Retro|Spective 218: Hardware

[Yakumo]

Wow, two Lynx models I'd never seen or even knew about.
Classic clueless Atari though. Who on earth even in the mid 90s would think it's a good idea to promote smokes with a game console?

[Asura]

Hardware 37 - Atari Lynx Malboro Edition
50 units of this limited edition of the system were produced as a tie in with the smoking brand. The cross promotion involved points collection with codes from packets of cigarettes and was supposed to also tie into a cancelled Malboro game.




Did Atari ruin the design of the Lynx or elevate it to Smokin'?

I was curious about this.

It turns out...

https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/marlboros-clothing-line-patagonia/

Marlboro had an entire line of clothing and branded items like this, which were designed to encourage kids to take up smoking. I guess in a way it's not unlike how they sponsored F1 teams.

[Neon Ignition]

Hardware 39 - Bandai TV Jack 1000
The console was the companies late 70's attempt to get in early in the emerging market and featured four built in games with dual dial controls.




What do you think of the design of the console and is it a classic?

[CMcK]

What a bizzare name for a game system. Non detaching controllers are not a good idea though.

[Asura]

I think we might've had this? Or perhaps a Grandstand UK equivalent. In some of my earliest memories I remember a Pong machine, looked like this - though the plastic body was orange.

[Yakumo]

I think we might've had this? Or perhaps a Grandstand UK equivalent. In some of my earliest memories I remember a Pong machine, looked like this - though the plastic body was orange.

Orange? Sounds like a Nintendo variant.

[Neon Ignition]

Hardware 40 - Bandai TV Jack 1200
Bandai wasted no time with this console, releasing further revisions of it that either minorly or majorly reworked the design and/or games. This model slightly tweaked the design and introduced four player support.




Whilst very similar, is it better?

[Neon Ignition]

Hardware 41 - Bandai TV Jack 1500
The third console swaped the dials for joy sticks and redesigned the look of the system. At the same time it offered a wider range of titles, doubling the count to eight.




What are your thoughts of the 1500's design and do you have any memories of it?

[Yakumo]

I wonder how far apart from the these TV Jack's were released?

[Neon Ignition]

From what I can gather they seem to have released very close together over the span of around two years by 1979 they stop

[Neon Ignition]

Hardware 42 - Bandai TV Jack 2500
Another dial system from Bandai, if anything the 2500 looks a tad more corporate than its siblings. The 2500 is a revision of the TV Jack 1000 which offered 5 variations of each game included




A Jacked Design?

[Neon Ignition]

Hardware 43 - Bandai TV Jack 3000
Another four player dial based console, this version of the system really ramped up with the power of BROWN




The best looking TV Jack so far?

[Yakumo]

Hardware 43 - Bandai TV Jack 3000
Another four player dial based console, this version of the system really ramped up with the power of BROWN




The best looking TV Jack so far?

Nah, looks the worst 😅
Man, such ugly colours in the 70s. I remember a lot of ugly orange and lime green stuff from around that age.

[Neon Ignition]

Hardware 44 - Bandai TV Jack 5000
If you weren't convinced by the sheer browness of the 3000, perhaps the softer shade of the 5000 will convince you? The system offering another 6 games for buyers




Better or worse direction for the line up?

[Yakumo]

Wow, they sure released basically the same thing so many times.
Are those sticks stuck on to the console? That would be rather akward to play if they were.