| File:Milton Bradley Microvision Logo.png | |
| File:Milton-Bradley-Microvision-Handheld-FL.jpg A Microvision with Block Buster cartridge inserted | |
| Also known as | Milton Bradley Microvision MB Microvision |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Milton Bradley Company |
| Type | Handheld game console |
| Generation | Second generation |
| Release date | November 1979 |
| Introductory price | US$49.99 (equivalent to about $187 in 2023) |
| Discontinued | 1981 |
| Media | ROM cartridges |
| CPU | Intel 8021/TI TMS1100 (on cartridge) clocked at 100 kHz |
| Memory | 64 bytes RAM, 2K ROM |
| Display | 16 × 16 pixels resolution |
| Power | 1 × 9V battery (TMS1100 processors), 2 × 9V battery (Intel 8021 processors) |
The Microvision (aka Milton Bradley Microvision or MB Microvision) is the first handheld game console that used interchangeable cartridges[1] and in that sense is reprogrammable.[2] It was released by the Milton Bradley Company in November 1979[3] for a retail price of $49.99.[4][5]
The Microvision was designed by Jay Smith, the engineer who would later design the Vectrex gaming 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, very few cartridges, a small screen, and a lack of support from established home video game companies led to its demise in 1981.[6] According to Satoru Okada, the former head of Nintendo's R&D1 Department, the Microvision gave birth to Game Boy, the follow up to Game & Watch, after Nintendo designed around Microvision's limitations.[7]
References[]
- ↑ Sfetcu, Nicolae (2014-05-04) (in en). Game Preview. Nicolae Sfetcu. https://books.google.com/books?id=J1aAAwAAQBAJ.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named:1 - ↑ www.lookingtodraw.com, MICHAEL J. BARNES, ILTD DESIGN SERVICES. "PC Timeline. The Freeman PC Museum... Largest Collection of Vintage Computers On The Web". Retrieved 22 January 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named:0 - ↑ "Microvision by Milton Bradley – The Video Game Kraken". Retrieved 2020-08-06.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Donald Melanson, March 3, 2006, A Brief History of Handheld Video Games Engadget
- ↑ Barder, Ollie (December 31, 2016). "New Interview With Satoru Okada Delves Into The Hidden History Behind Nintendo's Gaming Handhelds". Forbes.com. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
{{cite web}}:
Cite error: <ref> tag with name "hh_museum" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.
Cite error: <ref> tag with name "simply_eighties" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.
<ref> tag with name "mus_obs" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.| Handheld game consoles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Anbernic | RG351 • RG552 • RG35XXSP | |
| Bandai | LCD Solarpower • Digi Casse • Design Master Senshi • WonderSwan | |
| Entex | Select-A-Game • Adventure Vision | |
| Epoch | Epoch Game Pocket Computer • Barcode Battler | |
| GamePad Digital | GPD XD • GPD Win • GPD Win 2 | |
| Game Park/Holdings | GP32 • GP2X • XGP • GP2X Wiz • CAANOO | |
| LeapFrog | Didj • Leapster • Leapster Explorer | |
| Nintendo | Game Boy family (Game Boy • Color) • Game Boy Advance family (Advance • Advance SP • Micro) • Virtual Boy • Pokémon Pikachu • Pokémon Mini • Nintendo DS family (Nintendo DS • Lite • DSi) • Nintendo 3DS (2DS • New 3DS • New 2DS XL) • Switch (Switch Lite) | |
| Nokia | N-Gage • N-Gage QD | |
| Sega | Game Gear • Nomad | |
| SNK | Neo Geo Pocket • Neo Geo Pocket Color • Neo Geo X | |
| Sony | PlayStation Portable • Xperia Play • PlayStation Vita | |
| Tiger | R-Zone • Game.com | |
| VTech | 3D Gamate • Variety • V.Smile Pocket | |
| Other handhelds | 1970s | Microvision |
| 1980s | Children's Discovery System • Palmtex Portable Videogame System / Super Micro • Romtec Colorvision • Nelsonic Industries • Electronika • Atari Lynx | |
| 1990s | TurboExpress • Game Master • Gamate • Watara Supervision • Mega Duck | |
| 2000s | Tapwave Zodiac • GameKing • GPANG service • Gizmondo • Coleco Sonic • Dingoo | |
| 2010s | JXD devices • Pandora • DragonBox Pyra • Shield Portable • GCW Zero | |
| 2020s | Analogue Pocket • Ayn Odin • Evercade • Playdate • Retroid Pocket 2 • Thumby • Steam Deck | |
| Related | Early units • List • Comparison | |