1292 Advanced Programmable Video System (original) (raw)
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Second-generation home video game console
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1292 Advanced Programmable Video System
 An Acetronic MPU 1000 (right) and its controller |
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| Manufacturer | Radofin and others |
| Type | Home video game console |
| Generation | Second generation |
| Release date | 1979; 46 years ago (1979) |
| Discontinued | 1983 |
| CPU | 8-bit Signetics 2650AI @ 0.887 MHz |
| Memory | 43 bytes |
| Removable storage | Cartridge 2k, 4k or 6k ROM, optional 1k RAM[_clarification needed_] |
| Graphics | Signetics 2636N @ 3.58 MHz |
| Controller input | 2 × 12-button with 2-axis control stick |
| Power | Input 250 V, 50 Hz; Output 9.5 V, 0.4 A & 15 V, 0.11 A |
The 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System is a second-generation home video game console released by Hong Kong company Radofin in 1979. It is part of a group of software-compatible consoles which include the Interton VC 4000 and the Voltmace Database. The 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System included its power pack inside the console instead of an exterior power pack.
PCB scan of the Acetronic MPU-1000
- CPU: 8-bit Signetics 2650AI at 0.887 MHz
- Programmable video interface: Signetics 2636N at 3.58 MHz. This chipset was less powerful than the later model Signetics 2637N used in the Arcadia 2001.
- Data Memory: 43 bytes
- Sprites: 4 single colour sprites (1 can be 8 colours)
- 1 score line displaying 4 BCD digits
- Background consisting of a series of alternating lines
- The early games cartridges used a 2 KB ROM, later ones, such as Activision branded ones, up to 8 KB[_contradictory_]
- Very basic arcade machine sound
An expensive £49 (equivalent to £288.01 in 2025 pounds[1]) Hobby Module was available which gave 6.5 kilobits of user-programmable memory and had a 5-pin DIN socket to allow software to be saved to a cassette tape player. This converted the unit into halfway between a home computer and an ordinary gaming console.
The user had to be familiar with programming in Signetics 2650 assembly language and the unconventional ways and register architecture of the Signetics 2650 processor.
The console was produced by different companies and sold with different names. Although all variants have identical computational hardware, changes to the dimensions of the cartridge slot on some variants result in cartridges not always being interchangeable between systems. The following is a table of the console variants grouped by cartridge compatibility.
| Name | Brand / Manufacturer | Country | Compatibility family | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System | Radofin / Radofin | Germany | 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System | Released in 1979. Known also as "Radofin Programmierbares Video System". Has an external power supply. |  |
| 1392 Advanced Programmable Video System | Europe | Released in 1979. Has an internal power supply. | |||
| HMG-1292 Advanced Programmable Video System | Hanimex / Radofin | Australia and New Zealand | |||
| HMG-1392 Advanced Programmable Video System | Australia and New Zealand |  |
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| Force 2 | Fountain / Radofin | Australia and New Zealand | Released in 1979. | ||
| 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System | Australia and New Zealand | Released in 1979. | |||
| 1392 Advanced Programmable Video System | Australia and New Zealand | Released in 1979.Has an internal power supply | |||
| Advanced Programmable Video System | Grandstand / Radofin | ||||
| Lansay 1392 | Lansay / Radofin | Europe | Released in 1979.Internal power supply. | ||
| PP-1292 Advanced Programmable Video System | Audiosonic / Radofin | Europe | Released in 1978. | ||
| PP-1392 Advanced Programmable Video System | Europe | Released in 1978.Has an internal power supply. | |||
| VC-6000 | Prinztronic / Radofin | United Kingdom | Released in 1979. | ||
| MPU-1000 | Acetronic / Radofin | United Kingdom | Released in 1979. | |
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| MPU-2000 | United Kingdom | Released in 1979. | |||
| Database | Videomaster\Voltmace | United Kingdom | Database System |  |
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| Television Computer System | Rowtron | United Kingdom | Television Computer System | Released in 1979. |  |
| Television Computer System | Teleng | United Kingdom | Released in 1979. | ||
| Jeu Video TV | Karvan | France | Video TV Game | ||
| OC-2000 | Societe Occitane Electronique | France | Released in 1979. |  |
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| Vidéo Ordinateur MPT-05 | ITMC | France | MPT-05 | Released in 1983. |  |
| Super Play Computer 4000 | Grundig | Germany | Interton VC-4000 |  |
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| VC 4000 | Interton | Europe | Released in 1978. |  |
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| CX-3000 Data Bass Sistem | Palson | Spain |  |
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| Tele Computer | Aureac | Spain | Palson CX-3000 clone. | ||
| Video Computer H-21 | TRQ | Spain | Interton VC-4000 (partial) | TRQ carts fit and work on Interton consoles. Interton carts don't fit in TRQ consoles. |  |
Although, not much information is known about the release dates of the cartridges, the total number of the games should be 59 (33 games released by Radofin between 1977 and 1978, 19 games for the Interton VC 4000 and compatibles after 1978, and 7 more games released around 1980).[2]
- ^ "Inflation calculator". www.bankofengland.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
- ^ "INTERTON VC 4000 GAMING GUIDE". James Jacobs. 2021-09-01. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
- IGDB.com entry & 1292 APVS games list (With accurate explanation for misconception of the earlier 1976 release)
- SHAMELESSLIFE wordpress blog entry for details for 1292 APVS & Interton VC 4000
- Video Game Console Library entry for the 1292 APVS / VC 4000 family
- Arcade Italia entry for MAME compatibility
- Museo del Videojuego Radofin 1292 and 1392 information and game list in Spanish