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 VTech CreatiVision | |
| Manufacturer | VTech |
|---|---|
| Type | Home video game console/home computer |
| Generation | Second generation |
| Release date | 1982; 43 years ago (1982) (Hong Kong) |
| Discontinued | Early 1986 |
| CPU | Rockwell 6502 @ 2MHz |
| Memory | 1 Kb RAM, 16 Kb VRAM |
| Storage | Cassette tapes |
| Removable storage | ROM cartridges |
| Graphics | Texas Instruments TMS 9918/9929 |
| Sound | TI SN76489 |
| Controller input | Joystick/membranekeypad controllers |
| Successor | VTech Socrates |
TheVTech CreatiVision is a hybridcomputer andhome video game console introduced byVTech in 1981 and released in 1982 during thesecond generation of video game consoles. It cost $295Australian Dollars in Australia.[1] The hybrid unit was similar in concept to computers such as theAPF Imagination Machine,[2] the olderVideoBrain Family Computer, and to a lesser extent theIntellivision game console andColeco Adam computer, all of which anticipated the trend of video game consoles becoming more like low-end computers. It was discontinued in 1986.[3][1]
The CreatiVision was distributed in manyEuropean countries, including most German-speaking countries likeWest Germany,Austria andSwitzerland and alsoItaly,South Africa, inIsrael under theEducat 2002 name, as well as inAustralia andNew Zealand underThe Dick Smith Wizzard name. Other names for the system (all officially produced by VTech themselves) include theFunVision Computer Video Games System,Hanimex Rameses (both released in Australia and New Zealand) andVZ 2000 (planned for release inFrance, likely unreleased). All CreatiVision and similar clones were designed for use withPAL standard television sets, except the Japanese CreatiVision (distributed by Cheryco) which was NTSC and is nowadays much sought after by collectors. However, theUS release was planned but never sold efficiently.
The CreatiVision console sports an8-bit Rockwell6502 CPU at a speed of 2 MHz, 1KB ofRAM and 16KB ofVideo RAM, and has a graphics resolution of 256 × 192 with 16 colors and 32 sprites.[3][1] The console has two integratedjoystick/membranekeypad controllers (much like theColecoVision andAtari 5200) which, when set in a special compartment on top of the console, can be used as acomputer keyboard. The CreatiVision has interfaces for acassette player, an extra rubber keyboard, parallel I/O interface,floppy disk drive andmodem (likely unreleased) and one memory expansion module for use with theBasic language cartridge. AnyCentronics-compatible printer can be connected to the I/O module if present.
The CreatiVision was discontinued in late 1985/early 1986.[3][1]
A computer was produced by VTech in 1984-1986, based on CreatiVision hardware and compatible with most of its games:Laser 2001, which is also sold in West Germany and was brought toFrance.It was also available inFinland throughSalora, with the name ofManager.[3][4] The Manager had a Finnish keyboard layout andcharacter set.
A module to allowColecoVision games to be played was designed for use with the CreatiVisionMark-2 model (a later revision of the 1st model, incorporating hardware changes specifically designed to make the Coleco-module work). Before being produced, the module was modified internally and released for use on theLaser 2001 andManager computers only. A special adaptor (homebrew) would be needed to make the Coleco-module work on the CreatiVision Mark-2.
In some regions, the console and its games were distributed by different companies, such asCheryco in Japan, andHanimex in Australia. VTech reissued several previous existing games in 1985.
There were18 titles known to have been released.
| # | Title | AKA title(s) | Genre(s) | Clone of | Release year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air/Sea Attack |  Submarine Air/Sea Battle | Fixed shooter | 1981 | |
| 2 | Astro Pinball | Pinball | None | 1982 | |
| 3 | Auto Chase | Car Chase | Maze,Driving | Rally-X | 1981 |
| 4 | BASIC Interpreter 1.0 | None | None | 1982 | |
| 5 | Chopper Rescue | Scrolling shooter | 1983 | ||
| 6 | Crazy Chicky | Crazy Paku | Maze | Pac-Man(with modified gameplay) | 1982 |
| 7 | Crazy Pucker[note 1] | Maze | Pac-Man | 1981 | |
| 8 | Deep Sea Adventure | Scrolling shooter | Defender | 1982 | |
| 9 | Locomotive | Platformer | BurgerTime | 1983 | |
| 10 | Mouse Puzzle | Puzzle | Loco-Motion | 1982 | |
| 11 | Music Maker | Music | None | 1983 | |
| 12 | Planet Defender | Earth Defense Force (Chikyū Bōeigun)Galaxy Defender | Scrolling shooter | Defender | 1981 |
| 13 | Police Jump | Platformer | Donkey Kong | 1982 | |
| 14 | Soccer | Sports | None | 1983 | |
| 15 | Sonic Invader | Invaders | Fixed shooter | Space Invaders | 1981 |
| 16 | Stone Age | Puzzle | Pengo | 1984 | |
| 17 | Tank Attack | Tank Battle | Multi-directional shooter | Combat (video game) | 1981 |
| 18 | Tennis | Who's for Tennis? | Sports | None | 1981 |
Additionally, there were 41 games for the Dick Smith Wizzard computer, all released byDick Smith Electronics.[5] Making a grand total of 59 games for the CreatiVision/Dick Smith Wizzard console/computer.
| Title | Model |
|---|---|
| Asteroids | Model X-7248 |
| Attack of the Killer Tomatoes | Model X-7274 |
| Backammon | Model X-7273 |
| Battleships | Model X-1723 |
| Bowling Model | Model X-1724 |
| Chess | Model X-7275 |
| Code Breaker | Model X-1700 |
| Combination | Model X-1720 |
| Concentration | Model X-1725 |
| Dawn Patrol | Model X-7333 |
| Digout | Model X-7336 |
| Dracula Castle | Model X-7272 |
| Draughts | Model X-1722 |
| Duel | Model X-7279 |
| Factory Flare-up | Model X-1728 |
| Formula 1 | Model X-7331 |
| Galaxon | Model X-7332 |
| Game Disk 1 | Model X-7400 |
| Game Disk 2 | Model X-7401 |
| Game Disk 3 | Model X-7402 |
| Game Disk 4 | Model X-7403 |
| Grandfathers Gold | Model X-1726 |
| Hamburger Sam | Model X-7337 |
| Hangman | Model X-7233 |
| Hoppy | Model X-7243 |
| Kamakazi | Model X-7334 |
| Knights & Dragons | Model X-7245 |
| Ladder Challenge | Model X-7268 |
| Lunar Lander | Model X-7338 |
| Lunar Landing | Model X-1721 |
| Metric Spycacther | Model X-7289 |
| Missile Attack | Model X-7335 |
| Othello | Model X-7271 |
| Poker | Model X-7232 |
| Slot Machine | Model X-7234 |
| Starblaster | Model X-7247 |
| Super Snake | Model X-7244 |
| VZ Ghost Hunter | Model X-7242 |
| VZ Panic | Model X-7270 |
| VZ-Invaders | Model X-7239 |
| Whizkid Spycatch | Model X-7290 |
CreatiVision is a video game console. It was developed by VTech [..who..] themselves turned it into the Laser 2001, Salora sold it as the Salora Manager in Finland
