Members don't see Ads, login now! LoginRegisterContact

Video Action Indy 500 [Model S-100]

Dedicated Console published 48 years ago by Universal Research Labs

Not listed in MAME yet

Video Action Indy 500 © 1976 Universal Research Labs.

Built-in games: Tennis, Hockey, Race 1, Race 2

TECHNICAL/MACHINE PICT.
1

Model S-100

TRIVIA

URL designed a cheaper version of VA-III: INDY 500, also called Video Action IV (model S-100). This game used a pseudo single-chip device which included the VA-III circuits, to which were added two car racing games. This was URL's answer to the existing video game chips like GI's AY-3-8500. Because the ciruits of that 4-game design were very advanced, they could not fit a single silicon chip. Two chips had to be made and connected together. URL contracted Omnetics Inc. to mount and connect the two chips on a white thick film substrate, hence the large chip package. The chip was given the reference F-4301. The first Christmas season after the chip was completed had Sears, Penney's, and other retailers (which all had placed huge orders) waiting for delivery. The chip yield then fell to zip and almost bankrupted URL. Very few manufacturers used this chip. The only American manufacturer known to have used the F-4301 chip is Sears for their Speedway, Speedway IV and Indy 500 games. In Europe, the chip was also used by Interton (Germany) in their Video 2800 game, Intel (InterElectric, Germany) in a small system with no particular name, MBO (Germany) in their Tele-Ball VIII system, and another British kit which name is currently unknown. It is believed that around 5,000 Video Action IV games were made.