Channel F

Channel F was the world's first cartridge-based game console. It was released by Fairchild Semiconductor (ostensibly by their parent company though) in 1976 at a cost of $169.95. At this point it was known as the Video Entertainment System, or VES, but when Atari released their VCS the next year, Fairchild quickly re-named it.

The Channel F was based on the Fairchild F8[?] CPU, invented by Robert Noyce before he left Fairchild to start his own company, Intel. The video was quite basic, although it was in color which was a large step forward from the contemporary PONG[?] machines. The controller on the Channel F was a kind of joystick without a base; you only needed one hand to use it.

Only 21 cartridges were released for the system (typically at $19.95), despite its initial popularity. However the games are generally universally detested. On reviewer described their racing game (everyone had one) as something like losing a toe in an industrial accident. Later, Zircon. Intl. bought the rights to the Channel F and released the Channel F System 2. Only five games were released for the second system before its death.

Specs:

CPU: Fairchild F8

See also: Atari 2600