website/content/magazine/obscure-systems-interton-vc-4000-clones.html

{
 "title": "Obscure systems : Interton VC-4000 & clones",
 "rubrics": [
  "Consoles"
 ],
 "params": {
  "image": "/media/magazine/articles/7/titre_interton.jpg",
  "group": "Consoles",
  "oc_id": 7,
  "source": {
   "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20210512081157/http://www.old-computers.com/magazine/view.asp?a=7",
   "date": "2021-05-12"
  }
 }
}

<table> <tr><td> <p><img src="/media/magazine/articles/7/titre_interton.jpg"/></p> <p><b>&gt; DESCRIPTION</b></p> <p>Maybe this is the most obscure of the console groups... because there are all quite different in shape, and none of them could be found in the USA, so little information is to be found on the net for them so far. But at least 2 of these systems are quite known by europeans collectors :</p> <p>The Interton VC-4000 and the Voltmace Database.</p> <p>The Interton has the most complete list of games confirmed (40) and was sold outside Germany, in some other european countries. For these reasons, I decided to call this group "Interton VC-4000 and compatible systems".</p> <p>In fact these systems seem to be "cut-down" versions of the "Emerson Arcadia 2001 and clone" systems. They use the same Signetics CPU (2650A) but have a less "powered" video-chipset : the Signetics 2636 instead of the 2637.</p> <p>As most of these systems are different in shape and use different cart formats, they usually are not directly "hardware" compatible (i.e. cartridges do not fit), but there again, games are absolutly identicals.</p>  <p><b>&gt; HOW TO RECOGNISE THEM ?</b></p> <blockquote> <p><b>&gt; THE CONTROLLERS<br/> </b>There are at least <b>12 keys </b> (4 x 3) on each joystick keyboard plus most of the time <b>2 red fire buttons</b> on each joystick. These fire buttons are generaly part of the keyboard, and not on the controllers sides like many "Arcadia" systems... </p> <p> <img height="120" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/joy_interton_vc4000.jpg" width="200"/> <img height="133" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/joy_lansay_1392.jpg" width="200"/> <img height="105" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/joy_voltmace_database.jpg" width="200"/> </p> <p>Sometimes (Rowtron system for example), the fire button is one of the 12 keys of the keyboard, but is still differenciated by the red color.</p> <p><img height="152" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/joy_rowtron.jpg" width="196"/> </p>   <p><b>&gt; </b><b>THE CONTROL PANEL</b><br/> On the control panel there are usually 4 functions buttons :</p> <p><b>Power On/Off - Reset - Select - Start</b></p> <p>This is good way to differenciate them from the "Arcadia" systems, which are very similar in many ways except that they have one more selection button (Select B or option...)</p> <p> <img height="120" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/panel_interton_vc4000.jpg" width="203"/> <img height="145" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/panel_itmc_mpt05.jpg" width="212"/> <img height="129" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/panel_voltmace_database.jpg" width="207"/> </p>   <p><b>&gt;</b> <b>INSIDE</b><br/> Inside, the CPU is a <b>Signetics 2650A</b> just like the "Arcadia" systems, but the video-chipset is a powerless one : the <b>Signetics 2636</b> (Arcadia systems use the 2637).</p>  </blockquote> <p><b>&gt; THE SYSTEMS</b></p> <table> <tr> <td> <p><b>Name</b> </p></td> <td> <p><b>Brand</b> </p></td> <td> <p><b>Country</b> </p></td> <td> </td> <td> <p><b></b> </p></td> <td> <p><b></b> </p></td> <td> <p><b></b> </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>VC-4000 </p></td> <td> <p>Interton </p></td> <td> <p>Germany / Europe </p></td> <td> </td> <td> <p><img height="30" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_interton_vc4000.gif" width="50"/> </p></td> <td> <p><img height="40" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_interton_cart.gif" width="30"/> </p></td> <td> <p><img height="40" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_interton_carts.gif" width="54"/> </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Super Play Computer 4000 </p></td> <td> <p>Grunding </p></td> <td> <p>Germany </p></td> <td> </td> <td> <p><img height="30" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_grunding_super_play_computer_4000.gif" width="50"/> </p></td> <td> <p><img height="50" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_grunding_cart.gif" width="37"/> </p></td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>MPU-1000 </p></td> <td> <p>Acetronic </p></td> <td> <p>UK / Europe </p></td> <td> </td> <td> <p><img height="24" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_acetronic_mpu1000.gif" width="50"/> </p></td> <td> <p><img height="40" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_acetronic_cart.gif" width="32"/> </p></td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>HMG-1392 </p></td> <td> <p>Hanimex </p></td> <td> <p>Europe </p></td> <td> </td> <td> <p><img height="22" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_hanimex_hmg_1392.gif" width="50"/> </p></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Programmierbares Video System </p></td> <td> <p>Radofin </p></td> <td> <p>Germany </p></td> <td> </td> <td> <p><img height="25" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_radofin_programmierbares_video_system.gif" width="50"/> </p></td> <td> <p><img height="47" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_radofin_programmierbares_video_system_cart_prize_fight.gif" width="50"/> </p></td> <td> <p><img height="47" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_radofin_programmierbares_video_system_cart_tank_plane_battle.gif" width="50"/> </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>MPU-2000 </p></td> <td> <p>Acetronic </p></td> <td> <p>UK / Europe </p></td> <td> </td> <td> <p><img height="32" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_acetronic_mpu2000.gif" width="50"/> </p></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Programmable Videogame </p></td> <td> <p>Radofin </p></td> <td> <p>Europe </p></td> <td> </td> <td> <p><img height="53" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_radofin_programmable_videogame.gif" width="50"/> </p></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Model 1392 </p></td> <td> <p>Lansay </p></td> <td> <p>Europe </p></td> <td> </td> <td> <p><img height="33" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_lansay_1392.gif" width="50"/> </p></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>MPT-05 </p></td> <td> <p>ITMC </p></td> <td> <p>France </p></td> <td> </td> <td> <p><img height="22" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_itmc_mpt05.gif" width="50"/> </p></td> <td> <p><img height="40" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_itmc_cart.gif" width="52"/> </p></td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Television Computer System </p></td> <td> <p>Rowtron </p></td> <td> <p>Europe </p></td> <td> </td> <td> <p><img height="32" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_rowtron.gif" width="50"/> </p></td> <td> <p><img height="40" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_rowtron_cart.gif" width="49"/> </p></td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Voltmace database </p></td> <td> <p>Voltmace </p></td> <td> <p>UK </p></td> <td> </td> <td> <p><img height="26" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_voltmace_database.gif" width="50"/> </p></td> <td> <p><img height="52" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_voltmace_database_cart_alien_invasion.gif" width="50"/> </p></td> <td> <p><img height="37" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_voltmace_database_cart_circus.gif" width="50"/> </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"></td> </tr> <tr> <td> CX 3000</td> <td>Palson</td> <td>Spain</td> <td> </td> <td><img height="40" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/palson_cx3000_1_s.gif" width="50"/></td> <td><img height="37" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/palson_cx3000_cart_s.gif" width="50"/></td> <td><img height="62" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/palson_cx3000_box.gif" width="50"/></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>OC-2000 </p></td> <td> <p>SOE </p></td> <td> <p>France </p></td> <td> </td> <td> <p><img height="41" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/s_soe_oc2000.gif" width="50"/> </p></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>VC-6000 </p></td> <td> <p>Prinztronic </p></td> <td> <p>??? </p></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"></td> </tr> </table>   <p><b>&gt; THE GAMES</b></p> <blockquote> <p><img alt="Air / Sea Battle" height="109" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/g_air_sea_battle.jpg" width="150"/> <img alt="Black Jack" height="117" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/g_blackjack_2.jpg" width="150"/> <img