Need infos on "Pongs" for next DP Guide

[Sly DC]

Hi folks!

I've just finished the database of the "Dedicated Pong Systems" for the next version of the
Classic DP guide, but i have only 6 Pong system i can't add until confirmation because i need
more infos on them.

So if any of you folks got "ANY" of the following Pong systems, shoot either the info(s) or
picture(s) here. Here's the systems that i nedd infos:

* Atari Pong Video Game (B&W casing like the Sears Tele-Games Pong)
1976 U.S.A.
Picture in Len Buckwalter Video Games book
(unreleased model or simply a pre-released picture ?)

like this one here: http://webpages.charter.net/dmckim/Atari_pong.htm


* Fantasia 101 TV Video Game
1977 U.S.A.
Picture in Len Buckwalter Video Games book
(unreleased ?)

* Federal Transistor Co. Video Sport
1977 U.S.A.
Picture in Len Buckwalter Video Games book
(unreleased ?)

* King's Point TG-6000
19?? U.S.A.
Infos from Ebay - no pics :(

* Lafayette Tournament 2000
1977 U.S.A.
Picture in Len Buckwalter Video Games book
(unreleased ?)

* TCG Paddle IV
19?? U.S.A.
Infos from Ebay - no pics :(


So thanks in advanced to any info(s) or picture(s) !!! =)

[Sly DC]

Hi again Folks!

Ok, been working my ass-off to check every bit of infos i've gathered over the
years (almost 15 years now....damn that time flies!!)

So here's some corrections that SHOULD figure in the online database (Joe ?):

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* APF TV FUN Model 500 - U.S.A. - Never Released (TI Space War)
* Atari C-160 Pong Doubles (C-100 4 Player) - 1976 U.S.A. - Never Released (but was made for Sears)
* Coleco Telstar Ranger Colormatic - 1977 U.S.A. - Never Released (Color version of Ranger)
* Concept 2000 Nose T' Nose (model 1006) - 1977 U.S.A. - Never Released
* Fantasia 101 TV Video Game - 1977 U.S.A. - Never Released
* Federal Transistor Co. Video Sport - 1977 - U.S.A. - Never Released (clone of Unitrex & Granada)
* General Home Prod. Wonder Wizard Desert Fox - 1976 U.S.A. - Never Released (model 7707) (AY-3-8700-1)
* Lafayette Tournament 2000 - 1977 U.S.A. - Never Released (clone Unisonic Tourn.2000)
* Microelectronic Syst. Ricochet Challenger (MT3A) - 1977 - U.S.A. - Never Released
* Microelectronic Syst. Ricochet Champion (MT2A) - 1977 - U.S.A. Never Released
* Radio Shack TV Scoreboard #60-3050 - 1976 - USA+Canada - Never Released
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
% TCR (Digitron) Video Sport 7801 Model 104 - 1977 - U.S.A. - (NOT: Digitron Video Sports (model 7801)
* King's Point TG-6000 - 197? - U.S.A. - Infos from Ebay - No pic(s) to confirm...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
% APF Match (model 405) - 1977 - U.K. - AY-3-8500-1 - Plays 4 games.
% Kanematsu Video Sports - 1977 - Japan - (NOT: Phoenix Video Sports)
% Videomaster Superscore (VM-8) - 1976 - U.K. (Never Released in USA)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So this covers some "errors" that i've slipped by mistake in the DP Guide which i didn't
know at that time (not easy to find infos more than 30 years back). I estimate about
more than 800 Dedicated Pong systems worldwide (not counting the Standalone, Cartridge
"8600 Gimini" type systems, hybrids and so on...). Also, please note that Adrian Schell (of the Pong-Picture-Page web site) is helping me quite a lot. He freaks me out with his "HUGE"
("huge" doesn't satisfy the term...more like "Death Star size collection" would be more
like it) collection of Pong and classic systems. I didn't asked him (yet) but he must have
a wharehouse to store his collection!

So Joe, hope that you have space in the next DP Guide....HEH...HEH...HEH...

'Nuff said...going back to database.. :)

--- Sly DC ---


Hi folks!

I've just finished the database of the "Dedicated Pong Systems" for the next version of the
Classic DP guide, but i have only 6 Pong system i can't add until confirmation because i need
more infos on them.

So if any of you folks got "ANY" of the following Pong systems, shoot either the info(s) or
picture(s) here. Here's the systems that i nedd infos:

* Atari Pong Video Game (B&W casing like the Sears Tele-Games Pong)
1976 U.S.A.
Picture in Len Buckwalter Video Games book
(unreleased model or simply a pre-released picture ?)

like this one here: http://webpages.charter.net/dmckim/Atari_pong.htm


* Fantasia 101 TV Video Game
1977 U.S.A.
Picture in Len Buckwalter Video Games book
(unreleased ?)

