Pong Chip General Instruments AY-3-8500

Summary

The first home console, Magnavox Odyssey (1972), realizes games using simple electronic building blocks. Three years later, Atari follows with a home version of Pong. The company uses a specially developed integrated building block that is not available to other manufacturers.

At the same time General Instrument (GI) produces highly integrated LSI chips. The company sees a market for cheap “pong chips” and publishes the AY-3-8500 in 1976, which offers a selection of six documented ball/shooting games.

The chip fundamentally changes the industry and is installed in many systems. Other chip manufacturers such as National Semiconductor or MOS Technology offer alternative products. In the “GIMINI” book (Editions in January 1977 and 1978) GI himself explains in detail the structure and required materials. Basic electronics skills are already sufficient for reproduction.

Starting in 1977, the next generation of consoles with CPU and replaceable modules replace the Pong consoles.