FND Posted May 2, 2007 Share Posted May 2, 2007 Well I finally finished most of my Channel F Web pages and thought I would put a link here in case anyone was interested it taking a look. The pages include most of my collection Of label & box variations along with letters, Brochures, Catalogs, News/Magazine adds, Interview links, printable instruction manual pages … , Mostly everything I have found over the years. Anyway if you take a look and have any comments (good or bad ) about the content or Layout please let me know as I would be very interested to here your thoughts. Here is the link http://www.fndcollectables.com/CHANNEL_F_I...nel_f_info.html PS Only the U.S. pages are up at this time. You will need to click the U.S. link at the top of the first page. Take care FND 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted May 2, 2007 Share Posted May 2, 2007 Very nice! It could be the AtariAge of the Channel F! I actually have some Fairchild stuff that I didn't see on your page. It's a Fairchild dustcloth that came with an envelope and a letter. Actually, you should be able to find the pics on AA (I posted them a couple years ago) if you search for "Fairchild dustcloth." I tried to post the link but for some reason I can't get it to work. Feel free to use the pictures if you'd like! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted May 2, 2007 Share Posted May 2, 2007 Woo hoo! Someone likes crappy obscure systems as much as I do! I'd actually be interested in comparing the VideoBrain to the Channel F to see just how similar they are aside from using the same chip. Tempest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supercat Posted May 2, 2007 Share Posted May 2, 2007 (edited) Very nice! It could be the AtariAge of the Channel F! Certainly it's good to document game systems other than the 2600. I would be surprised if sites for other systems can do as well as AtariAge, though (I'd be happy to be proven wrong, if you can do it!) Certain aspects of the Channel F seem interesting, but the relative scarcity of the systems combined with the non-standard cartridge bus requirements would make homebrew programming comparatively unrewarding. Still, I would be interested to find out more about the system, especially if any information about the planning and development comes to light. Edited May 2, 2007 by supercat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FND Posted May 2, 2007 Author Share Posted May 2, 2007 Very nice! It could be the AtariAge of the Channel F! I actually have some Fairchild stuff that I didn't see on your page. It's a Fairchild dustcloth that came with an envelope and a letter. Actually, you should be able to find the pics on AA (I posted them a couple years ago) if you search for "Fairchild dustcloth." I tried to post the link but for some reason I can't get it to work. Feel free to use the pictures if you'd like! Thanks for directing me to those pictures, never seen one of those. You know without seeing the letter I would have just assumed it was just a camera lens cleaning cloth, very cool! Thanks for allowing me to use the pictures I will gladly add the pictures and credit for your contribution. FND Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FND Posted May 2, 2007 Author Share Posted May 2, 2007 (edited) Woo hoo! Someone likes crappy obscure systems as much as I do! I'd actually be interested in comparing the VideoBrain to the Channel F to see just how similar they are aside from using the same chip. Tempest Yes it would be hard to find a system more obscure then the Channel F but I think the VideoBrain fits the bill BTW I have a VideoBrain cart around here somewhere, since I have never been able to find a system for it you can have it for the shipping cost, I will let you know what the title is as soon as I find it again. UPDATE: Found the VideoBrain cart it also has the box and instructions, You can have it for the cost of shipping LMK TITLE is Music Teacher 1 ED01 FND Edited May 3, 2007 by FND Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FND Posted May 2, 2007 Author Share Posted May 2, 2007 (edited) Very nice! It could be the AtariAge of the Channel F! I actually have some Fairchild stuff that I didn't see on your page. It's a Fairchild dustcloth that came with an envelope and a letter. Actually, you should be able to find the pics on AA (I posted them a couple years ago) if you search for "Fairchild dustcloth." I tried to post the link but for some reason I can't get it to work. Feel free to use the pictures if you'd like! I think I may know how this item was issued, I remembered reading about a free gift Fairchild would send you if you filled out there Warranty card so I checked my system warrantys and sure enough the system 1 card mentioned sending you a free gift that could be used with your system if you sent in the card See picture below "You send us something. We'll send you something" BTW In your original post you mentioned "dust cloth came with it in an envelope with some cards, one blue-ish, the other tan-ish" do you still have the cards ? if so could you scan them Front/Back for me ? also was there any date on the original envelope ? I also just added your item to the letters page, Thanks again Edited May 2, 2007 by FND Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted