A 2600 product that I bet didn't do well!

[+RangerG]

In an old Electronic Fun magazine (April 1983 Vol 1 No 6 p. 15) there is an ad for the GameScreen power supply by Mountebank Products. I can't scan it right now, but I will try to later. The unique GameScreen is for "video game addicts". The power supply has a key and secret code and it can be programmed (I assume by a parent) to shut down after one hour of game playing. The GameScreen will also shut down upon "any attempt to tamper with it". How much? $39.95. Anyone buy one or rather their parents buy one for their 2600? Poor kid - going for a high score on Yar's Revenge and the GameScreen shuts it off - time for homework!

[+RangerG]

I was completely tricked. This was the first page/article I turned to and now I see that this is the April Fool's issue with several fake items and this has to be one of them. Good magazine and good joke .

[Jacob]

you should still post a scan of it - would be funny to see.

[Blackjack]

Definately scan the add!

 

A 20 year old April Fools joke still getting people. That's great!

[video game addict]

 

I liked these too! Still looking for a nice 5200 Trak-cube controller..

[Synthead]

 

I would hate to have that power supply ... I would buy a regualr one and hide it if I ever were forced to use that ...

[sku_u]

 

 

I liked these too! Still looking for a nice 5200 Trak-cube controller..  

 

Anyone want a Gemstick like the one pictured on that page? I can make one for them for $50.

[Cootster]

I'm surprised some pimp-cup manufacturer hasn't branched out into Gemsticks, actually.

[Radio F Software]

That Track-Cube goes right up there with L IS REAL 2041.

[Mindfield]

Anyone want a Gemstick like the one pictured on that page?  I can make one for them for $50.  

 

Only if you do it to an original '77 stick, but where the hex disc goes, you write "bling" in crushed zirconia. :-)

[wrenchien]

i hope things like that didn't inspire the v-chips of this era... i really hope not.

[Godzilla]

I loved that issue when I was a kid.

 

'comes complete with hernia!'

 

'thats right if we're not completely satisfied with your money, we will return it to you!' :-)

 

Heck yea, I've always wanted one of those godawful gem sticks.

[jsoper]

You know, I'm gonna get the hell flamed out of me, but I don't think it's that bad of an idea. In the future when I have kids, I'm hoping to keep them to an hour of game play on school nights, two on weekends and vacations.

These 80+ hour games they have now can suck up time like crazy, and the way the US is going, the next gen will need college and a ton of street smarts to be successful. At least the Harry Potter books get some of them reading.

[gulag picture radio]

Yeah, it's a tough problem. I would also want to restrict kids access to games, and make sure that it's just a part of their leisure. There needs to be a balance of creative and imaginative play rather than just pre-defined experiences, puzzle solving and brutal battles.

 

I wouldn't regulate the videogaming with some sort of locking device. it's the same way that I cringe when I see a family walking araound, an the little baby is leashed to mom. There's something very cynical about falling back on actual restraints to bring your kids uner control.

 

I don't want to sound like I'm nitpicking, but I've always been very wary of the idea that no matter what a kid is reading, it's a benefit because at least they're reading. I haven't read the Potter books, so I don't know about them in particular. It's just that I've heard people say that when their kids are reading fashion magazines or skateboard magazines.

 

Those things have their place, but there's a lot of "junk food" type reading that's going on in this world, and I doubt very much that it has any real benefit. Reading Steven King and John Grisham ovels is fun, but I'd want to make sure that my kids woudl read books that got them ready for more challenging and heady stuff in the future.

[moycon]

The huge red "APRIL FOOLS PARODY" at the bottom right kinda ruins the joke don't cha think? Kinda like... Hey you know its April Folls Day right? Ok well Im fixing to to try and pull one over on you... Ok ready??

 

*pulls prank*

 

HAHAHAHAHAHA I gotcha!!! HAHAHAHAHA!

 

Funny?

Right I gotcha good hu?

Funny?

 

 

Either that or they just figured their readers are so stupid they might actually send away for a $1,200,000 joystick.

[Godzilla]

Well, Atari did cash my check for $1.2m but they never sent me any joystick! Damn bastards.