* Federal Transistor Co. Video Sport
1977 U.S.A.
Picture in Len Buckwalter Video Games book
(unreleased ?)

* King's Point TG-6000
19?? U.S.A.
Infos from Ebay - no pics :(

* Lafayette Tournament 2000
1977 U.S.A.
Picture in Len Buckwalter Video Games book
(unreleased ?)

* TCG Paddle IV
19?? U.S.A.
Infos from Ebay - no pics :(


So thanks in advanced to any info(s) or picture(s) !!! =)

[tom]

David Winter at www.pong-story.com will gladly help you, I'm sure

[Sly DC]

David Winter at www.pong-story.com will gladly help you, I'm sure

Hi Tom,

I know David Winter, met him in person twice 10 years ago in France. David has between
200-300 Pong systems and Adrian Schell has over 700 Pong systems, so for pictures and
infos, Adrian is a better choice but if i really need infos on electronic stuff, than David
is the guy to contact. David collects antique stuff (among Pongs) and knows how to
repair them from the inside-out.

David, Adrian and me have the same goal, to know everything about Pongs out there, the
only difference is that i don't collect Pongs as much as them! LOL! Oh and there is also
Oliver Soehlke from the Pongmuseum.com that collects Pongs.

So when there will be a new version of the DP Guide, be sure that there will be a "bigger"
section of Dedicated Pong systems IF the DP staff can squeeze it in. ;)

[kedawa]

There are just too damn many of these things. For years I've been trying to find out more about the one I had as a kid, but I've never been able to find even an image of it online. :(

[Sly DC]

There are just too damn many of these things. For years I've been trying to find out more about the one I had as a kid, but I've never been able to find even an image of it online. :(

@kedawa: I totally agree with you! There is really too many dedicated Pong
systems but when it comes to list everyone of them, i must be a pig-headed
masochist!! LOL!!!

Ok, you never find a picture of the Pong you had as a kid, let me try if i can
find this "needle in a stack" ;)

First, i need the country when you had it as a kid, second, do you rememer the
color of the casing ? Did it had a light gun with it ? Did the controller were paddle/
joysticks/levers or sliders ? Did the games were in black & white or in color ?
How many games it had ? And also, any other details should be very helpful.

Now i'll let you jog your memory and onced you've given me some or all answers,
i'll try to find your lost childhood Pong system. :)

--- Sly DC ---

[kedawa]

From what I remember...
I grew up in southern Ontario, but this thing was probably older than me, so it may have been bought elsewhere.
It was beige, and I think it had silver knobs. It may have had fake wood paneling on top where the switches were, but I'm not sure.
No guns, sliders, etc. Just one knob for each player.
There were two paddles, and they attached to the sides of the console, hiding the cables.
The console and paddles had the same profile, so it looked like one solid unit when put together
There were switches to select the game, and I believe it had hockey, tennis, squash, and maybe more. There were also switches for the length of the onscreen paddle and the speed of the ball.
The graphics were black and white only.
The RF cable was connected with an RCA jack, but the connection was internal, so it had to be taken apart to put in a new RF cable.
I believe it also had a one player mode for squash, but I could be mistaken.

[Sly DC]

From what I remember...
I grew up in southern Ontario, but this thing was probably older than me, so it may have been bought elsewhere.
It was beige, and I think it had silver knobs. It may have had fake wood paneling on top where the switches were, but I'm not sure.
No guns, sliders, etc. Just one knob for each player.
There were two paddles, and they attached to the sides of the console, hiding the cables.
The console and paddles had the same profile, so it looked like one solid unit when put together
There were switches to select the game, and I believe it had hockey, tennis, squash, and maybe more. There were also switches for the length of the onscreen paddle and the speed of the ball.
The graphics were black and white only.
The RF cable was connected with an RCA jack, but the connection was internal, so it had to be taken apart to put in a new RF cable.
I believe it also had a one player mode for squash, but I could be mistaken.


Humm....sounds like a Roberts Paddle IV (it's beige, silver knobs, black & white games, etc...)

Is it this one ?

http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=3&c=722

And if it's not this one maybe it's a Roberts Rally IV. There's about 200 dedicated
Pong system here in North America (USA & Canada), at least you managed to cut
down from 1,000 to 200 by writing Southern Ontario (Hey! A fellow Canuck!) and
Roberts or DYN Electronics (same company) did sold these in Canada (and USA).

So, is it this one ?

[kedawa]

Well, I haven't seen it in twenty years or so, but unless there are other very similar models, then I'd say you've found it.
Very cool.
Thanks.

[swlovinist]

I loved the pong section in the last guide. I did not know there were so many variations and brands. Thanks to avid researchers/writers like Sly DC this new guide is going to rock!

