website/content/museum/polycon-pg-7-programmable-tv-games.md

title, categories, origins, params

title	categories	origins	params
POLYCON PG 7 (Programmable TV Games)	Consoles	United Kingdom	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos screenshots links related oc_id source PG 7 (Programmable TV Games) /media/museum/photos/polycon_pg7_1s.jpg /companies/polycon POLYCON label value NAME PG 7 (Programmable TV Games) label value MANUFACTURER Polycon label value ORIGIN United Kingdom label value YEAR ? Unknown label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE None label value KEYBOARD Two detachable controllers with analog joysticks and a fire button label value CPU None. Chipsets are located in each cartridge label value GRAPHIC MODES Unknown label value COLORS Yes label value SOUND yes, built-in speaker label value SIZE / WEIGHT Unknown label value I/O PORTS Power in, TV RF video output, light gun connectors label value BUILT IN MEDIA Cartridges label value OS 7 cartridges label value POWER SUPPLY External power supply (9v, 200ma, - -(o- + ) or 6 x AA batteries label value PRICE Unknown photos software links 1098 title subtitle text image PG 7 Thanks to Leigh Arnfield for this picture /media/museum/photos/polycon_pg7_1.jpg title subtitle text image CONTROL PANEL Thanks to Leigh Arnfield for this picture /media/museum/photos/polycon_pg7_cpanel.jpg title subtitle text image REAR CONNECTORS From left to right : - Power in (9v, 200mA, - -(o- + )\ - Right pistol (two jacks)\ - Left pistol (two jacks) Thanks to Leigh Arnfield for this picture /media/museum/photos/polycon_pg7_rear_1.jpg title subtitle text image BOX Thanks to Leigh Arnfield for this picture /media/museum/photos/polycon_pg7_box_1.jpg title subtitle text image BOX SIDE Thanks to Leigh Arnfield for this picture /media/museum/photos/polycon_pg7_box_side.jpg title subtitle text image INSTRUCTIONS Thanks to Leigh Arnfield for this picture /media/museum/photos/polycon_pg7_instructions.jpg title subtitle text image CARTRIDGE Front Thanks to Leigh Arnfield for this picture /media/museum/software/polycon_pg7_ct603_cart.jpg title subtitle text image CARTRIDGE Back Thanks to Leigh Arnfield for this picture /media/museum/software/polycon_pg7_ct603_cart_back.jpg title subtitle text image CARTRIDGE Front Thanks to Leigh Arnfield for this picture /media/museum/software/polycon_pg7_ct610_cart.jpg title subtitle text image CARTRIDGE Back Thanks to Leigh Arnfield for this picture /media/museum/software/polycon_pg7_ct610_cart_back.jpg title url text INTERNAL LINK http://www.old-computers.com/magazine/view.asp?r=2&a=4 Article comparing the different GI catridge based systems /museum/audiosonic-tele-sports-iv /museum/bandai-tv-jack-5000 /museum/h-g-s-electronic-telesport /museum/hanimex-sd-070-colour-programmable-tv-game-console /museum/mbo-teleball-cassetten-system /museum/palladium-tele-cassetten-game /museum/poppy-9015 /museum/prinztronic-micro-5500 /museum/rollet-video-secam-system-4-303 /museum/s-h-g-black-point-fs-1003-fs-2000 /museum/sanwa-9015 /museum/teleng-colourstars /museum/unimex-mark-ix 1128 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230613152940/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1128 2023-06-13

This is a typical system using catridges based on the different chipsets developped by General Instruments in the late 70s. Each GI chips was able to generate several games, ball games for a start, then later car racing, motorcycle, submarines, tanks and shooting games.

The system has two detachable controllers with one analog joystick and one fire button each. The control panel is composed of 10 buttons to select the different games offered by each cartridge (10 being the maximum). Three option switches, a power switch and a RESET button can also be found. There is also a weird color switch/slider which function is to select one of the 4 display colour combinations (red, purple, blue, green)...

The original fact with the PG-7 is that it has an unusual design. Mainly because of the cartridge slot placement, vertically aligned with the control panel. There is no real "slot" to insert the whole cartridge, but only a thin connector for the contact edge of the cartridge.

Placed a the top of the case can be found a feature usely found on old pong systems but more scarcely on later ones : score sliders to keep track of total winning games for each player. These sliders are not electronicaly connected to anything, there are just "physical reminders"...

At the back of the system can be found connectors for optional controllers like a light gun, or Battle Tank controllers. In fact both controllers are labeled "Light Gun 1" and "Light Gun 2", but they must be used by the optional Tank Controllers.

The Tank Battle game produced by the AY-3-8710 chip from General Instruments, is often missing from available cartridges for this type of systems (based upon GI chips). There is one good reason. All the other games use analog controllers whereas the Tank Battle must be played with digital controllers (like direction buttons for example). And all these video-game systems were designed with analog controllers and no numeric ones. However, some systems, like the Polycon PG-7 (and the Prinztronic Micro 5500 or SHG Blackpoint) offered optional digital controllers (pads with 5 buttons: directions and fire) with the Tank Battle cartridge...

The Polycon PG-7 is a quite rare little machine.

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.