Fairchild Channel F logo Fairchild Channel F
Type Console Developer Fairchild Semiconductors, Zircon
Release Date Aug-76 Region(s) North America, Europe, Japan
Initial Price $169 USD Games Released 26
  1. History & Reviews
  2. Models & Clones
  3. Console Ratings
  4. Games & Emulation
  5. Specs & Manuals
  6. Other Media
  7. Web Resources
DW FACTS
     by Dark Watcher
With so many "Pong" clones on the market at this time, the Fairchild Channel F was a breath of fresh air.  The Channel F was the first programmable cartridge based video game console.  It was developed by Fairchild Semiconductors and released in 1976.  With only 26 games, the console's success was very short.

FACT:  Not only did Fairchild Semiconductors produce the first cart based system, they were the first to use a microprocessor for use in a videogame console.  Also two of their employees became co-founders of a company called "Intel"...thank your lucky Pentium.  The Channel F was was also the first videogame console to utilize a pause function, via the "Hold" button on the console that would freeze the game (or even speed it up).		 Fairchild Channel F (Japanese version)
MODELS
     Officially licensed releases
Fairchild Channel F
United States (1976)		 Zircon Channel F System 2
United States (1978)
Barco Challenger
(Belgium 1978)
 Dumont Channel F
(Italy 1978)
 Luxor TV-Datorspel
(Sweden 1978)
Grandstand VEC
(Great Britain 1976)
 Grandstand VEC II
(Great Britain 1979)
 ITT Telematch-Processor
(Germany 1978)
Ingelen Telematch Processor
(Austria 1978)
 Saba VideoPlay 2
(Italy \ Germany 1979)
 Normende Color Teleplay
(Germany 1979)
Emerson Channel F
(Italy 1978)
 Saba VideoPlay
(Italy \ Germany 1978)
  
Some pictures courtesy of our good friend Adrian Scheel.
Grandstand VES Technical Pictures
Pictures courtesy of Charles Lee
CLONES
     Non-licensed hardware releases
No clones were released for this system.  This system was licensed to just about anyone who had a soldiering gun.
CONSOLE RATINGS
     by Marriott_Guy
Consoles are rated based upon the available technology at the time of its release.  A 10 point scale is utilized, with 10 being excellent.  Ratings are based upon my experience with the original Fairchild Channel F and the Channel F System 2 by Zircon.
CRITERIA RATING NOTES & COMMENTS
Console Design 05 The design of the Channel F chassis is all about functionality.  The front system buttons are large and easily accessible.  The plastic housing that provides cover for the controllers is constructed of a rather thin plastic and is prone to damage.
Console Durability 06 The first model featured hardwired controllers, which are prone to damage where the wires connect at the base of the console.  The System 2 had detachable controllers which are more dependable.  The system itself is durable, with the exception of the smoke-amber plastic top cover which can be easily cracked.
Controllers 05 I am not a big fan of pistol-grip controllers, and the Fairchild Channel F did nothing to change my mind in this area.  The rotating knob has an odd triangle shaped top which is difficult to navigate.
Graphics 07 Though the color palette is limited to 8 colors, the Channel F delivers surprisingly smooth graphics without a great deal of screen flicker.
Audio 03 The first model generated sound through an internal speaker, which as you can imagine sounds rather poor.  The System 2 provided audio out to your television, which was a huge improvement.
Media 08 Being the pioneer of programmable video game cartridges, Fairchild truly embraced this new medium and was a pioneer.
Game Library 06 Though only 26 games were released for this console, the Channel F has a nice variety of genres to chose from.
Gamer Value 05 The Channel F system and games are more expensive to acquire compared to its primary competitor, the Atari 2600.  Though their are some great titles within its library, it is difficult to justify the additional cost when comparable titles for the 2600 are 1/10 the cost.
Collector Value 08 Due to being the first programmable video game system that was ever released, any collector needs to have the Channel F within their arsenal of systems. 
FORMAT, PACKAGING & GENERAL INFO
     Interesting facts on software for this system
In addition to the standard game title, Fairchild utilized a numbering system to label their game.  This method would eventually be duplicated in many systems during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The boxes are constructed of a very thick cardboard and hold up remarkably well through time.  The large game cartridges are also very durable, with front label graphics that mirror the design of the cover art.

There were many variations in both the cartridge design as well as the boxes for games released for the Fairchild Channel F.  Games were also released in Europe as VideoPlay cartridges under the Saba brand.

Acquiring games is not difficult due to the durable construction of both the cartridge and the carton.  Games created by Zircon are definitely the best that the system has to offer. As you can imagine, these games are rather expensive.
Sample Game Play
Fairchild Channel F Game Cartridges
Fairchild Channel F games
 
SCREENSHOTS
     Captured in-game images, boxes and cartridges
VIDEOCART-1
Tic-Tac-Toe \ Shooting
 VIDEOCART-2
Desert Fox \ Shooting Gallery
 VIDEOCART-3
Video Blackjack
VIDEOCART-4
Spitfire
 VIDEOCART-5
Space War
 VIDEOCART-6
Math Quiz I
VIDEOCART-7
Math Quiz II
 VIDEOCART-8
Magic Numbers
 VIDEOCART-9
Drag Strip
VIDEOCART-10
Maze \ Jailbreak
 VIDEOCART-11
Backgammon \ Acey-Deucey
 VIDEOCART-12
Baseball
VIDEOCART-13
Robot War \ Torpedo Alley
 VIDEOCART-14
Sonar Search
 VIDEOCART-15
Memory Match
VIDEOCART-16
Dodge-It
 VIDEOCART-17
Pinball Challenge
 VIDEOCART-18
Hangman
VIDEOCART-19
Checkers
 VIDEOCART-20
Video Whizball
 VIDEOCART-21
Bowling
VIDEOCART-22
Slot Machine
 VIDEOCART-23
Galactic Space Wars
 VIDEOCART-24
Pro-Football
VIDEOCART-25
Casino Poker
 VIDEOCART-26
Alien Invasion
  
EMULATION
     First and third party system emulators
M.E.S.S.

MESS (Multi-Emulator Super System) is a DOS based emulator capable of running many
 systems including this one.  It has a Windows based GUI and is extremely user friendly.
SPECS & MANUALS
     For the hardware enthusiasts out there - all the detail you\we love.
Processor Type  Processor Speed  Other Processor Information RAM \ Video RAM
Fairchild F8 (8-bit) 1.79 MHz None 64 bytes \ 2 KB
Screen Resolution Color Palette Polygons \ Sprites Audio
128 x 64 Eight (8) colors N\A 4 Channel Stereo (internally generated)
Media Format Media Capacity Games Released Other Supported Formats
Cartridge 4 KB 26 None
Internal Storage External \ Removable Storage Game Controllers Other Game \ Peripheral Devices
None None Pistol Controller (8-way directional) None
Controller Ports Network Ports Other Ports Audio \ Video
Two (hardwired) None None RF
Power Supply - External Other Outputs  Other Details \ Notes
Input: AC 120V 60 Hz
Output: DC 18V 12VA		 None The second version, System 2, featured audio output through the television, detachable controllers and a redesigned casing (see pictures below).
Manuals
Fairchild Channel F Owners Manual (PDF) - 1.60 MB
OTHER MEDIA
     Peripherals, Promotions, Commercials, Brochures, Etc.
Fairchild Channel F on Television
Brochures for the Channel F and the System II by Zircon
Courtesy of Fndcollectables
WEB RESOURCES
     Highly recommended websites for this system
Fndcollectables

Great historical piece on the Channel F		    
DISCUSS
     Visitor insights and feedback
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