[Sly DC]

Well, I haven't seen it in twenty years or so, but unless there are other very similar models, then I'd say you've found it.
Very cool.
Thanks.

Well, with the description you given, that's what poped-up in my mind. There is
another similar, the Roberts Rally IV (like i wrote before), check out if it's this one:

http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=3&c=1058

If not then it's the Roberts (Dyn Electronics) Paddle IV.

And no problem, glad i've could help! :)

[Sly DC]

I loved the pong section in the last guide. I did not know there were so many variations and brands. Thanks to avid researchers/writers like Sly DC this new guide is going to rock!

Hi swlovinist!

At least there's someone who likes the Dedicated Pong section. ;) Wait to you see the
next version. ;) ;) ;)

But i can't take full credit for the updated section, many infos comes from Adrian Schell,
David Winter, Olivier Boisseau web sites as my own database i've accumulated over the
years (thanks Ebay, Yahoo Japan & Mercado sellers!). As for the Dedicated Japanese
Pongs section, many thanks to the staff of the Classic Videogame Station Odyssey 2001
(even if it was a bitch to translate...oh God!). Oh and Curt Vendal is helping me out for
some informations regarding the section, for now i can't say anything. ;)

Just hoping that the upcoming section people will enjoy it and also hopefully that the
DP staff will have space to add all this new infos since the red guide is already 512
pages thick.

[swlovinist]

I cant wait to read it, any rough ETA on the next guide being released??? The pong section really helped me out throughout the years on yard sales and goodwill clearance finds. My first game system in my home with a Radio Shack TV Scroreboard

[tom]

i like Pongs too, I used to have that Commodore Pong which I gave to Russ some years back.

[Flack]

I used to own that Roberts Rally IV as a kid. I'd love to find one again one of these days.

[sniperCCJVQ]

I used to own that Roberts Rally IV as a kid. I'd love to find one again one of these days.

Quoting old-computers.com about that Roberts Rally IV

"A classic pong from Roberts with four games (hence the name of the system) and detachables paddles. Made in Japan. The difference between the Rally IV and Paddle IV are unclear. Can anyone help ? Both systems seem identical despite a different cosmetic design : same chipset, same games, same controls, switches and buttons, etc...
"

so whats the difference between the rally and paddle edition ???

[kedawa]

Probably just a different shell and different territory.

[Sly DC]

@ swlovinist: I don't know when both DP Guide will be updated, i'm just taking
a "step ahead" so when it will be the time, it will be already finished. :)
Mine was a Coleco Telstar Alpha, still got it after all those years!

@ tom: Which one of the two Commodore Pongs ? The TV Game 2000K or the
TV Game 3000H ? Either one plays the same games found on the cartridge
#2 of the Coleco Telstar Arcade.

@ Flack: Check out Ebay, there are some few that are auctioned from time
to time. But don't buy one over 50$, they are not so rare.

@ sniperCCJVQ: Hi fellow member of the CCJVQ! Kedawa mostly answered
the question, it only has a different casing. Both the Paddle IV and Rally IV
plays the general 4 games of the AY-3-8500 (Tennis, Hockey, Squash and
Practice). To why different casing and names, the only thing i can think of
would be that Roberts (DYN) has too much GI chips in inventory and released
both systems to sell of everything.


Ok, i have finally finished checking my North American dedicated Pongs database
and here's the infos:

198 Confirmed Pongs
005 Unconfirmed
014 Never Released

So can anyone can or could confirm these five following Pongs ?

? Atari Pong C-100 (B&W casing) -1976 - U.S.A. - Picture in Len Buckwalter Video Games book and a picture on this web site: http://webpages.charter.net/dmckim/Atari_pong.htm

My question is (for the B&W casing): Was it a promotional picture in the Len Buckwalter
book or did Atari did released some very few of those (like the picture on the web site)
before selling the usual black and brown casing?

? King's Point TG-6000 - 197? - U.S.A. - Infos from Ebay - No picture(s)
Anyone has this Pong in his/her collection ?

? Radofin Electronic TV Game (XM-017-D) - 1977 - US+Euro - AY-3-8500-1 - 4 games
Was released in Europe but unknown if was really released here in North America. Anyone
has it here in Canada or U.S.A. ?

? Ridgewood Gamatic 7704 - 1977 - US+Euro - 4 games?
Was released in Europe but unknown if was really released here in North America.
Anyone has it here in Canada or U.S.A. ?

? Visulex Super Pong 8000 - 1976 - U.S.A. - Listed on Retrorene web site (no picture)
Only place on internet which states that comes from the U.S.A. (or anywhere else as
a matter of fact). Never saw it on Ebay.com either in more than 10 years. Anyone has
it here in Canada or U.S.A. ?


So if any one can confirm any of these five Pongs, i would be very greatful. :)

So remember, avoid missing ball for high score!! ;)