The Video Game Console Library - Bally Home Library Computer (Astrocade)

	Bally Home Library Computer \ Astrocade
	DW FACTS by Dark Watcher
	Page content, development and design by Marriott_Guy

Developer	Manufacturer	Release Date	Country(s)	Initial Price	Model Number	Game Releases	Overall Rating
Bally Technologies	Bally, Astrovision	Dec-1977	USA	$299 USD	BPA1200	Approx. 30	7.5
Ratings	Reviews	Pictures\Media	Specs\Manuals	Games\Emulation	Models	Clones	Links

Ratings
Consoles are rated based upon the available technology at the time of its release. Ratings based upon a 10 point scale (10 being excellent\very rare).
Console Design (appearance, functionality)	04
Console Durability (sturdy or frail and fragile)	03
Controllers (design, response, feel, use)	09
Graphics (graphical capability and presentation)	08
Audio (sound, music, speech, effects)	06
Media (game media format, design, durability)	06
Packaging (appeal, durability of packaging)	03
Game Library (quality, quantity of game library)	04
Innovations (technological industrial strides)	07
Gamer Value (good investment for the gamer?)	05
Collector Value (good collector investment?)	07
Games Rarity (general availability of games)	04
Console Rarity (general availability of a system)	07

Reviews

Picture courtesy of DigiBarn Computer Museum

DW FACTS
- by Dark Watcher

The Bally Professional Arcade (a.k.a. Bally Computer System, a.k.a. Bally Astrocade) was released in 1978 in order to compete with the Atari 2600. The console was designed by their Midway Games division (funny to know that the makers of Mortal Kombat once made a videogame console ). With a small keypad built into the console, the unit was capable of writing very simple basic programs, as well as playing it's cassette shaped games. The Astrocade also came with 4 built in games (Gunfight, Checkmate, Calculator, Scribbler).

The Bally Astrocade had other unique innovations that set it apart from other consoles of its time. Rather then using different controllers for different games like it's competitor Atari, the Bally Astrocade decided to create a single controller with a variety of game play options. This controller was truly ahead of its time. It resembled the pistol grip of a gun, and even featured a trigger-like action button. A small joystick rested on the top of the pistol grip for normal game play. The joystick also featured a twistable knob that could be used for paddle games such as Pong or Breakout. Essentially the Bally Astrocade controller was both an analog and digital controller. The Astrocade was also one of the first consoles to have 4 controller ports.

Even though the Astrocade seemed to have more to offer then the Atari 2600, it was another victim of Atari hogging all arcade licensing rights. Although they lacked the licenses, many of the Astrocade games are actually clones based on some Atari titles, and many are considered to be of better quality.

Unfortunately, the "Great Videogame Crash of 1984" killed off the Astrocade as well as many other videogame consoles.

FACT: An interesting note about this system was its appearance in the movie National Lampoons Family Vacation. While Clark mapped out the family's route on the family computer, Russ was somehow able to chase the family car Pac Man style.

"Russ, don't eat the family Truckster." *Alien appears and shoots the Pac Man-esque figure that is chasing the Truckster* "Thank you Audrey".

HANDS ON REVIEW

Coming soon...

Pictures & Media

Various pictures\media for this console.

The following excellent pictures courtesy of DigiBarn Computer Museum

Optional Keyboard \ ZGRASS Peripherals

Specs & Manuals

For the hardware enthusiasts out there - all the detail you\we love.

Processor Type	Processor Speed	Other Processor Information	RAM \ Video RAM
Zilog Z80	1.789 MHz	None	4K expandable to 64k
Screen Resolution	Color Palette	Polygons \ Sprites	Audio
160 x 102 up to 320 x 204	8 Colors	N\A	3 Sound Channels
Media Format	Media Capacity	Games Released	Other Supported Formats
Cartridge (cassette tape appearance)	8 KB	Approx. 30	Data Cassette (with optionaltape drive)
Internal Storage	External\Removable Storage	Game Controllers	Other Game \ Peripheral Devices
None	None	Pistol-style Joystick	Keyboard (ZGRASS), Light Pen (optional)
Controller Ports	Network Ports	Other Ports	Audio \ Video
Four (4)	None	Expansion port	RF Connection
Power Supply - Hardwired Adapter	Other Outputs	Other Details \ Notes
Input: AC 120V, 60 Hz, 12W Output: DC 13.5, 700mA	None	None
Manuals
Bally Home Library Computer Owners Manual (PDF) - 2.65 MB Bally Professional Arcade Owners Manual (PDF) - 3.63 MB Bally Professional Arcade (Astrovision) Owners Manual (PDF) - 0.68 MB

Games & Emulation

Games, media format, emulators and screen shots for titles released on this system.

Bally Cartridge Software for the Bally Professional Arcade \ Astrocade was distributed on ROM cartridges that strongly resemble a cassette tape. Two basic packaging were utilized.

Bally first distributed games in a plastic shell that was glued to the front of a cheap cardboard rack-style display. The front of the multi-fold directions served as the cover art.

Once Astrovision became involved, titles were published in cardboard game boxes, roughly the same size as those utilized by Mattel with their Intellivision. The front of the box had a large open cavity to display the instruction manual, which once again doubled as the cover art. There are many variations within this design, with some featuring the Bally name while later releases display Astrocade.

Bally Professional Arcade \ Astrocade Game Boxes

Bally Professional Arcade \ Astrocade Game Screenshots

280 Zzzap / Dodgem

Amazin' Maze / Tic-Tac-Toe

Artillery Duel

Astro Battle

Bally Pin

Black Jack / Poker / Acey-Deucey

Blast Droids

Clowns / Brickyard

Cosmic Raiders

Dogpatch

Elementary Math / Bingo Math

Football

Galactic Invasion

Grand Prix / Demolition Derby

Gunfight / Checkmate / Calculator / Scribbling

Incredible Wizard

Letter Match / Spell 'n Score / Crosswords

Muncher

Panzer Attack / Red Baron

Pirate's Chase

Seawolf / Missile

Sea Devil

Sneaky Snake

Solar Conqueror

Space Fortress

Star Battle

Tornado Baseball / Tennis / Hockey / Handball

Treasure Cove

Third Party Emulators
Program	Website	Description
M.E.S.S.	http://www.mess.org/	Multi-Emulator Super System is a DOS based emulator capable of running many systems including this one. It has a Windows based GUI, and should be usable by most PC systems

Models

Additional authorized releases for this console.

Bally Home Library Computer

Courtesy of Fujoshi

Bally Professional Arcade

Courtesy of Computer History Museum

Bally Astrocade

Courtesy of TV Game Khan

Clones

Non-licensed releases (clones).

No clones were released for this system.

Links

Highly recommended additional sites\resources for this system.

Name	Website	Description
Bally Alley	http://www.ballyalley.com/	The ultimate resource for this system
THE Bally/Astrocade FAQ	http://www.glankonian.com/~lance/Ballyfaq.html	Great FAQ on the Astrocade

visitors since 01-Apr-2008
Page last updated 17-Jan-2012

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