In many ways this was the most technically advanced of the second-generation consoles. It's an interesting example of how fumbled and inconsistent marketing can kill an excellent product. By the time someone who was really interested in selling it was in control, it was just too late.

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

I would have to agree. Up until The intellivision and Colecovision came out. It was the clear-cut winner as far as consoles graphically. In my opinion, I believe the Coleco was the most powerful second generation console. In fact, it should have been considered a 3rd gen console. Seeing it was almost exactly the same as a Sega Master system inside. Marketing for the Astrocade was almost non-existent. Pretty sad really because the system really would have competed and probably beat out Atari If it had been advertised and had third party development. Once Astrovision took over they were just too small of a company. They tried a little more advertising, created a few more games, but couldn't get third-party developers on due to licensing with Atari and other console makers. It was really the final nail in the coffin for them with the impending video game crash coming. Thanks for watching and commenting.

@retroelectrical

28 күн бұрын

You're right. This should had at least killed off the Intellivision and gave Atari a run for their money. But Intellivison and Atari had some top-shelf marketing teams and apparently Bally had no press/marketing at all.

I've never heard of this thing, but the styling of it especially with the keyboard/computer addon is exceptional.

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

The Zgrass module really did give it that late 70's vibe. It's styling I'd say more Star Trekish the Star Warish. 👍

My cousins had one of these. It was AWESOME! The controllers were really comfortable and easy to use.

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

I really do like the controller design simple, easy to use. Plus it even has the paddle control all built into one.

@RichardSmithers

29 күн бұрын

Overall it was a great design and packed 3-4 different controllers types in one. The only issue I had was that the trigger wire kept coming unsoldered. The metal they used did not provide a great surface for soldering. Finally just put a big glob of solder and some electrical tape

To this day The Incredible Wizard is one of the best ports of Wizard of Wor to an 8-bit home system. But you cannot do a console 1/2 way. You have to go all in and have the money to go all in. They just never wanted to put all the money into the astrocade. They didn't want to pay for licenses and they couldn't sell enough units to get the third parties (when 3rd parties appeared) to release their games for it.

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

Yeah for the time it was a pretty amazing system. Well outperformed the 2600, Fairchild channel F, and the Odyssey. Honestly I've never played on one before. I've done some emulation back when Mess was a thing. The games definitely seem to be of really good quality for 1978. Yeah you're absolutely right man. You can't go halfway when you're trying to be a console maker. I mean look at Microsoft. Have they even made a profit since they started making Xboxes? It's all in software, sales and licensing. So really piss poor marketing and the fact that they didn't want third party developers really killed the system. Too bad because it was actually decent. Although it did have an overheating issue.

@pblum13

Ай бұрын

I bought one off of eBay back in the late nineties just to play the Wizard of Wor port. Wish I still had it.

@RemoWilliams1227

Ай бұрын

Never seen it before but yeah it beats the shit out of the 2600 version I grew up on.

@tarstarkusz

Ай бұрын

@@RemoWilliams1227 To be fair, back in the 80s I played the 2600 version a lot with my best friend.

@user-uu3wy1bh4z

29 күн бұрын

@@tarstarkusz "But you cannot do a console 1/2 way" This sums up the Astrocade's history perfectly. Well stated.

Ah, what would life be without games 🥰

@RetrogamerGenX

29 күн бұрын

Right!!

Although it showed an ad for the Bally console I don't think it can have been the first one as it contained Galaxian which was released in 1979.

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

Honestly, I think this was the only TV ad, and It was made by Team Electronics an Electronics store. Bally never put up the money for TV commercials. The promotional film at the end was made once Astrovision took over.

Very intense arcade style sound effects

@RetrogamerGenX

29 күн бұрын

Not bad for sure...considering what was out at the time. This console rocked.

I had this, it was our familys first game console. it was amazing!!! i think of it often.

