A nice retro addition to my handheld collection...

[jimid2]

...won a Milton Bradley Microvision last night...

 

The Microvision was the first handheld that used cartridges... actually, it was more like "system modules" or "CPU modules" since the actual processor was on the cartridge, not in the main body, but anyway, it was the first handheld videogame with interchangable games. Released in 1979, it preceded the Gameboy by 10 years, and was almost as great a flop as Nintendo's portable was a success.

 

This unit and games are NOS from a collection that sold off on Ebay last night - can't wait to get it!!

[Atari5200]

i still do not have one of these, it's hard to find one on ebay that the fine print doesn't say, "sound works but the screen does not" or "screen is very light" I don't want one that's broke just for the sake of saying I have one. I want one that is perfect that I can actually play.

[Jess Ragan]

Hey, tell me what Star Trek: Phaser Strike is like when you get it! I had a Microvision back in 1984, but never could find any games other than the Breakout clone that was included with it.

 

JR

[jboypacman]

Sweet deal! Congrats on the Microvision.Lets us know when you get it and how you like it.

[thomasholzer]

You now gotta hunt for Super Block Buster, which only had an European release:

[8bitgamer]

In my book, Classic Home Video Games 1972-1984, the Star Trek Phaser Strike entry reads:

 

This simple target shooting game is Star Trek in name only. A trio of “phaser banks” is positioned at the bottom of the screen, allowing players to shoot diagonally to the left, diagonally to the right, and straight up the middle. The speed and width of the targets (enemy ships comprised of 1-4 squares) is selectable by the player. After all the targets (up to 90) have been launched, the game will end. Despite its barebones gameplay, the action is compelling (relatively speaking) for a short time. Released the same year as Star Trek: The Motion Picture, this was the first handheld video game to use the Star Trek license.

 

http://brettweisswords.blogspot.com/

[Gregory DG]

Isn't this the only system that is truly 4-bit? (You know, ignorant people think the 2600 was 4-bit, but I think this was the only one.)

[SINGLE TOOTH]

Cool, never heard of it.

[Segataritensoftii]

I'm still searching for an Epoch Game Pocket Computer. That was the first truly programmable cartridge based handheld system.

[jimid2]

I'm still searching for an Epoch Game Pocket Computer. That was the first truly programmable cartridge based handheld system.

Now that's an interesting handheld... I've heard of it before, but I more-or-less forgot about it; there's not much info out there on this thing that I've ever seen, and I've not seen one on Ebay... I'd love to find one someday!

[Rev. Rob]

Welcome to the Microvision, friend!

 

It's a very good game system, and many of the games are fantastic. I collected it to the point where I own at least one of each game.

 

If you have any game or repair questions, let me know!

[SINGLE TOOTH]

So what does the screen look like. Is it kinda like LCD pixels? Or more like the Tiger games?

[Jess Ragan]

So what does the screen look like. Is it kinda like LCD pixels? Or more like the Tiger games?

 

They're LCD pixels, but extremely large ones.

 

Thanks for the description, 8bitgamer! I was always wondering what that game was like. From your description, it sounds almost like a futuristic version of Missile Command.

 

JR