The Video Game Console Library - Ultravision Video Arcade System (Proto)

Ultravision Video Arcade System
PROTOTYPE	MG FACTS by Marriott_Guy	PROTOTYPE
Page content, development and design by Marriott_Guy

Developer	Manufacturer	Release Date	Country(s)	Initial Price	Model Number	Game Releases	Overall Rating
Ultravision, Inc.	Ultravision, Inc.	Proposed for Summer, 1983	North America	$999	N\A	12 Announced	N\A
Ratings	Reviews	Pictures\Media	Specs\Manuals	Games\Emulation	Models	Clones	Links

$Ultravision Tagline \ Logo$ Ultravision Video Arcade System

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

Reviews

Ultravision VAS (console)
Ultravision Computer Video System

MG FACTS
- by Marriott_Guy

In 1982, Ultravision, a small electronics company based in Miami, advertised their upcoming Atari 2600 games Condor Attack and Karate in the November issue of Electronic Games magazine. This full page ad caused quite a stir within the video gaming community, but this wasn't due to the actual games being presented. The root was actually a small teaser drawing located at the bottom of the flyer announcing a new state-of-the-art gaming machine - the Ultravision Video Arcade System.

The artist's rendering of this new console piqued gamers interest across the board. The futuristic design was definitely appealing, with the built-in monitor being especially intriguing. Future print ads would reveal that the Ultravision VAS proposed to be much more than just a home arcade machine.

"It's a COMPUTER, It's a COLOR TV, It's an ARCADE." was the tagline for the VAS. To say this was an ambitious undertaking for the time would be a severe understatement. Ultravision's intent was to combine a full-fledged 9" color television, complete with 84 channel support (UHF/VHF) with a proprietary game system that could optionally support personal home computing. In simpler terms, one could say that Ultravision attempted to create the first multimedia system of the video game era with the VAS. This goal was even more evident when reviewing the published specifications and peripherals for this device.

In addition to providing two 16-position arcade style joysticks and dual stereo headphone jacks, the Ultravision VAS was advertised as being a compatible monitor for CCTV systems (home security) as well as for personal computers released by Apple, Radio Shack and Texas Instruments. The optional Master Keyboard module would allow the user to directly access the native Microsoft Basic programming language, with 64 KB of RAM to support home computing functions/programs. These additional benefits were somewhat attractive, but the targeted audience was the video gamer, where software reigned supreme.

The Ultravision VAS would have proprietary software and enhanced graphics and game play compared to its competitors. 12 new titles (see list below) would be released in conjunction with the debut of this system in 1983. In an effort to combat existing market leaders and gain market share, two software modules were to be available to enable Atari 2600 and ColecoVision compatibility with the Ultravision VAS.

The Ultravision Video Arcade System faded into oblivion during the summer of 1983. It is reported that the company did not have the financial wherewithal to complete this advanced multimedia machine. It is not known whether an actual prototype console was ever produced, but based on the amount of detail contained in the published images it is definitely plausible that some working units may have been produced.

HANDS ON REVIEW

Unfortunately a HANDS ON REVIEW will never be available since this console was never released.

Pictures & Media

Various picture\media for this console. Click picture to enlarge.

Ultravision advertisement in Electronic Games, showing off the optional Master Keyboard module. Click picture to enlarge.

Specs & Manuals

For the hardware enthusiasts out there - all the detail you\we love. Click pictures to enlarge.

Many details on the Ultravision are showcased
in this advertisement from 1983.

This is one of the few color advertisements for the
Ultravision Video Arcade System. The screenshot
of Condor Attack is actually from their Atari 2600
release. Overall pretty impressive at the time.

We get a look at the proposed peripherals for the
Ultravision, including the Atari 2600 Converter.

Games & Emulation

Games screen shots and\videos released for this system.

The following lists the twelve (12) games that
were scheduled to be released for the Ultravision.
Click picture to enlarge.

Print ad for the game Condor Attack that was
actually released for the Atari 2600. An upgraded version of this game was to accompany the
Ultravision at launch. Click images to enlarge.

This advertisement appeared in Electronic Games
in 1982. Notice the teaser photo of the Ultravision
in the lower right corner. Click picture to enlarge.

Third Party Emulators
Program	Website	Description
System was never released.

Models

Additional authorized releases for this console.

System was never released.

Clones

Non-licensed releases (clones).

System was never released.

Links

Highly recommended additional sites\resources for this system.

Name	Website	Description
Gaming Over 40	http://gamingafter40.blogspot.com/.../...vaporware.html	Nice article on the journey of the Ultravision VAS

visitors since 01-Apr-2008
Page last updated 11-Dec-2011

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