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===Manuals===
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{{Template:Infobox console|image = [[Image:Bally-Arcade-Console.jpg|230px]]
|Manufacturer = Bally, Astrovision
|Generation = Second generation
|Release date = 1979
|Media type = ROM cartridge
|Input Controller controller = 4 controller ports}}Released to stores in January of 1978, the '''Bally Professional Arcade ''' (later known as the '''Astrocade''') never really took off commercially, hut but it did develop a strong cult following.
The Astrocade is an second generation video game console and simple computer system designed by a team at Midway, the videogame division of Bally. The Astrocade is particularly notable for its very powerful graphics capabilities for the time of release, and for the difficulty in accessing those capabilities.
==Technical specifications==
With its BASIC language capabilities and built-in, 24-button keypad (which was a serviceable substitute for a computer keyboard), the Professional Arcade was seen by some as a more complex alternative to the [[Atari 2600]]. Adding to the system’s sophisticate-friendly allure are its unusual controllers, which are grip handles outfitted with a gun-like trigger and a knob that serves as both joystick and rotary controller. The system was packaged with two control devices, but the console has four controller ports, meaning many of the games offer four-player capabilities.
BASIC was programmed, laboriously, through this keyboard by assigning each of the keys a single command, number and several alpha characters. These were selected through a set of 4 colored shift keys. This way you simply typed "WORD"(gold) shift then the "+" key and got GOTO.
*[[:File:Bally_Professional_Arcade_-_Owner's_Manual.pdf|Bally Professional Arcade - Owners Manual]]
[[Category:Console]]
