Re: MICROVISION (1979) - World’s First Handheld System - Review of System and All 12 Games
Posted: February 10th, 2018, 9:55 pm
I own a few Microvision consoles and several games (dating back to the boxed one my father gave me - which was his own console). Unfortunately, all of mine have fallen victim to the LCD screen rot basically rendering them mostly unplayable.
There was a period of time when one of them worked well and I used to play a number of the games. My favorites on the system are Block Buster (great pack-in choice), Connect Four, and Vegas Slots. It is impressive the way the developers were able to work with such a limited display but it is playable and fun.
Here are some things I noted over the years about the various hardware versions.
1. It doesn't seem to matter whether you have the older two-battery version (which inexplicably worked with one battery) or the newer one-battery version (with the blank spot for storing the "extra" battery), the screen rot issue is the same. The European version seems less affected as I have seen many more of those models still functional today.
2. I always liked the EU game cartridges better as they have actual buttons on them vs. just a membrane pad which can get stretched, pulled, with fingernails, etc... The buttons are simply on top of the membrane but it's a better feel.
Considering it was made/sold in the late 70's it was a pretty impressive piece of technology so long as you didn't accidentally fry the system with a static shock (no shielding at all protecting the internals). I wish there was a way to replace the screen but there is just no market/demand for something like that.
Great review and thanks for the memories.
There was a period of time when one of them worked well and I used to play a number of the games. My favorites on the system are Block Buster (great pack-in choice), Connect Four, and Vegas Slots. It is impressive the way the developers were able to work with such a limited display but it is playable and fun.
Here are some things I noted over the years about the various hardware versions.
1. It doesn't seem to matter whether you have the older two-battery version (which inexplicably worked with one battery) or the newer one-battery version (with the blank spot for storing the "extra" battery), the screen rot issue is the same. The European version seems less affected as I have seen many more of those models still functional today.
2. I always liked the EU game cartridges better as they have actual buttons on them vs. just a membrane pad which can get stretched, pulled, with fingernails, etc... The buttons are simply on top of the membrane but it's a better feel.
Considering it was made/sold in the late 70's it was a pretty impressive piece of technology so long as you didn't accidentally fry the system with a static shock (no shielding at all protecting the internals). I wish there was a way to replace the screen but there is just no market/demand for something like that.
Great review and thanks for the memories.