alt="Breakout" height="112" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/g_breakout.jpg" width="150"/><img alt="Circus" height="106" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/g_circus.jpg" width="150"/></p> <p><img alt="Combat" height="109" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/g_combat.jpg" width="150"/><img alt="???" height="117" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/g_duel.jpg" width="150"/> <img alt="Electronic pinball" height="117" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/g_flipper.jpg" width="150"/><img alt="4 in a row" height="109" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/g_four_in_a_row.jpg" width="150"/></p> <p><img alt="Horse racing" height="109" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/g_horse_racing.jpg" width="150"/><img alt="Code breaker" height="109" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/g_mastermind.jpg" width="150"/> <img alt="Maths 2" height="116" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/g_math3.jpg" width="150"/><img alt="Maths 1" height="107" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/g_maths_one.jpg" width="150"/></p> <p><img alt="Maze" height="109" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/g_maze.jpg" width="150"/><img alt="Motor racing" height="107" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/g_motor_racing.jpg" width="150"/> <img alt="Musical games" height="117" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/g_music.jpg" width="150"/><img alt="Boxing" height="109" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/g_prizefight.jpg" width="150"/></p> <p><img alt="Alien invasion" height="117" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/g_space.jpg" width="150"/><img alt="Space battle" height="116" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/g_space_2.jpg" width="150"/> <img alt="Shooting gallery" height="108" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/g_sporting_shotgun.jpg" width="150"/><img alt="Sports world" height="109" src="/media/magazine/articles/7/g_sportworld.jpg" width="150"/></p>  <p>There are 40 games known for the Interton VC-4000, which has the most complete list. The other systems have apparently less games, which makes us think that Interton was at the origin of theses systems...</p> </blockquote> <table> <tr> <td><div><b>Interton VC-4000 games </b></div> </td> <td><div><b>Voltmace Database</b></div> </td> <td><div><b>Acetronic MPU-1000 </b></div> </td> <td><div><b>Rowtron</b></div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><p> 1 - Autorennen</p> </td> <td><p> 1 - Air-sea Battle ? </p></td> <td><p>1 - Olympics</p></td> <td><p> 1 - Sportsworld</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>2 - Blackjack</p></td> <td><p>2 - Blackjack</p></td> <td><p>2 - Grand Prix 3 </p></td> <td><p>2 - Combat</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>3 - Ballspiele</p></td> <td><p>3 - Bat and Ball</p></td> <td><p>3 - Black Jack</p></td> <td><p>3 - Horse Racing</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>4 - Panzer/Luftschlacht</p></td> <td><p>4 - Road Race</p></td> <td><p>4 - Tank/Plane Battle</p></td> <td><p>4 - Maze</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>5 - Mathematik 1</p></td> <td><p>5 - Tank and Plane</p></td> <td><p>5 - Air Sea Battle</p></td> <td><p>5 - Math Two</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>6 - Mathematik 2 </p></td> <td><p>6 - Mathematics 1 </p></td> <td><p>6 - Shooting Gallery </p></td> <td><p>6 - Four in a row</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>7 - Luftkampf/Seegefecht</p></td> <td><p>7 - Mathematics 2</p></td> <td><p>7 - Basic Math</p></td> <td><p> 7 - Mastermind </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>8 - Motivsuche</p></td> <td><p>8 - Shooting Gallery</p></td> <td><p>8 - Math 2</p></td> <td><p> 8 - Air / Sea Battle </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>9 - Labyrinth </p></td> <td><p>9 - Brain Drain</p></td> <td><p>9 - Challenge</p></td> <td><p>9 - Boxing</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>10- Wintersport</p></td> <td><p>10 - Maze</p></td> <td><p>10 - Codebreaker</p></td> <td><p>10 - Black Jack</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>11 - Hippodrom</p></td> <td><p>11 - Horse race</p></td> <td><p>11 - Supermaze</p></td> <td><p>11 - Sporting shotgun</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>12 - Jagd</p></td> <td><p>12 - Circus</p></td> <td><p>12 - Horse Racing</p></td> <td><p>12 - Motor