@RetrogamerGenX

27 күн бұрын

Definitely would have been a great first console. Thanks for watching

you can't tell me what i must retrieve before i leave the sector, you're not my dad!

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

The computer overlord said so.. 🤣🤣

This was like watching an infomercial or a QVC presentation of this console

@RemoWilliams1227

Ай бұрын

But sadly not being able to order it 😢

A lot of these astrocade consoles have been sacrificed to keep gorf and wizard of wor arcade games alive as they used the same chips.

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

Sad but true. The chips that were used are now very rare. Maybe one day somebody will make substitute chips for it like they have for the Commodore, Sid chip and other chips. Maybe then we can get some of these broken astrocades up and running again.

I have 2 Astrocades. They were my grandpa and my grand uncle's consoles. A few years ago I recaped one of them and put a proper heatsink on and had to make a custom power supply for it because the one it had popped when I was attempting a repair. Used to play it alot back in early 2000s when I was a kid. Couldn't play it for very long because my grandpa knew about the over heating issues the console had. Recently I've been playing with it again and started to use the basic cartridge to load games and other programs into the console. I'm thinking of doing some more stuff but I'll save that for a later time.

@RetrogamerGenX

19 күн бұрын

Man, your grandpa was a true gamer back in the day. 👍👍 Cool that you have worked on them to keep them going. Keep em' cool and keep on gaming my friend. Thanks for sharing and watching.

I remember being at a friend’s house as a kid and asking him if he had Atari and he said, “no, we’ve got Bally.” I was like, “what are you saying?” I had no idea what Bally was at that point other than a pinball manufacturer. I couldn’t figure out the controller so it didn’t last long and as it turned out, he had Star Wars on Beta, so we ended up just watching that instead. Amazing how good those graphics were compared to the VCS, though. Had the system had better marketing it could have been a real contender.

@RetrogamerGenX

27 күн бұрын

Yeah I would have to agree. I would have had no idea what a bally astrocade was at the time either. I do remember seeing them and Fairchild channel F in those advertisements in comic books to sell items as one of the prizes. But from back in those days that's all I really remember of the system. If they had better marketing, I'm sure it would have done much better competing with Atari and the likes. Thanks for watching and commenting.

*watches intro* OK 8-Bit Guy Looks at subject matter and channel name* OK Gen-X Grown Up/Lazy Game Reviews. All of that said, I think I'm gonna like this channel. Good video, nice subject matter and in depth content with good delivery.

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

Welcome to the channel. lol... Love how you detailed your first impressions. Thanks for the kind words. If your into these retro games systems and computers, you've come to the right place. Thanks again.

I owned one of these when I was a kid. I wish I could still play Artillery Duel. Great video!

@RetrogamerGenX

29 күн бұрын

Nice... It sure was an awesome console. Thanks for watching!!!

Always felt like the Astrocade is kind of a spiritual successor to the Fairchild Channel F, what with its four color framebuffer graphics with per-line palette mods and a kinda similar controller.

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

Seems that way like the Astrocade is version 2.0 of the Channel F. The Astrocade was way more powerful though. It is kinda of funny how similar the controllers were.

"never ending library of games!?" Correction: 28 games! 😂 Awesome vid!

@RetrogamerGenX

27 күн бұрын

That's funny. I said the same thing when I saw that. Apparently the number 28 is infinity. 🤣🤣 Thanks bro, glad you enjoyed it.

That was my first console... it was on a small table right by our TRS-80 Model 1 computer. I loved that each cartridge had multiple games, and yes, I programmed in Basic on that.

@RetrogamerGenX

25 күн бұрын

Cool!! Thanks for sharing the memories. I bet programing on it was difficult due to the lack of a full keyboard.

this was fantastic, subscribed!

