that was better graphics than i was expecting for when you said it came out, and in color too. you guy's really do get a hold of some pretty cool and unheard of systems. it would be neat to see what other software you have for it or like more in detail of what the computer looks like from the inside.
It would be interesting to do a video comparing this machine with other 1977 home computers (and perhaps also 1976, such as the SOL-20, and 1978) such as the TRS-80 Model 1. The graphics in this machine certainly kicked the pants off of the TRS-80. Radio Shack, though, had enough sense to give it a more usable amount of RAM and to have an effective place to sell it (in comparison to Macys for the VideoBrain).
Well, this totally qualifies as a museum piece! Certainly rare, I have not even read about it in passing mention. You're really building a remarkable collection, and I must praise your efforts. Rock on!
Its not often I see a vintage electronics device Ive never heard of (post 1970s) but wow Ive NEVER heard of this device. And 16 colors with many simultaneously on the screen, fairly smooth sprites etc what a great find and excellent video. Thanks!
Very cool to see one again. I remember them from the middle of 1978. Many higher end department stores sold them for about $500 ($2400 in 2024). Quite pricey for the stagflation racked late 70's. They were sold as an alternative to one of the new "personal computers that require days, even weeks of tedious programing before they will do real work". They had a programing language cartridge to use a simplified APL language (APL/S they called it) to write your own programs. A fun endeavor but price for price, lacked much of the functionality of the TRS-80 Model 1 which debuted in the spring of 1977 for $599 and included the monitor. Still, not bad for 1978 when the whole industry was just being born.
With a system with 1k of RAM, I imagine the cartridge would've been vital to doing anything. After all, the ROM can just be mapped into the memory map and as long as said code doesn't need to be manipulated in any way, the CPU can access from there without the need to load it into RAM. It's how a NES with 4k of RAM could do more than a C64 with 64k despite effectively having the same(The NES' was clocked faster, but the extra clock ticks were dedicated to the on-chip sound generator) CPU. Nintendo could just load up a cart with a big ROM and get some bank switching going. Wouldn't be much use for productivity, as 1k is nothing when trying to make a spreadsheet or database. I imagine it may have led to it not doing too well, since not many people would be willing to splash the cash on something that will most likely just be used for fun.
This was new to me and amazing for the time... It's so crazy to think about what was out when I was only 6. It has been a wild ride to the computer power we have today.
I've only seen this computer in magazines (remember Popular Science?). How did you get a hold of one, in the box even? My connection to this computer is that I bought one of its joysticks (on clearance sale) hoping to be able to use it with my Apple II. I believe I was eventually able to wire it up for the Apple. I had to bodge a second button onto it, and the cable was a bit short to come from the back of the Apple, though. Going back to the VideoBrain, I'd be curious to see inside of it.
1K RAM was for the CPU. Based on the published maximum resolution of 384x336, I estimate it supported interlaced video (which would have been extremely rare for the time) and had at least 8K RAM included and exclusive to the video processor. Actually, upon further speculation, I'm thinking it exclusively used sprite graphics for everything on the display, and supported up to 16 sprites on a line. That would account for the 16 character per line limit for text, and eliminate the need for a graphics RAM since graphic data could be stored in ROM.
Pretty impressive actually, considering the time it launched, and amount of memory it has. I was expecting way worse. Wikipedia list there was about 10 games available. If they would improve the keyboard, release BASIC, and followed a bit later with more memory, and higher text mode, it could be more successful. They did made a cheaper version (same spec, just optimized production to lower the price), but still a bit limited. The built-in programs, while neat, are a bit of a gimmick, and not useful beyond initial fun with it.
Some believe David Chung stole the chip design that Fairchild eventually sold as the F8 from a German company called Olympia Werke A.G. So, the claim (repeated by the Video Brain co-founder in an interview) that Chung invented the chip is untrue according to what some believe. The F8 debuted as two separate chips with the Fairchild Video Entertainment System (VES), later rebranded with the very stupid (in my opinion) Channel F name because Atari copied Fairchild's naming almost completely with its Video Computer System (VCS), later known as the 2600. For the VideoBrain, a revision of the CPU that was developed and sold by a competitor (which combined both chips into a single microprocessor chip and which was a better design than Fairchild's own attempt at a single-chip version) was used. The unusual command keys on the keyboard are used for the APL/S programming language, which the VideoBrain team chose over BASIC. The APL/S cartridge is extremely rare now... so rare that the last time I checked there is no ROM dump available on the Internet. There were two patents for improved/expanded video circuitry that never made it into final production. One of those revised video chips provided full-screen smooth scrolling. The F8 chip was special for being the first to introduce onboard cache memory. It was only 64 bytes and was accessed via a special "loop" mode but it was the first CPU to feature on-chip cache. The F8 was also designed to require fewer pins than competing designs in order to be less costly to produce.
