Cassette Vision

After introducing a line of dedicated systems in the 1970s, such as TV Tennis, System 10 and the TV Block, the Cassette Vision was the first cartridge based console from Japanese company Epoch. Before the introduction of the Famicom it was the most popular console in Japan with some estimates of up to 400,000 units being sold.

The Cassette Vision had only simple capabilities, including an effective video resolution of only 54x62, with 8 colors and offering only simple sound capabilities. Internally, the Cassette Vision wasn't a fully realized console; the processing work was done with a microprocessor embedded in each cartridge which also contained memory for each game. The game controllers were actually embedded as knobs in the console itself. Each player had 2 knobs (one to control vertical, and the other horizontal movement), 2 buttons and a lever.

The Cassette Vision's software was not seen as compelling as that for the Atari VCS even though it was not available in Japan until 1983, when it was rebranded as the Atari 2800. Epoch would follow this system with its more powerful Super Cassette Vision in response to the release of both the 2800 and Famicom in 1983, but not before releasing a cheaper variant of the original Cassette Vision, known as the Cassette Vision Jr. which was smaller and had detachable controls.

Note that the usage of "cassette" in the name of this system refers to traditional ROM cartridges, and "cartridge" should be used as the media for games on this platform. Most sources list only eleven known extant titles for the Cassette Vision and apparently it was never exported outside of Japan.