---
title: Epoch TV Block
categories:
- Consoles
origins:
- Japan
years:
- '1979'
cpus:
- Atari custom chipstes
params:
  name: TV Block
  image: /media/museum/photos/epoch_tv-block_2.jpg
  company: /companies/epoch
  company_name: Epoch
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: TV Block
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Epoch
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Japan
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1979'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: 7 games (Flipper pinball 1, Flipper pinball 2, Racket pinball 1, Racket pinball 2, Basketball 1, Basketball 2, Breakout)
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: 2 side buttons (to play flipper pinball games) and one big knob to play other games (paddle games)
  - label: CPU
    value: Atari custom chipstes (?)
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: Blocky graphics
  - label: COLORS
    value: Yes (at least 6 colors)
  - label: SOUND
    value: yes, built-in speaker
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: RF TV video output, power in
  - label: OS
    value: 7 (built-in games)
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: 6 x UM2 sized battery cells or external power supply
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: 'No'
  - label: PRICE
    value: Unknown
  tabs:
  - photos
  - software
  - links
  forum_thread: 781
  photos:
  - title: TV-BLOCK
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/epoch_tv-block_3.jpg
  - title: TOP
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to Rikard Ljungkvist for this picture
    image: /media/museum/photos/epoch_tv-block_1b.jpg
  - title: BOTTOM
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to Rikard Ljungkvist for this picture
    image: /media/museum/photos/epoch_tv-block_bottom.jpg
  - title: CONTROL PANEL
    subtitle: ''
    text: The big white knob is used to select one of the 7 games offered by the system.
    image: /media/museum/photos/epoch_tv-block_cp_1.jpg
  - title: BOX
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/epoch_tv-block_box_5.jpg
  - title: BOX (BOTTOM)
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to Rikard Ljungkvist for this picture
    image: /media/museum/photos/epoch_tv-block_box_2.jpg
  - title: BOX (SIDE 1)
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to Rikard Ljungkvist for this picture
    image: /media/museum/photos/epoch_tv-block_box_side_1.jpg
  - title: BOX (SIDE 2)
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to Rikard Ljungkvist for this picture
    image: /media/museum/photos/epoch_tv-block_box_side_2.jpg
  links:
  - title: Pong-Story.com
    url: http://www.pong-story.com/atpong2.htm
    text: David has a nice page about the Atari Video Pinball
  software:
  - /software/breakout-363
  - /software/breakthru-breakaway
  - /software/flipper-pinball-ii-pinball-ii
  - /software/paddle-pinball-i-pinpaddle-i-racket-pinball-i
  - /software/paddle-pinball-ii-pinpaddle-ii-racket-pinball-ii
  oc_id: 800
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230307164518/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=800
    date: '2023-03-07'
---

This funky pong is the japanese version of the [Atari Video Pinball C-380](/museum/atari-video-pinball-model-c-380/) (and the Sears Pinball Breakaway).

It plays seven games: Flipper pinball 1, Flipper pinball 2, Racket pinball 1, Racket pinball 2, Basketball 1, Basketball 2 and Breakout. All these games are in fact improved pong games.

All the games are controlled by the big white dial placed on the right part of the system, except the two flipper pinball games which must be played with the two side buttons, just like with a real pinball!

Apparently there were a **TV Block MB** model which had slightly different games (?). Instead of 2 basketball games and 1 breakout game, there were only one basketball game and 2 breakout games.

<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>