The APF Imagination Machine is a combination home video game console and home computer system released by APF Electronics Inc. in late 1979.[1] It has two separate components, the APF-M1000 game system, and an add-on docking bay with full sized typewriter keyboard and tape drive.[2] The APF-M1000 was built specifically to compete with the Atari 2600. The full APF Imagination Machine, including the APF-M1000 console and the IM-1 computer component, originally sold for around US$599 (equivalent to $2,240 in 2021).[3]
The bundled APF BASIC interpreter allows any users to develop their own programs. Most retailers of the system offered a full and hefty instruction manual to explain how the specialized code works, and a tech sheet that specifies every function of every chip on the console, so as to allow the users to make the most efficient code possible. To encourage more home users to create their own games and trade them, a monthly mailing list lasted well through the video game crash of 1983 and into the next generation of consoles.
Special cassette
One of the most marketed features of the console is the dual-sided cassette drive that allows the user to write or use a stored program, and also to record or play audio. The feature is generally used for programmers to leave notes about their work, or for instructions to be read aloud before a game is played.
Peripherals
The console has a number of aftermarket add-ons:
RS-232 Storage Cartridge
Floppy Disk Storage
8K RAM Cartridge
Mini Floppy Disk Storage
Telephone Modem
It has a hub of sorts, generally called the "building block", which allows for the connection of some standard computer accessories.
Games
In addition to the one BASIC interpreter cartridge bundled with the system, only 15 official game cartridges were ever released by APF Electronics Inc, although several cartridges contain multiple games. Many games were created by an active programming community of owners and distributed through the monthly newsletter, released on cassette tape or printout.
The official game list is as follows:
Artist and Easel
Backgammon
Baseball
Blackjack
Bowling / Micro Match
Boxing
Brickdown / Shooting Gallery
Budget Manager
Casino
Catena
Hangman / Tic-Tac-Toe / Doodle
Pinball / Dungeon Hunt / Blockout
Rocket Patrol
Space Destroyers
UFO / Sea Monster / Break it down / Rebuild / Shoot
APF IM-2 console
APF had planned on releasing a follow up to the original M1000 Imagination Machine game console, but went out of business just before the console could go to market. No official specs have ever been released, although some former employees have mentioned that it was essentially the same M1000 core with typical upgrades.[4]
Development
The impetus for the Imagination Machine was to beat to market Atari's preannounced but never-launched plans to extend the Atari 2600 to become a home computer. The design was inspired by reverse engineering the TRS-80, Commodore PET, and Apple II home computers. Working directly with Fairchild Semiconductor, the team got much of its I/O design from Andy Grove. The engineering department wanted to make the design modular for optional expansion, but the marketing department wanted to bundle some features, so the preliminary result was an integrated cassette tape drive. This was removed when, three months later, the first floppy drives appeared on the market which were a superior storage technology.[4]
Reception
Games magazine said in mid-1980, "APF's hardware is impressively solid in both design and performance, and if you're not ready to plunk down $600, you can buy just the game system (MP 1000) for $130 and decide later if you really want the computer component. But it's the whole system that's exciting. If what you want is just a video game, you may as well stick with Atari."[2]Mechanix Illustrated in October 1980 called the system "one smart television that's inexpensive, completely programmable, and easy to use". The magazine praised its large RAM and ROM capacities, and called it the first computer that can let the user store new data on the same cassette as the application.[5]
References
^ abBassett, S. B. (May 12, 1980). "APF's Imagination Machine". InfoWorld. Vol. 2, no. 7. Palo Alto, CA: Popular Computing. pp. 14, 16. ISSN 0199-6649.
^ ab"The Imagination Machine". Games. July–August 1980. p. 59.
^"The Imagination Machine - Georgia State University News -". Georgia State News Hub. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
^ abGreenfield, Larry (May 2010). "The APF Imagination Machine". Retrieved July 26, 2013.
^"Mechanix Illustrated Personal Computers Number 2". Mechanix Illustrated. October 1980.
External links
Ed Smith and the Imagination Machine
Home Computer and Video Game Museum - APF Imagination Machine
The Trailing Edge APF Page
Universal Videogame List - APF Imagination Machine Game List
Video Game Console Library database.