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed it. If you liked this one. Check out the rest of my look at and history videos. You'll probably dig those. Thanks again for subscribing

Thanks for this video. I don't remember ever seeing one in person, nor did I know anyone who owned one, and I knew rich kids who actually owned actual arcade games. :)

@RetrogamerGenX

27 күн бұрын

Yeah, not too many people know about this game system. I had a friend that lived down the street like that his parents were loaded and he had a basement full of arcade machines. Those kids used to love going over there and playing. Thanks for watching and commenting

Wow. Pretty impressive. I never knew this existed.

@RetrogamerGenX

29 күн бұрын

Heck yeah!! Thanks for watching...

I've Always wanted to Check one of these out, I cant honestly recall using it in the past. Seeing one, Never playing. Well Done Sir! F YT, Keep Kickin aR$3

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

I've seen a few, wanted to buy them and they didn't work. I've played emulation, but never the real thing. I'd love to own one to show y'all how kick a$$ a system it was. Thanks man.. 🤣

Team Electronics - Algonquin, Illinois @0:54. I remember going there in the early 80s to rent VHS tapes. They probably had an Astrocade on display, but I don't remember it.

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

They might have had one.

In all honesty, some of these games looked better and sounded better than the 2600 games.

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

Yeah it was a much more powerful system than the 2600 was. It actually could have competed better with the colecovision and the intellivision. But unfortunately by that time Bally bailed on it and a smaller company took over. The rest is pretty much history unfortunately.

I miss the woodgrain on electronics. I thought it was stupid when i was a kid . I bought one of these back in the early 2ks (Estate Sale in Houston Heights area) I got the unit to work but never found any cartridges for it. I left it behind in an apartment in Alabama when i was 27. I hope it didnt end up in the trash. You gotta love the pistol grip on that controller. Today that would be classified, by the ATF, as a Fire Arm. 😆

@demonsty

Ай бұрын

im in dothan alabama. wiregrass represent! you'd never find one of these round here.

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

Yeah I miss woodgrain, even on cars. Nothing like a station wagon that's as big as a yacht with wood paneling on the side. Ah the memories. Too bad you left one behind. Hopefully whoever found it knew what it was and preserved it. Thanks for watching and sharing. 👍

@JohnSmith-zw8vp

Ай бұрын

Don't forget all the stereos back then with stainless steel finishes...nowadays everyone on those house buying shows is obsessed with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops...

When I was a kid in 1978, there was a department store in the local mall called "Foley's" (think Macy's, but more regional). They sold the Bally Astrocade, The Fairchild "Channel F" (with one game: "Tic Tac Toe"), the Atari VCS, and the Odyssey 2. My favorite was the O2. I think the godawful pistol grip controller with teeny-tiny directional knob played a large part in why the Astrocade failed.

@RetrogamerGenX

19 күн бұрын

I remember Foley's. The O2 was cool. However my favorite from that generation of consoles is still the 2600. It wasn't the most powerful system by any means. But it had a ton of games, good 3rd party developers, and great tech support. I remember the sears repair man coming to our house to fix our Atari when it broke and was under warranty still. Thanks for watching!!

the controller looks like a breathalyzer.

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

🤣🤣🤣

How have I never heard of this 😮

@RetrogamerGenX

29 күн бұрын

Well now you know and like Duke from GI Joe said, "And knowing is half the battle." lol.. Thanks for watching.

Great video

@RetrogamerGenX

29 күн бұрын

Thanks!

Do you own one yourself? It looks interesting.

@FUGP72

Ай бұрын

I had one. It really had no good games on it. Still have it. But it doesn't work. Everybody else had Atari, we had Bally Astrocade and Odyssey II

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

No. On the lookout for one that's working and CIB. Haven't had any luck. Either they are broke and don't work or priced $700. Lol

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

Nice.. Yep we had a 2600.

