Milton Bradley Microvision
- For emulators, see MicroVision, and for game recommendations, see Milton Bradley Microvision.
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| A Microvision with Block Buster cartridge inserted | |
| Manufacturer | Milton Bradley Company |
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| Generation | Second generation |
| Release date | November 1, 1979 |
| Media type | ROM cartridge |
The Microvision (aka Milton Bradley Microvision or MB Microvision) is the first handheld game console that used interchangeable cartridges and in that sense is reprogrammable. It was released by the Milton Bradley Company on November 1, 1979 for a retail price of $49.99.
The Microvision was designed by Jay Smith, the engineer who later designed the Vectrex video game console. The Microvision's combination of portability and a cartridge-based system led to moderate success, with Smith Engineering grossing $15 million in the first year of the system's release. However, its small game library, its small screen, and a lack of support from established home video game companies led to its discontinuation in 1981. According to Satoru Okada, the former head of Nintendo's R&D1 Department, the Microvision inspired the Game Boy, the follow-up to Game & Watch, after Nintendo designed around Microvision's limitations.
Technical specifications
[edit | edit source]- CPU: Intel 8021/TI TMS1100 (on cartridge)
- Screen type and resolution: 16 × 16 pixel LCD
- Register width: 4 bit (TMS1100), 8 bit (8021)
- Processor speed: 100 kHz
- RAM (integrated into CPU): 64 bytes
- ROM: 2K (TMS1100), 1K (8021)
- Cartridge ROM: 2K (TMS 1100), 1K (8021) masked (integrated into CPU; each game's CPU was different)
- Video Display Processor: LCD Custom Driver (made by Hughes)
- Sound: Piezo beeper
- Input: Twelve button keypad, one paddle
- Power requirements: One or two 9 volt batteries on earlier Microvision consoles, one 9 volt battery on later Microvision consoles
- Power Dissipation: 110 mW (TMS 1100), 1 W (8021)