Also... another bit of lore is that Chung's father was a wealthy investment banker or similar in Hong Kong and personally financed the VideoBrain. He lost quite a bit of money supporting his son's company. In my view, the biggest mistakes were the APL/S focus, the focus on edutainment rather than arcade-style games, the corny name, and the lack of RAM. Chung's partner (named in the video... I don't remember his name off the top of my head) stated later that the biggest mistake was not using an Intel CPU but that the Fairchild design (or Olympia Werke A.G., depending upon what one believes) was chosen because "Chung invented it." I don't think the CPU choice had much effect in the machine's failure. Also, Macys really wasn't equipped for effectively selling these machines. A place like Radio Shack would have been a lot more effective. A deal between that company and VideoBrain would have probably been lucrative.
Another thing that I think hurt this machine's chances is the lack of a printer. Ordinary people would look at a home computer and ask "What can I do with this that I can't do with a video game console?" They would look at the price tag and think "Too much for too little functionality." However, give them a printer and suddenly they can produce something that can be used in the real world. Coleco tried that with the Adam and failed but a better printer choice would have helped the VideoBrain. Daisywheels, which Coleco used, are too loud and aren't enough of an upgrade from a typewriter.
I feel the same. It's funny how "ahead of its time" so often means failure in technology. I almost think the tech giants out there know this and let ever good idea fail and then they come along, pick up the peices, and introduce the failed idea as "revolutionary must have items" and then people mindlessly fall for their tricks.
It’s great to see a video on this. I have one of these! But no PSU or software. I would love to get mine running.
wow, the controls, graphics and animation are really impressive for 1977!
that was better graphics than i was expecting for when you said it came out, and in color too.
you guy's really do get a hold of some pretty cool and unheard of systems.
it would be neat to see what other software you have for it or like more in detail of what the computer looks like from the inside.
It would be interesting to do a video comparing this machine with other 1977 home computers (and perhaps also 1976, such as the SOL-20, and 1978) such as the TRS-80 Model 1. The graphics in this machine certainly kicked the pants off of the TRS-80. Radio Shack, though, had enough sense to give it a more usable amount of RAM and to have an effective place to sell it (in comparison to Macys for the VideoBrain).
Well, this totally qualifies as a museum piece! Certainly rare, I have not even read about it in passing mention. You're really building a remarkable collection, and I must praise your efforts. Rock on!
Really impressive graphics for 1977
Its not often I see a vintage electronics device Ive never heard of (post 1970s) but wow Ive NEVER heard of this device. And 16 colors with many simultaneously on the screen, fairly smooth sprites etc what a great find and excellent video. Thanks!
Very specifically, I'd like to see absolutely every single cartridge played in detail.
Thanks in advance, Aaron.
Great video Aaron! That is super cool! I’ve never seen a VideoBrain; I only read about it in Evan Amos’s book, “The Game Console 2.0”.
cool machine! would love to see all the programs for it...even the ones that you dont have that may be in the catalog or booklet?
Very cool to see one again. I remember them from the middle of 1978. Many higher end department stores sold them for about $500 ($2400 in 2024). Quite pricey for the stagflation racked late 70's. They were sold as an alternative to one of the new "personal computers that require days, even weeks of tedious programing before they will do real work". They had a programing language cartridge to use a simplified APL language (APL/S they called it) to write your own programs. A fun endeavor but price for price, lacked much of the functionality of the TRS-80 Model 1 which debuted in the spring of 1977 for $599 and included the monitor. Still, not bad for 1978 when the whole industry was just being born.
Wow, introducing people to computer programming with APL. What a trial by fire.
Awesome video. I've only ever seen this machine in pictures. That's for sharing 👍
Enjoying the bloopers !!😂
Very cool, reminds me a bit of the Magnavox Odyssey 2.
I had never heard of this machine or brand. Great addition to the Vintage Geek inventory.
7:51 is y2k ready lol
That's so cool, so glad it made it to you safe and you were able to get it to work!! Amazing!!
Wow, the packaging design on this thing is awesome.
With a system with 1k of RAM, I imagine the cartridge would've been vital to doing anything. After all, the ROM can just be mapped into the memory map and as long as said code doesn't need to be manipulated in any way, the CPU can access from there without the need to load it into RAM. It's how a NES with 4k of RAM could do more than a C64 with 64k despite effectively having the same(The NES' was clocked faster, but the extra clock ticks were dedicated to the on-chip sound generator) CPU. Nintendo could just load up a cart with a big ROM and get some bank switching going.
Wouldn't be much use for productivity, as 1k is nothing when trying to make a spreadsheet or database. I imagine it may have led to it not doing too well, since not many people would be willing to splash the cash on something that will most likely just be used for fun.