May 3, 2007 Share Posted May 3, 2007 (edited) BTW In your original post you mentioned "dust cloth came with it in an envelope with some cards, one blue-ish, the other tan-ish"do you still have the cards ? if so could you scan them Front/Back for me ? also was there any date on the original envelope ? I also just added your item to the letters page, Thanks again I do still have them (I never get rid of anything...except my 800XL...d'oh!). I should be able to get them from my parents' house next weekend, when I visit for Mothers' Day, and I'll try to get them scanned for you then! I think I'd have been a bit miffed back in the '70s if I had sent for that "free gift" from Fairchild, and it turned out to be a dustrag! Edited May 4, 2007 by BassGuitari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolenta Posted May 4, 2007 Share Posted May 4, 2007 What I'm lookig for is the reason why Fairchild renamed the system Channel F from the Video Entertainment System and exactly when this occurred. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt Vendel Posted May 4, 2007 Share Posted May 4, 2007 I always wondered if Channel F stood for "Channel Fun" Curt What I'm lookig for is the reason why Fairchild renamed the system Channel F from the Video Entertainment System and exactly when this occurred. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted May 4, 2007 Share Posted May 4, 2007 What I'm lookig for is the reason why Fairchild renamed the system Channel F from the Video Entertainment System and exactly when this occurred. From what I understand, Fairchild changed the name of "Video Entertainment System" to "Channel F" shortly after the Atari "Video Computer System" was released, to differentiate their "VES" from Atari's "VCS." And I think the "F" may well have stood for "fun." It's even said in the JC Penney commercial: JC Penney Fairchild Channel F commerical. (where this footage was found, I have no idea) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FND Posted May 4, 2007 Author Share Posted May 4, 2007 Thanks BassGuitari I look forward to seeing the cards I always wondered if Channel F stood for "Channel Fun" In retrospect I would like to think the F stands for FIRST The First cartridge based programmable video game system The First Programmable video game system to have color The First Game to have Easter Egg The First Black Jack game The First Maze Game The First Breakout Game The First Game with interactive game play (Spitfire) The First Game system to be used in a T.V. game Broadcast (POW) The First Game system to have a Pause The First Multigame Videocart Probably more I cant think of at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolenta Posted May 4, 2007 Share Posted May 4, 2007 What I'm lookig for is the reason why Fairchild renamed the system Channel F from the Video Entertainment System and exactly when this occurred. From what I understand, Fairchild changed the name of "Video Entertainment System" to "Channel F" shortly after the Atari "Video Computer System" was released, to differentiate their "VES" from Atari's "VCS." Unfortunately, that's what it says in my book Phoenix. I don't think I ever had documented proof about that when I originally wrote the book in 1994. When I look back at it now, I wonder why Fairchild would have needed to diffferentiate its system from the VCS. The VCS wasn't a major player until Atari released Space Invaders in 1980. The problem I run into now when I try fact check some things that I wasn't 100% sure about when I originally wrote the book, is that when I find people who back up what I wrote, I don't know if they got their information from me or from somewhere else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRetroGamer Posted May 5, 2007 Share Posted May 5, 2007 Nice site & nice work! I don't think I've EVER seen a commercial for the Channel F! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impaler_26 Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 Nice Site! I had a Saba Videoplay (=german Channel F) and i loved the Maze Game for it, also liked völkerball (dodge it) and torpedo. Too bad i never had Video Whizzball. It's very interesting to get some more informations about this quirky system! Keep up the good work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRetroGamer Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 Nice Site! I had a Saba Videoplay (=german Channel F) and i loved the Maze Game for it, also liked völkerball (dodge it) and torpedo.Too bad i never had Video Whizzball. It's very interesting to get some more informations about this quirky system! Keep up the good work! I personally think that Wizball was a great game on that system, especially since you could play one player against the computer. I would actually like to see this done for one of the Atari systems. The SABA also had the only cart that that was not available in the US - SCHACH (or chess). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FND Posted May 7, 2007 Author Share Posted May 7, 2007 Thanks guys glad to here its of interest to others. Most of the site was just my personnel database of variations and catalogs that I used to keep track of my collection, then one day I thought maybe others would be interested in the information as well. Pleasantly surprised to see there are more people interested in this system then I had thought The games I like the best are Casino Poker, Alien Invasion & Maze but Whizball can be fun also. The chess game is just to slow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impaler_26 Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 I personally think that Wizball was a great game on that system, especially since you could play one player against the computer. I would actually like to see this done for one of the Atari systems. The SABA also had the only cart that that was not available in the US - SCHACH (or chess). I played Video Whizzball in MESS a while ago and found out that i missed one of the best games for the system.... I also thought it would make a nice 2600-conversion, but i don't see how the controls could work with only 1 fire-button. Maybe shoot when you press fire and rotate the player when you keep fire pressed and push up or down? I don't think it would work well... besides that it should be not to complicated to do it on the 2600. I'd like to see Dodge It done for the 2600... maybe this could even be done with bB I had the SABA Schach Cart but didn't have much use for that as i don't play chess... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nognir Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 I'm curious how large the games are. 2 KByte maybe or less? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atarifever Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Man, that looks like a system I'd hate to play, but love to collect. Are many of the games any fun? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FND Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share Posted May 9, 2007 I'm curious how large the games are. 2 KByte maybe or less? Carts are typically 2K, with a couple 3K & 4K carts mixed in, also one whopping 6K Chess cart. fnd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FND Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share Posted May 9, 2007 Man, that looks like a system I'd hate to play, but love to collect. Are many of the games any fun? Yes definitely more fun to collect then play. I think the above mentioned games are the most fun for the system but we are talking about the Channel F so you wont be getting hook for long periods of game play fnd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRetroGamer Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 I'm curious how large the games are. 2 KByte maybe or less? On most of the emulation sites, there are only a few of the Channel F roms available, however I know that a complete ROM dump of all the carts (including the German variants) was made a few years ago, I believe by Sean Riddle. In order to play them in MESS, you need a custom mess.exe and messlib.dll that he had recompiled back in 2004. I'll see if I can find my archive of this. I had the SABA Schach Cart but didn't have much use for that as i don't play chess... Sean also came up with a way to make a multicart out of the SABA #20 cart, and also has some other interesting info here. He did post on this site a few years ago, but not lately. Here is a good link to a big post at Atari Age about Channel F Homebrew Programming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impaler_26 Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 Atarifever Posted Yesterday, 3:36 AM Man, that looks like a system I'd hate to play, but love to collect. Are many of the games any fun? AFAIK most people don't like the games, the graphics were blockier than on the 2600, games had only 3 (or 4?) different colors etc. But i really enjoyed a few of them, guess i just have quite a strange taste when it comes to video games I also like some of the very early 2600 games like Star Ship, Slot Racers and Air-Sea-Battle... I'll attach the complete ROM-Set (except for the two homebrew games which you can download from Sean Riddle's Page), so check out those games for yourself. CHANF.ZIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt_Woloch Posted May 11, 2007 Share Posted May 11, 2007 (edited) Well, thanks for those binaries! As far as I know, there was a mailing list set up, and Fredric CJ Blåholtz and someone called "Blackbird" started to do a Pac Man clone on the Channel F (also known as VES), but I've only seen an incomplete binary where you can move around Pac Man, but no ghosts are there, and there seems to be some "holes" in the maze data, which means that you can move up or down if you leave the tunnel on the right, and then get stuck. :-) However, that mailing list has been inactive now for over a year. In my opinion, what limits the Channel F greatly is its limited choice of colors. In one scanline, you can EITHER get black/white OR red, green and blue mixed freely on a grey, light green or light blue background. That means that you can't use black or white on the same scanline as one of the other colors! Oh, and video access seems to be pretty slow too, due to the necessity of setting each pixel individually. In the following picture I tried to do a mockup of one of the screens of "Defender of the crown" on the Channel F: (yes, I know it looks pretty crappy) Edited May 11, 2007 by Kurt_Woloch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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