I have a Bally Astrocade, and most of its cartridges. It's a fantastic, but fragile system. The hardware and case are very robust, but the case leaves little for cooling and that is the fatal flaw of an Astrocade. You can't even place it on carpet. It needs a raised, well ventilated area. It will overheat and destroy it if you don't keep it cool. Some have put a fan in, I've used Teflon strips on the chipset. And it's often very expensive to fix if it breaks. And there are so few of these machines left in working order, parts are almost impossible to source. It is a wonderful machine and a testament to clever engineering. But it's marketing was awful, and it didn't get the recognition it truly deserved. But it certainly did get a very nice range of cartridges and programs for its Bally Basic. And it still holds up well on the design department. Love the video!! Keep showing the love for this obscure, but important part of gaming history.

@RetrogamerGenX

29 күн бұрын

The overheating issue is horrible. Many Astrovision's have suffered that fate. Glad to see you have one and know all of it's intricacies. Too bad it had poor marketing, it could have really competed with the likes of Atari. Thanks for watching...

I have one of these in storage. It only runs for about 10 minutes before it locks up. I'm thinking it's got some cold solder joints or one the ICs is overheating. I need to open it up and see ot I can get working again.

@RichardSmithers

29 күн бұрын

Can almost guarantee it is overheating. This was very common. I finally just took mine apart and had a fan blowing on it to keep it stable. Unfortunately my mother thought it was broken and threw it away.

Some of the games really looked good.

@RetrogamerGenX

29 күн бұрын

Yes they do. Thanks for watching!!

The sound chip on this console was pretty far advanced for it's time. Most of the consoles of that day had arcade game ports that certainly didn't look or sound much like the arcade machines. This one however is quite different. It does a pretty decent job with that blitter too, you almost can't tell that there are no sprites. I always wanted to try one of these out. It was always advertised in the Sears catalog but unlike just about every other console on the market, I never saw one set up for potential customers to try out. Back then you could trip over all the Intellivision and Atari 2600 demo units. Vectrex suffered similarly from never being able to take one for a test-run.

@RetrogamerGenX

29 күн бұрын

It was a very powerful system for the time. Bad marketing is what killed it off.

Oh wow, Polk Brothers.

Had one of those as a kid.

@RetrogamerGenX

29 күн бұрын

Nice!!

so this competed against fairchild channel f

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

Hella competed against the Odyssey 1, Atari 2600, and Fairchild channel F at the time of its release. But during its lifetime, the intellivision, The Odyssey, The Colecovision, and other more powerful systems have come out. It really could could have competed against Coleco and Mattel, but the money just wasn't there for advertising, a lack of third-party developers, and the video game crashes what really killed it off.

Wood grain was not really a 70s thing. Faux wood grain was a 70s thing. Electronic appliances were wood grain going back to the 1930s and even 1920s. It goes back even further with gramophones. What happened is inflation and cheap and cheaply made electronics from Japan, Honk Kong and other places. Inflation vastly increased the cost of making fine furniture for appliances and cheap competition made them extremely uncompetitive cost wise. So things started getting fake wood finishes.

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

Yeah I would definitely agree man Right around the 1970s is when they stopped using wood on audio equipment and other things. I know my parents have a sweet old school stereo system that actually is encased in real wood. Then by the 1980s the next one they bought had that vinyl wood paneling crap on it. Even the TVs got cheap. Console TVs from the '70s and early '80s actually were made out of wood and stained. Whereas the console TVs from the late '80s into the '90s were particle board with vinyl wood grain pasted it on.

@tarstarkusz

Ай бұрын

@@RetrogamerGenX AFAIK, the last real wood console stereos are from the 60s and so are the last real wood console TVs. I still have a console TV in one of my rooms if you can believe it. I always liked them. My parents always owned them and so I just kind of inherited liking them. My console has like 6 speakers in it. Really jams the room its in when watching a stereo broadcast. I think the whole wood radio/stereo is something the modern market is sorely missing. People buy plastic ones that look like wood, so you would think real wood is still compatible with many places you might put a wooden radio. I have a late 60s AM/FM full wood tabletop radio on my entertainment center in my living room. Full tube set. The further back in time you go, especially the 30s, the more ornate and beautiful some of these machines are. Sadly, they are all AM and at best have a mono 78 rpm record player along with that AM radio. Some people take them a part and figure out how to jury rig a modern AM/FM stereo with CD and a USB port into them, but that is few and far between. If I had the space, I would definitely do that.

