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The Video Game Console Library - VTech CreatiVision

VTech CreatiVision

  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
Video Technology Video Technology 1981 Europe, Japan,
Australia, S Africa		 $499 USD Unknown Approx. 25 NA
Ratings Reviews Pictures\Video Specs Games\Emulation Models Clones Links
Worlds of Wonder Action Max

Picture courtesy of Dieter Konig
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) N\A
Console Durability (sturdy or frail and fragile) N\A
Controllers (design, response, feel, use) N\A
Graphics (graphical capability and presentation) N\A
Audio (sound, music, speech, effects) N\A
Media (game media format, design, durability) N\A
Packaging (appeal, durability of packaging) N\A
Game Library (quality, quantity of game library) N\A
Innovations (technological industrial strides) N\A
Gamer Value (good investment for the gamer?) N\A
Collector Value (good collector investment?) N\A
Games Rarity (general availability of games) N\A
Console Rarity (general availability of a system) N\A
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Reviews

Worlds of Wonder Action Max

 

Portions of these pictures courtesy of HCM: The Home Computer Library

DW FACTS
 - by Dark Watcher

The CreatiVision was introduced in 1981 by VTech (Video Technology Limited), a Hong Kong based company. The unit was actually a computer hybrid (a small trend in those days. See also APF Imagination Machine). The following is an actual excerpt from a VTech advertisement.

(c)CREATIVISION The serious personal computer you've been waiting for! At last! A total computer system. Right in your own home! Start with a fully functional computer... for the low price of a video game set! Most ordinary systems give you only a video game unit to start with. If you want to make it into a real computer, you have to buy quite a few more pieces of expensive hardware. But CREATIVISION gives you a fully functional Personal Computer unit with built-in keyboard and built-in memory, capable of running software packages and of being programmed. And all for the price you'd pay for an ordinary video game set!

Appearance wise it was a typical console at heart, but by rotating the console's joysticks 90 degrees and then inserting them into two compartments on top of the console you were given a makeshift keyboard. Throw in a BASIC program cart, and your console becomes a microcomputer. It could also be expanded with 'plug-compatible' hardware such as a cassette player, additional rubber keyboard, parallel I/O interface, floppy disk drive, modem (probably unreleased), generic Centronics printer, and one memory expansion module for use with the "Basic" language cartridge. VTech truly attempted to capitalize on profits from both markets.

The VTech CreatiVision was distributed in Europe (Italy, Sweden and Germany for sure) and South Africa. However it was also marketed in other countries and called the Dick Smith Wizzard, FunVision Computer Video Games System and Hanimex Rameses.

The Wizzard may have been a licensed version for the Australian market since Dick Smith Industries maintained the VTech logo, but the others most likely were clones.

The FunVision had a slight alteration that made the carts and cartridge slot larger. This was most likely to prohibit buyers from using FunVision games on the other systems (haha...lame / early try at region protection from imports), but some slight shaving on the sides proved the games were no different.

There have been 25 confirmed cartridge releases for the original CreatiVision, but the exact number cannot be confirmed with the possibility of the clones releasing there own titles. Not to mention unconfirmed Asian releases.

The VTech CreatiVision family died off with the inevitable "Videogame Crash of 1984", and the arrival of the Nintendo Entertainment System. However VTech was wise enough to spin off the CreatiVision technology into its Laser line of computer systems.

FACT: A closer inspection shows that early releases of CreatiVision were labeled as MK II Laser 500. CreatiVision was simply a repackaged computer in console clothing. Funny thing is although it was clearly a console, it was never advertised as one. In order to make sure they had a following in both markets, VTech also introduced its Laser 2001 line of computers in 1984. The Laser 2001 was compatible with all CreatiVision expansion devices, and sported a cart slot for CreatiVision games. The "videogame crash" and the NES may have killed off consoles, but CreatiVision games lived on. Either VTech has friends in the "Psychic Friends" network, or they simply had brilliant business people.
    


  HANDS ON REVIEW
 

Coming soon....
 

 
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Pictures & Video

Various picture\video media for this console.
  Dick Smith Wizzard Commercial (1982)

Video courtesy of CheeseCafe		  
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Specs

For the hardware enthusiasts out there - all the detail you\we love.
 Processor Type  Processor Speed  Other Processor Information RAM \ Video RAM
8 bit Rockwell 6502A 2 MHz None 1 Kb \ 16 KB

Screen Resolution

Color Palette

Polygons \ Sprites

 Audio
256 x 192 16 colors 32 Sprites 3 Channels

Media Format

Media Capacity

Games Released

Other Supported Formats
Cartridge Unknown Approx. 25 None

Internal Storage

External \ Removable Storage

Game Controllers

Other Game \ Peripheral Devices
None Cassette Tape (optional) Keypad \ Joystick Style None
Controller Ports Network Ports

Other Ports

Audio \ Video
Two (2) - Hardwired None Interfaces Parallel, Serial,
Cassette Tape Recorder		 RF Connection

Power Supply

Other Outputs

 Other Details \ Notes
Internal 220 Volt None None
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Games & Emulation

Game screen shots and\or videos released for this system.  Click pictures to enlarge.
Making of the Multi-Cart

 
Video courtesy of giovortu

 

 VTech CreatiVision - Crazy Chicky

VTech CreatiVision - Astro Pinball

 Sonic Invaders
Video courtesy of oricatmos

 
Third Party Emulators
Program Website Description

FunnyMu

http://www.madrigaldesign.it/creativemu

 This emulator works for FunVision, Creativision and Wizzard games. It is compiled in SDL so it can be playable on DOS, Windows and compiled for Linux operating systems.
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Models

Additional authorized releases for this console.  Click pictures to enlarge.
VTech CreatiVision MK II
Released : 1981
Manufacturer: VTech

VTech CreatiVision MK II

Picture courtesy of emuconnie		 Hanimex Rameses
Released : 1981
Manufacturer: Hanimex

Hanimex Rameses

Picture courtesy of Felix Eckardt		 Dick Smith Wizzard
Released : 1982 (Au)
Manufacturer: Dick Smith Electronics

Dick Smith Wizzard

Picture courtesy of Vintage Computers
VTech CreatiVision MK I
Released : 1981
Manufacturer: VTech

 FunVision Computer Video Games System
Released : 1981
Manufacturer: VTech

 Cheryco CreatiVision
Released : Unknown (Jp)
Manufacturer: VTech
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Clones

Non-licensed releases (clones).
No clones were released for this system.
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Links

Highly recommended additional sites\resources for this system.
Name Website Description
Dieter Konig http://www.dieterkoenig.at/.../interestingfacts.htm Interesting Facts on this system
1000 BiT's http://www.1000bit.net/scheda.asp?id=422 CreatiVision page
John Pospil http://www.pospisil.com.au/.../dick_smith_wizzard.htm Interesting Dick Smith Wizzard website
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