Interton Electronic VC 4000

Summary

The VC 4000 (VC for Video Computer) is a popular game console from Germany. First experience is gained by Interton with Pong consoles, such as the typical Pong clone Interton 3001.

Around 1974, the company started with the VC 4000, which was launched on the market in 1978. It uses the 2650A processor from Signetics (later Philips). Interton develops its own board, housing and controller. Similar devices are also available from other manufacturers, such as Radofin. However, the VC 4000 is the best developed device and also the most successful. The modules are partly compatible. For the VC 4000 there is the largest offer, of which only few Interton games are real self-developments. In total, there are 37 games and three announced that never come into trade.

Interton produces the VC 4000 only in Germany, but also sells it in other countries in Europe and Australia (where it is called Hanimex) until 1982/1983, at a price of around 500 DM.

The processor is a Signetics 2650A chip from the USA (Philips takes over Signetics 1975), and other manufacturers also used the 2650A, for the first time Radofin with the 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System, which is available from 1976.

Manufacturers of 2650A consoles numbered games differently. For example, Grundig/Interton’s football game (Soccer) is number 24, whereas Acetronic lists it as number 29. Games developed by Interton itself include the flight simulator and Hans Heinz Bieling’s Motocross and Space Laser.

Short of the company’s history: Interton was founded in 1962 and still exists today (http://www.interton.de/). But the company no longer builds game consoles, but hearing aids. Unfortunately, Interton hides the glorious past and the company’s own presentation omits the Pong chapter entirely. This is strange because Interton built the first and only German game console.