Platforms

 

Interton VC 4000


Made in Germany by Interton in 1978
Generation: 2

Released games per year

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Various models and clones of the system were created up to 1983:
Acetronic MPU-1000
Acetronic MPU-2000
Audiosonic PP-1292 Advanced Programmable Video System
Audiosonic PP-1392 Advanced Programmable Video System
Aureac Tele Computer
Fountain Force 2
Fountain 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System
Fountain 1392 Advanced Programmable Video System
Grandstand Advanced Programmable Video System
Grundig Super Play Computer 4000
Hanimex HMG-1292 Advanced Programmable Video System
Hanimex HMG-1392 Advanced Programmable Video System
ITMC Video Ordinateur MPT-05
Karvan Jeu Video TV
Lansay 1392
Palson CX-3000 Data Bass Sistem
Prinztronic VC-6000
Radofin 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System
Radofin 1392 Advanced Programmable Video System
Rowtron Television Computer System
Societe Occitane Electronique OC-2000
Teleng Television Computer System
TRQ Video Computer H-21
Videomaster Database
Voltmace Database

Software was entirely compatible with all hardware versions. But, hardware differences prevented cartridges from fitting into some of the other systems for which they were not intended. Some variants were cassette based and present no compatibility issues..
A Hobby Module was produced which amounted to a home development system. It had 6.5 kb RAM and a cassette interface for saving code. However, it did not come with documentation nor a high level programming language. All programming had to be done in Signetics 2650 assembly code. The 2650 was very different from other CPUs. For example, op code 0 in almost every CPU ever created is NOOP (No Operation). But the 2650 would interperate 0 as Brach to Memory Address indicated by Data Register B. This is not only an unconventional operation for op code 0, but Data Registers are intended to store data rather than a memory addresses. There are Memory Address Registers for that. Data Registers are often not even directly accessable (being read-only, write-only, or neither), rather the CPU uses them internally. Real world programmers do sometimes put addresses in Data Registers on occasion, but that's not a trick found in most programming manuals.

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tech info

memory: 4K RAM
CPU: Sgnetics 2650A
GFX: Signetics 2636
sound: 1 channel