TheGameConsole.com database
APF Consoles and Computers discussion group, on Yahoo Groups
February 25, 2023
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The APF Imagination Machine is a combination home video game console and home computer system released by APF Electronics Inc in late 1979 1 It has two separate components the APF M1000 game system and an add on docking bay with full sized typewriter keyboard and tape drive 2 The APF M1000 was built specifically to compete with the Atari 2600 The full APF Imagination Machine including the APF M1000 console and the IM 1 computer component originally sold for around US 599 equivalent to 2 240 in 2021 3 APF Imagination MachineManufacturerAPF Electronics Inc TypeHome video game console home computerGenerationSecond generationRelease dateNovember 1979 43 years ago November 1979 1 Introductory priceUS 700 equivalent to 2 610 in 2021 MediaCartridges Compact CassetteCPUMotorola 6800 8 bit 0 89 MHz 3 579 MHz Oscillator divided by 4 Memory9 KB RAM expandable to 17 KB 8 KB 16 KB 1 KB 14 KB ROMGraphicsVideo Display Controller MC6847 256 192 4 128 192 8SoundOne sound channel in 5 octaves Contents 1 Specifications 2 Overview 2 1 APF Basic 2 2 Special cassette 2 3 Peripherals 3 Games 4 APF IM 2 console 5 Development 6 Reception 7 References 8 External linksSpecifications EditCPU 8 bit 0 89 MHz Motorola 6800 3 579 MHz Oscillator divided by 4 ROM 14 KB RAM 9 KB expandable to 17 KB 8 KB 16 KB 1 KB Video Display Controller MC6847 Resolutions 256 192 4 128 192 8 Colors 8 One sound channel in 5 octaves Two controllers 13 buttons 0 9 numeric keypad Clear and End key Trigger 4 way joystickOverview EditAPF Basic Edit The bundled APF BASIC interpreter allows any users to develop their own programs Most retailers of the system offered a full and hefty instruction manual to explain how the specialized code works and a tech sheet that specifies every function of every chip on the console so as to allow the users to make the most efficient code possible To encourage more home users to create their own games and trade them a monthly mailing list lasted well through the video game crash of 1983 and into the next generation of consoles Special cassette Edit One of the most marketed features of the console is the dual sided cassette drive that allows the user to write or use a stored program and also to record or play audio The feature is generally used for programmers to leave notes about their work or for instructions to be read aloud before a game is played Peripherals Edit The console has a number of aftermarket add ons RS 232 Storage Cartridge Floppy Disk Storage 8K RAM Cartridge Mini Floppy Disk Storage Telephone ModemIt has a hub of sorts generally called the building block which allows for the connection of some standard computer accessories Games EditIn addition to the one BASIC interpreter cartridge bundled with the system only 15 official game cartridges were ever released by APF Electronics Inc although several cartridges contain multiple games Many games were created by an active programming community of owners and distributed through the monthly newsletter released on cassette tape or printout The official game list is as follows Artist and Easel Backgammon Baseball Blackjack Bowling Micro Match Boxing Brickdown Shooting Gallery Budget Manager Casino Catena Hangman Tic Tac Toe Doodle Pinball Dungeon Hunt Blockout Rocket Patrol Space Destroyers UFO Sea Monster Break it down Rebuild ShootAPF IM 2 console EditAPF had planned on releasing a follow up to the original M1000 Imagination Machine game console but went out of business just before the console could go to market No official specs have ever been released although some former employees have mentioned that it was essentially the same M1000 core with typical upgrades 4 Development EditThe impetus for the Imagination Machine was to beat to market Atari s preannounced but never launched plans to extend the Atari 2600 to become a home computer The design was inspired by reverse engineering the TRS 80 Commodore PET and Apple II home computers Working directly with Fairchild Semiconductor the team got much of its I O design from Andy Grove The engineering department wanted to make the design modular for optional expansion but the marketing department wanted to bundle some features so the preliminary result was an integrated cassette tape drive This was removed when three months later the first floppy drives appeared on the market which were a superior storage technology 4 Reception EditGames magazine said in mid 1980 APF s hardware is impressively solid in both design and performance and if you re not ready to plunk down 600 you can buy just the game system MP 1000 for 130 and decide later if you really want the computer component But it s the whole system that s exciting If what you want is just a video game you may as well stick with Atari 2 Mechanix Illustrated in October 1980 called the system one smart television that s inexpensive completely programmable and easy to use The magazine praised its large RAM and ROM capacities and called it the first computer that can let the user store new data on the same cassette as the application 5 References Edit a b Bassett S B May 12 1980 APF s Imagination Machine InfoWorld Vol 2 no 7 Palo Alto CA Popular Computing pp 14 16 ISSN 0199 6649 a b The Imagination Machine Games July August 1980 p 59 The Imagination Machine Georgia State University News Georgia State News Hub 15 March 2018 Retrieved 3 December 2020 a b Greenfield Larry May 2010 The APF Imagination Machine Retrieved July 26 2013 Mechanix Illustrated Personal Computers Number 2 Mechanix Illustrated October 1980 External links EditEd Smith and the Imagination Machine Home Computer and Video Game Museum APF Imagination Machine The Trailing Edge APF Page Universal Videogame List APF Imagination Machine Game List OLD COMPUTERS COM museum APF Imagination Machine entry Video Game Console Library database TheGameConsole com database APF Consoles and Computers discussion group on Yahoo Groups Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title APF Imagination Machine amp oldid 1112811788, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