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

I guess in the 60's-70's they fazed out real wood. My parents still have a console TV/Hi-Fi with a record player and AM radio. Cool unit. It was my grandparents and they got it when they passed away. Yep, all tubes inside. Ah the glow and smell of ozone, got to love it. My parents old console TV was a Zenith. The one they replaced it with was a Magnavox with PiP in the late 80's. I now own that TV and it still works. So your not the only one with a console brother..lol It's not in my game room because there is no room for it, so it resides in the garage for now next to the MAME machine.

It was Bally Midway NOT "Midway Bally"

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

Yep you're right and I did say it wrong. Blame it on my dyslexia. Lol

Sounds like a real organ 😆

@RetrogamerGenX

29 күн бұрын

🎵🎶🎵

Never ending????

@RetrogamerGenX

27 күн бұрын

Right?? 🤣🤣

It wasn't that good, it came only close to what Atari did. And in retrospect even Atari was not that good, with the TI99 it really started, before that there were only clumsy time consuming ways of putting something on screen, the main processor working extra for building up the video output.

@RetrogamerGenX

25 күн бұрын

Game consoles got better with technology, that's for sure. I feel that the end of the 2nd gen and into the 3rd gen (82'-86'ish) is when things really started getting good.

I got a third of the way though before I had to close it because of the vomit inducing spiraling background graphics.

@demonsty

Ай бұрын

dude you need to finish watching.

@RetrogamerGenX

Ай бұрын

Well maybe take some Dramamine before you watch again. Lol. First person ever to complain about that before. Hilarious. Yeah, you should have really watched to the end. There's a promotional video at the end put out by Astrocade for use in computer stores demoing the games for it.

@demonsty

Ай бұрын

@@RetrogamerGenX yeah i always love it when a system does those.

@Egg-kh2xo

Ай бұрын

@@RetrogamerGenX No one else will bother to comment about this. They will just close the window. If you want to understand why you miss any benifits from such feedback then just read your responce to me and it will clearly demonstrate why people will simply close the window rather than offer feedback. This is the normal visitor responce now. Consider first and foremost I wanted to , and attempted to watch this video. I have vertigo which is an exceptionally common older age problem so I get symptoms like travel sickness that come from loss of immediate spacial awareness induced by the spiraling motion on my 32" monitor. So prehaps your content would do better targeting a younger audience that are less prone to older age problems. Kind-of clashes with the channel title though doesn't it. I don't know who you are (tough I could find out if i realy wanted - I don't want to) but if you're in the retro scene then we likely share a number of different, groups, platforms, organisations with me and it is likely that we have communicated many times. Successful content providers reach out for feedback because they know that a visitor can close a window a thousand times faster than interact with the contect or navigation. Rule 101 of UX. I didn't use the word "complaint". However I understand that short comments are easily misconstrued. It was short as I had just returned from the bathroom after vomiting and I ready didn't want to spend any longer on the page. This clearly indicates that I was interested enough to persevere as long as I could. Clearly my efforts are not appreciated. Not everyone on the net is a psychopathic keyboard worrier or troll. You should consider that there are in fact a lot of decent, well meaning people left in this world. Have a good day.

@draketungsten74

Ай бұрын

​@@RetrogamerGenX That made me dizzy too. I made it through, but whew. 😅

These were wicked hard to find (only ever saw one in a mall computer store) but they were very impressive back in the day.

@RetrogamerGenX

19 күн бұрын

Yeah they were. I never saw one in person in the 80's, but saw them in catalogs. Thanks for watching!!