VideoSport MK2
 A VideoSport MK2 | |
| Manufacturer | VideoSport Ltd. / Redbourn Plastics |
|---|---|
| Type | Dedicated home video game console |
| Generation | First generation |
| Release date | March 1975 |
| Lifespan | 1975 - 1977? |
| Introductory price | £37.50 |
| Discontinued | Unknown |
| Units sold | >10,000 (as of May 1976) |
| Units shipped | Unknown |
| Weight | Unknown |
| Predecessor | None |
| Successor | None |
The VideoSport MK2 is a dedicated home video game console produced by VideoSport Ltd. and Redbourn Plastics, based on Saint Albans (Hertfordshire).[1] It was mostly distributed by Henry's, a British retailer of television and Hi-fi equipment, starting in 1975 until 1977.[2][3][4] Customers could purchase the console in stores or have it delivered to them by mail.[3] The original price was £37.50 in March 1975; it dropped to £34.72 in May 1975, to £29.50 in May 1976 and to £20.20 later in 1976 or early 1977.[3] By May 1976, over 10,000 units of the console had been sold.[3]
It was one of the first European video game consoles.[3]
Hardware
[edit]Console and controllers
[edit].jpg)
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.[3] 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).[3] 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.[3] 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".[3]
Technical specifications
[edit]Inside the console, there are only two TTL-type integrated circuits, each containing four NAND ports. The remaining circuitry comprises discrete components only.[3] The power supply is provided only through the mains current.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ Martorell, Martin F. (8 July 2024). "VideoSport MK2 (1975)". prehistoricgaming (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- ^ Tristan, Donovan (2010). "Hardware Glossary". Replay, The History of Video Games. Lewes (Regno Unito): Yellow Ant. ISBN 978-0-9565072-2-8.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Pong-Story : Henry's VideoSport MK2". pong-story.com. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
- ^ J. P. Wolf, Mark. The Video Game Explosion: A History from PONG to Playstation and Beyond.