Racing</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>13 - Schach</p></td> <td><p>13 - Boxing</p></td> <td><p>13 - Circus</p></td> <td><p>13 - Maths One</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>14 - Moto Cross</p></td> <td><p>14 - Four in a row</p></td> <td><p>14 - Prizefight</p></td> <td><p>14 - Circus</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>15 - Vier in einer Reihe / Intelligenz</p></td> <td><p>15 - Space battle </p></td> <td><p>15 - Soccer </p></td> <td><p>15 - Galactic space battles</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p> 16 - Superhirn / Intelligenz </p> </td> <td><p>16 - Alien invasion </p></td> <td><p>16 - Hobby Module</p></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>17 - Circus</p></td> <td><p>17 - Golf </p></td> <td><p>17 - Musical Games</p></td> <td><p>17 - Video Pinball</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>18 - Boxkampf</p></td> <td><p>18 - Box clever</p></td> <td><p>18 - Treasure Hunt</p></td> <td><p>18 - Flag Capture / Memory match</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>19 - Krieg im Weltraum </p></td> <td><p>19 - Treasure Hunt</p></td> <td><p>19 - Golf</p></td> <td><p>19 - Face the music</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>20 - Melodie Simon </p></td> <td><p>20 - Arcade</p></td> <td><p>20 - Head On </p></td> <td><p>20 - Golf</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>21 - Attacke</p></td> <td><p>21 - Musical memory</p></td> <td><p>21 - Draughts </p></td> <td><p>21 - Draughts</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>22 - Schach 2</p></td> <td></td> <td><p>22 - Spiders Web</p></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>23 - Flipper</p></td> <td></td> <td><p>23 - Chess</p></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>24 - Fußball</p></td> <td><p>24 - Munch &amp; Crunch</p></td> <td><p>24 - Othello</p></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>25 - Kegeln / Bowling </p></td> <td><p>25 - Leap Frog </p></td> <td><p>25 - Electronic Pinball</p></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>26 - Dame</p></td> <td></td> <td><p>26 - Super Knockout </p></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>27 - Golf</p></td> <td></td> <td><p>27 - Invaders</p></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>28 - Cockpit</p> </td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>29 - Metropol</p></td> <td><p>29 - Crazy Crab</p></td> <td><p> 29 - Shootout</p></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>30 - Solitär</p></td> <td></td> <td><p>30 - Space Wars</p></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>31 - Casino</p></td> <td></td> <td><p>31 - Lazer Attack </p></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>32 - Weltrauminvasoren</p></td> <td></td> <td><p>32 - Backgammon</p></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>33 - Super Invaders</p></td> <td></td> <td><p>33 - Planet Defender </p></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>34 - Space Laser</p></td> <td></td> <td><p>34 - Sea Wolf </p></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>35 - Rodeo</p></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>36 - Backgammon</p></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>37 - Monster-Man</p></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>38 - Hyperspace</p></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>39 - Basket-Ball</p></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>40 - Super-Space</p></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> </table>  <p><b>&gt; LINKS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS</b></p> <blockquote> <p><b>Interton VC-4000 :</b><br/> <a href="http://www.dieterkoenig.at/ccc/">Classic Consoles Center!</a> (cart list &amp; screenshots)<br/> </p> <p><b>Voltmace Database :</b><br/> <a href="http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/%7Epinwhiz/weird.htm">Obscure Pixels</a> (pictures &amp; carts list)</p> <p><b>Palson CX-3000 :</b><br/> Thanks to Miquel Pratsevall for the pictures</p> <p><b>General :</b><br/> <a href="http://www.digitpress.com/faq/vgcfaq.txt">The Video Game Consoles F.A.Q.</a><br/> <a href="http://www.planetbuilders.co.uk/ian/games/">Ian's Game Page</a> (cart lists)<br/> <a href="http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/%7Epinwhiz/weird.htm">Obscure Pixels</a> </p> <p><b>Cartridge lists are based on the work of :</b><br/> Ian Pleasance, Richard Muse and Michael Davidson.<br/> <br/> </p> </blockquote> </td></tr></table>