History of Consoles-Microvision (1979)

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Gamester81

 

Console/Handheld: Microvision

Manufacturer: Milton Bradley

Availability: November 1979

History:

Milton Bradley (best known for their board games) released the Microvision handheld in November of 1979.  It was designed by Jay Smith, who later engineered and designed the Vectrex console.  The Microvision is considered to be one of the first gaming handhelds with interchangeable games.  Initially the Microvision had strong sales with Smith Engineering (Jay Smith’s company) grossing  over $8 million  during the first year alone.  However because of the lack of support, a small unreliable screen and very few games released for it, the Microvision was discontinued in 1981.   

Design:

 The Microvision handheld is very unique in design.  It’s long and has a wheel nob built in the bottom which can be used as a track wheel controller.  There is a 16×16 screen at about the middle of the system which displays black square dots that appear as images for the games.  The cartridge is nearly the length of the Microvision itself, and snaps in and covers the screen and 2/3 of the unit.  Each game has their own different control buttons also built into it.  The sound is just basic bleeps, and nothing more.

Initially the Microvision required two 9V batteries to power the system.  Later versions of the Milton Bradley changed the processor which was more primitive, but offered more memory and required less power consumption; in turn requiring only one 9V battery.  Both versions still have a compartment to store two 9V batteries regardless of the model.

Problems:

Today the Microvision is considered somewhat rare, and to find a working model is even more difficult.  The Microvision suffers over time with substantial screen rot and the liquid crystals in the screen often leak.  In addition the controls and buttons also suffer from damage and often times don’t work.

Games:

Only 13 games were released for the Microvision in total including:

Trivia:

Scene from Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)

  • In the movie Friday the 13th Part 2, there is scene where one of the guys is sitting in a room playing a Microvision.

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About Gamester81

John "Gamester81" Lester started playing video games at a very young age. His first ever console that he played was a Colecovision, quickly followed by an Atari 2600, and his passion for video games hasn't stopped. In 2008 John decided to start a video game review show on YouTube called Gamester81 by reviewing rare and retro video game systems and games. His show quickly grew in popularity, and he became friends with many other gamers in the YouTube community. He is also one of the hosts of the All Gen Gamers Podcast which is a bimonthly podcast for people and video games of all generations. Some of John's other hobbies includes collecting Star Wars memorabilia (YouTube channel Starwarsnut77), playing classic arcade games (YouTube channel Gamester81Arcade), watching sports, and listening to music. John is a big fan of the 80's and 90's and in 2009 started a YouTube channel called NEStalgiaholic where he talks about nostalgic items and memories from his childhood. To see some of John's video's in 3D visit his YouTube channel Gamester81in3D. Favorite Systems: Colecovision, Commodore 64, NES, & SNES. Favorite Games: Donkey Kong Arcade, Atari Star Wars Arcade, Super Mario 3, Final Fantasy II, & Goldeneye 007