The PC-50x family (also known as SD-050,https://www.pong-story.com/pc-50x.htm pc-50x cartridges 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 ...).
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 PhotoSD 050S ITMC Colour France SD 90 ITMC Black and white or colour France SD 050S Soundic Colour Europe Programmable system Soundic Black and white Europe TV Jack 5000 Bandai Colour 1978 Japan Palladium Tele-Cassetten Game Neckermann Colour 1978 Germany Video Cassette Lock Takatoku Colour 1977 Japan (CTV-8600 or TG 95 OI model). SD 050 Hanimex Black and white Europe SD 070 couleur Hanimex Colour Europe TVG 070C Hanimex Colour Europe Secam Systeme vidéo cassettes Secam Colour France On the PCB is written SD-050S Jeu Video SD 050S Secam Colour France SD-50 Program 2000 Creatronic Colour 1978 France Programmable 2003 Elbex Colour 1977 Europe Produced in China but sold in Europe4/303 'Video Secam System' Rollet Colour 1983? France Sold also with the name 'Secam Video Systeme' SD-050SProgrammable TV-Game Universum Colour Germany SD-050 Grandstand Colour United Kingdom Programmable game Grandstand Colour United Kingdom Also known as Mercury Commander Paul's Mark III – Programmable TV Game Colour Programmable SD070 Video Sports Centre SD070 Grandstand Colour 1978 United KingdomUnited States Tournament Colour Programmable 2000 Prinztronic Colour Programmable TV Game SD-050C Tempest 1977 Austria Superstar 01-4354 Programmable Binatone Colour 1978 United Kingdom Cablestar 01-4354 Binatone Black and white 1978 United Kingdom Tele-Sports III Radofin Colour 1978 Europe Tele-Sports IV RadofinAcetronic Colour 1978 Europe Tele-Sports programmable Radofin Colour 1978 Europe Colour TV Game Acetronic Colour 1978 United Kingdom Video SD-050 Akur Colour 1978 Germany Color TVG-872 CamClipper Colour 1978 (Cam)1977 (Clipper) Italy TVG-888 Irradio Colour Italy PG-7 programmable Polycon Colour United Kingdom 9015 Poppy Colour Germany TVG 10 Poppy Colour Germany 9015 Sanwa Colour Germany 9015 Mustang Colour Germany 4A-8 Conic Colour 1978 Hong Kong Cartridge format in common with 9015 Jeu Video Cassette Interchangeables Tele-sports III Univox Colour 1977 France Color (model TVG 57253) Mark 1978 Europe TV Game-programmable SD-070 Tristar 1978 Sweden Colour Cartridge VMV12Videomaster su Pong-Story Videomaster Colour 1979 United Kingdom Cartridge format in common with Palson Game Cassette System CX-336 Palson Colour 19781979 Spain Cartridge format in common with Videomaster Aureac Video Play Aureac VP Electronics 1978 Spain The 10 game select keys were on one of the two controllers Black Point FS 1003 S.H.G. GmbH Colour 1978 West Germany Black Point FS 2000 S.H.G. GmbH Colour 1978 West Germany Optim 600 Optim Colour 1978 United Kingdom
Games
Code French name English name ChipPC-5019015-A Supersportif Sports / Supersportic / Superten / Superstar AY-3-8610 (8 pong games + 2 rifle games)PC-5029015-B Motocyclette Motor cycle AY-3-8760 (4 race games)PC-5039015-C Bataille de chars Tank Battle AY-3-8710 (2 tank games)PC-5049015-D Course de voitures GP Racing cars / Grand Prix / Race Car GP AY-3-8603 (2 racing games)PC-5059015-G Bataille navale Submarine AY-3-8605 (2 games)PC-5069015-E Jeu de destruction Super Wipeout AY-3-8606 (10 games)PC-5079015-H Jeux de tir Shooting Gallery AY-3-8607 (3 rifle games)PC-5089015-F? 6 jeux de base Fundamental AY-3-8500 (pong games)
References
External links
"PC 50x at 20th Century Video Games".