What is the RetroChallenge?
Its a look at old hardware by using it, it's a discovery of the kit you loved when you were younger, it's a play for the sake of it, its stopping computers ending up in landfill sites when they are still useful, its a bit of fun for those geeks out there that want to play with old computers. If you have to ask why, then I would think that this would not be for you! More infos at retrochallenge.net
myoldmac.net RetroChallenge 2010 Project
Retro Tech Video Blog
Briefly intended project:
I have dozens of old vintage 1970 & 80 Handhelds I like to feature in short (5 min) videos.
I try to do one the day but do not know if I can handle that the complete month. We will see. Please see my Video Blog below. Also have a look to my last RetroChallenge Projects:
Some strange, battery powered "Static Memory" Chips for the Micro-Professor 1
MPF-1. The MPF-1 was a computer system specifically designed by Multitech (now known as Acer!) as a learning tool for use in the teaching of microprocessor, microelectronics, and control
technology. In the 80's it was sold as an Z80 CPU learning and initiation system, and believe it or not, it is still in production and sold by http://www.flite.co.uk/.
Related Links for Multitech´s - Micro-Professor MPF-1
I was out of Berlin for the weekend - seems I was lucky not to drive to the Loveparade. Years ago I would have...
I work on a video for some strange homebrew "Static Memory" chips for the Microprofessor computer by Multitech Taïwan 1981.
July 22 - Handmade Wire Wrap Card - 1978
A handmade wire wrap card dated 1978 (Apple sold the Apple II in 1977). From an old main frame computer.
Update: Thanks to Nathan i have more infos about the Motorola MC68A45P. It seems to be a Video Chip according to this source from 1997.
July 21- Eltec - EUROCOM-1 - 197x
I finished it ;-) Here some of the handmade interface cards from my "very old" collection. A Cassette Interface, RAM Expansion, EPROM Burner and a mysteryous card including a Motorola MC68A45P chip.
July 19 - Eltec - EUROCOM-1 - 197x
I was out for the weekend, now back to the video cam. I actually work on a video about some handmade interface cards for the EUROCOM-1 computer. The Eurocom 1 was a single board computer produced in Germany by ELTEC. It is based on the 6501 processor. I hope to get it done until tomorrow.
The EUROCOM-1 computer is a low-cost microprocessor system, which can be assembled easily from readily-available components, was tested for its ability to serve as a multi-purpose device for recording experimental data. The data were recorded on commercial cassette tapes and could be computer-processed without time-consuming manual work.
1984 Tabletop game from Grandstand and Epoch, the spiritual sequel to Astro Wars and one of the most advanced LED Tabletops released, with four skill levels, six 'lanes' of invaders to kill, scrolling star field and multi-coloured graphics.
Case and electronics designed and programmed by Entex Tokyo
Entex Pac Man 2, based on Bally/Midway's Pac Man arcade game. Called Pac Man 2 becuase it allowed two people to play at once (there is no 'Pac Man 1'). Player one would be the Pac Man, player two would be the ghost chasing him (in this mode, there is only the one ghost).
One player could also play Pac Man normally with the difficulty setting determining whether there are 2, 3, or 4 ghosts chasing you. As you get to the higher levels, the speed increases to make it more difficult (and it gets really fast...).
This is the one I had as a kid, so it's my favorite, and I personally believe this Pac Man has the best playfield of any of the handheld Pac Man games (it seems to be the closest to the arcade game)... It was also released in Japan with a different name: Hungry Pac (see bottom of page). Check out the Guts section to see the inside of this game! (Info by www.handheldmuseum.com)
GALAXY II - Tabletop 1981 by Schucotronic (Germany) was also build by Unimex (USA), Grandstand (UK) and Epoch (Japan) - sometimes called ASTRO WARS. A classic tabletop clone of galaxian. This one sold very well, and was exported from Japan to all corners of the globe. It plays a great version of galaxian, and has nice hardware design. Multi-color VFD display.
The Astrowars Version can be seen at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Museum of Childhood, Marble Floor Gallery, case 1 (link).
The Schuco Galaxy II Tabletop is the homeversion of one of the mostplayed Arcadegames of that time. Virtual aliens are flying toward the spaceship of the player in different waves. The player can be move to the left and right and of course shoot the aliens. The Graphic is build with colored VFD´s.
The 1-Channel Sound is nearly identical to the Galaxy II Arcade Machine. A very good game. It was never released a game called Galaxy or Galaxy 1.
(1981, VFD, 4 C Batteries or adapter)
Bandai's Pac Man clone.
Same game as Hungry Monster and Ogre Eater. Between every 2 screens, you even get a short pacman style 'Act'. . If you go into the tunnel (backdoor) and then push up or down, you can stay there and hide - the ghosts will never enter!
Also licensed to Radio Shack in the US as Hungry Monster and Radio Shack in foreign markets and Ogre Eater.
A simple game in a great case! The Safari Tabletop by Bambino is looking like it was designed by Panton or Colani - sadly the game is not that entertaining. You have to move a cage using the direction keys. If you are above one of the moving animals you can catch them by closing the cage (orange button). You get 2 points for a catched animal, you loose 2 points by missing one. The games are time limited. Catch as many animals in the given time. Has three levels and a very loud speaker.
One of my older videos - Tomy - Terra Hit (1979, Lights/Mechanical)
Another one of Tomy's electro-mechanical games. The battery does power the mechanism via a small motor. The lights in the game are normal, flash-light style light bulbs. Foreign versions called Missile Strike (U.K.), Terra Hit (U.K.) and Space Attack (Japan).
1980 Tabletop Space Invaders clone game, featuring coloured strips across the screen to give a colour display. One of Grandstand's first tabletop games was this space invaders clone. Perfect game 999 points on 3 skill levels. Shoot the saucer for bonus points. Shoot the Invaders as they change colour. It was made in Japan and sold by Grandstand and Epoch.
1982 Pac Man clone based on Namco - Bally/Midway's Pac Man arcade game.
A very good version of Pac Man, with a large maze, power pills etc. It gets more difficult, with additional ghosts appearing on later levels. It's funny it should be called Puck Monster, not Pac Monster, as Pac Man, was originally called Puck Man. The name was only changed, because they feared the obvious vandalism, replacing the P with a F. So, one of the better Pac Man style games, and of course there are quite a lot, since all the electronic game manufacturers wanted to cash in on the success of the coin op version.
July 01 - Invicta´s - Electronic Mastermind - 1977
1977 electronic handheld quiz game, in which you can play 9 versions of the classic brain game. At first sight you could be forgiven for mistaking this green flourescent display pocket game for a calculator. Invicta's "Electronic MASTER MIND" is, apparently, "The electronic version of the world's greatest game". The aim is to "Break the hidden code set by the computer, or set your own". It was made in Leicester, England.
