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History of video games/Platforms/APF TV Fun series

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  • An APF TV Fun model 401 being played on a CRT television.
    An APF TV Fun model 401 being played on a CRT television.

History

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APF was based in Queens, New York City.

Background

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Before making the APF TV Fun, APF made consumer electronics like calculators.[1]

Launch

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The APF TV Fun model 401 was released in 1976 for $125.[2][3] The system sold very well with 400,000 first year sales,[4] and lead APF to make more game consoles.[3]

In February 1977, the TV Fun Model 405 was launched.[5]

Legacy

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The APF-MP1000 followed the system, featuring much better capabilities and design.

Technology

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Casing tended to be shared between models of APF TV Fun.[6] Systems were manufactured in Japan.[7]

401

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The APF model 401 uses a General Instrument AY-3-8500 chip, and takes 6 C type batteries.[2][3] A CD4071 chip handles video output on the APF model 401.[8]

402

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The 402 also uses a General Instrument AY-3-8500 chip but has an additional General Instrument AY-3-8515 chip to add color graphics capability to the system.[9]

Notable games

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  • Handball[3]
  • Squash[3]
  • Baseball
  • Hockey[3]
  • Soccer

The APF TV Fun 402 supported two light gun games.[9]

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APF TV Fun 402C console

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    The 402C consisted of an angular deck with black plastic, woodgrain themed panels and silvery metallic accents.
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    The 402C rear contained a number of ports, including power and controller ports.
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    The 402C bottom contained a channel selection switch and an info panel. This console was made in Hong Kong.
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    The 402C bottom panel with the battery compartment exposed.

APF TV Fun Controllers

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    Paddle controllers for the APF TV Fun 402C.
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    Light Gun for the APF TV Fun 402C.

APF TV Fun 402C Internals

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    The PCB is made with care. Hand drawn traces curve to their destination.
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    A small portion of the PCB is cut away to make space for an external component. Some cables are wrapped around a ferrite choke.
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    The plastic shell of the console provides a number of internal mount points.
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    A TV Fun 402C motherboard has hard wired connections to external components.
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    A TV Fun 402C motherboard appears to be single sided, with this side lacking traces.
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    RF Shielding protects significant components.
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    Straight lines of solder blobs indicate a probable IC on the other side of the board. This PCB bears the mark of UAL.
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    AY-3-8500 pinout, used on the 401, 402, and a number of first generation consoles.
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    AY-3-8550 pinout, used on the 402

External Resources

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Wikipedia has related information at APF TV Fun series

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: APF TV Fun

References

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Parts of this page are based on materials from:
 Wikipedia: the free encyclopedia.
  1. ↑ "TheGameConsole.com: APF TV Fun Model 401 Game Console". www.thegameconsole.com. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  2. ↑ a b "OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum". www.old-computers.com. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  3. ↑ a b c d e f "pongmuseum.com - APF TV Fun - Model 401". pongmuseum.com. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  4. ↑ Edwards, Benj (2 September 2016). "Ed Smith And The Imagination Machine: The Untold Story Of A Black Video Game Pioneer". Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/3063298/ed-smith-and-the-imagination-machine-the-untold-story-of-a-black-vid. 
  5. ↑ "APF TV Fun model 405 retro gaming console". Vox Odyssey. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  6. ↑ "APF TV Fun". Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  7. ↑ "APF TV FUN 401". IT History Society. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  8. ↑ "APF TV Fun console repair". www.raphnet.net. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  9. ↑ a b "APF TV Fun Consoles". AtariAge Forums. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
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