825:KP
813:,
793:,
789:,
779:,
775:,
771:,
761:,
757:,
737:IF
735:,
731:,
727:,
717:,
707:,
703:,
699:,
666:.
655:11
651:01
587:.
508:.
233:KB
231:4
3050:)
3046:(
3035:)
3031:(
2950:/
2850:)
2846:(
2822:)
2818:(
2584:)
2580:(
2318:e
2311:t
2304:v
2123:/
1920:)
1916:(
1906:e
1899:t
1892:v
1799:.
1785:.
1771:.
1743:.
1721:.
1657:.
1217:(
1191:A
1182:N
1176:1
1173:=
1170:A
1158:=
1155:N
1152:3
1149:+
1146:X
1140:K
1134:3
1131:-
1128:X
1122:K
1107:0
1104:=
1101:)
1098:1
1095:(
1083:)
1077:(
1071:=
1068:Y
1059:-
1056:)
1050:(
1044:=
1041:X
908:Z
904:A
889:.
500:4
206:)
180:)
112:)
106:(
101:)
97:(
87:·
80:·
73:·
66:·
39:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