This was new to me and amazing for the time... It's so crazy to think about what was out when I was only 6. It has been a wild ride to the computer power we have today.
This was fantastic to see. Thank you for sharing!
I've only seen this computer in magazines (remember Popular Science?). How did you get a hold of one, in the box even? My connection to this computer is that I bought one of its joysticks (on clearance sale) hoping to be able to use it with my Apple II. I believe I was eventually able to wire it up for the Apple. I had to bodge a second button onto it, and the cable was a bit short to come from the back of the Apple, though. Going back to the VideoBrain, I'd be curious to see inside of it.
A very interesting piece of tech history. Well done acquiring that.
Nice episode !
1K RAM was for the CPU. Based on the published maximum resolution of 384x336, I estimate it supported interlaced video (which would have been extremely rare for the time) and had at least 8K RAM included and exclusive to the video processor.
Actually, upon further speculation, I'm thinking it exclusively used sprite graphics for everything on the display, and supported up to 16 sprites on a line. That would account for the 16 character per line limit for text, and eliminate the need for a graphics RAM since graphic data could be stored in ROM.
Never heard of it. But then it was apparently only released in America.
Why didn't you try 2024. Very interesting system.
Wow, no Enter / Return key on the keyboard. Ahh the Next key. Got it.
Pretty impressive actually, considering the time it launched, and amount of memory it has. I was expecting way worse. Wikipedia list there was about 10 games available. If they would improve the keyboard, release BASIC, and followed a bit later with more memory, and higher text mode, it could be more successful. They did made a cheaper version (same spec, just optimized production to lower the price), but still a bit limited. The built-in programs, while neat, are a bit of a gimmick, and not useful beyond initial fun with it.
Some believe David Chung stole the chip design that Fairchild eventually sold as the F8 from a German company called Olympia Werke A.G. So, the claim (repeated by the Video Brain co-founder in an interview) that Chung invented the chip is untrue according to what some believe. The F8 debuted as two separate chips with the Fairchild Video Entertainment System (VES), later rebranded with the very stupid (in my opinion) Channel F name because Atari copied Fairchild's naming almost completely with its Video Computer System (VCS), later known as the 2600. For the VideoBrain, a revision of the CPU that was developed and sold by a competitor (which combined both chips into a single microprocessor chip and which was a better design than Fairchild's own attempt at a single-chip version) was used. The unusual command keys on the keyboard are used for the APL/S programming language, which the VideoBrain team chose over BASIC. The APL/S cartridge is extremely rare now... so rare that the last time I checked there is no ROM dump available on the Internet. There were two patents for improved/expanded video circuitry that never made it into final production. One of those revised video chips provided full-screen smooth scrolling. The F8 chip was special for being the first to introduce onboard cache memory. It was only 64 bytes and was accessed via a special "loop" mode but it was the first CPU to feature on-chip cache. The F8 was also designed to require fewer pins than competing designs in order to be less costly to produce.
Also... another bit of lore is that Chung's father was a wealthy investment banker or similar in Hong Kong and personally financed the VideoBrain. He lost quite a bit of money supporting his son's company. In my view, the biggest mistakes were the APL/S focus, the focus on edutainment rather than arcade-style games, the corny name, and the lack of RAM. Chung's partner (named in the video... I don't remember his name off the top of my head) stated later that the biggest mistake was not using an Intel CPU but that the Fairchild design (or Olympia Werke A.G., depending upon what one believes) was chosen because "Chung invented it." I don't think the CPU choice had much effect in the machine's failure. Also, Macys really wasn't equipped for effectively selling these machines. A place like Radio Shack would have been a lot more effective. A deal between that company and VideoBrain would have probably been lucrative.
Another thing that I think hurt this machine's chances is the lack of a printer. Ordinary people would look at a home computer and ask "What can I do with this that I can't do with a video game console?" They would look at the price tag and think "Too much for too little functionality." However, give them a printer and suddenly they can produce something that can be used in the real world. Coleco tried that with the Adam and failed but a better printer choice would have helped the VideoBrain. Daisywheels, which Coleco used, are too loud and aren't enough of an upgrade from a typewriter.
Heh neat that future gladiator game was maybe using the same method for creating a noise effect as yar's revenge. Might've been earlier too.
Still the best version of a lemonade stand game
Who owns the rights to VideoBrain nowadays? I feel like this system is a prime candidate for a fun new project!
Neat!
This looks so much better than the Atari 2600. I don't understand how it didn't end up dominating the video console market.
I feel the same. It's funny how "ahead of its time" so often means failure in technology. I almost think the tech giants out there know this and let ever good idea fail and then they come along, pick up the peices, and introduce the failed idea as "revolutionary must have items" and then people mindlessly fall for their tricks.
@@riseandshinejp what the heck does that mean and why?
too expensive probably and not a lot of good games
convoluted and painful ergonomics