APF-MP1000
Second-generation 8-bit console with built-in Rocket Patrol.
The APF-MP1000, also sold under the model numbers M-1000 and MP-1000, is an 8-bit home video game console that uses cartridges. It was released by APF Electronics Inc. in October 1978 and belongs to the second generation of consoles. The system came with the game *Rocket Patrol* built in. It is part of the larger APF Imagination Machine setup and was developed with input from engineer Ed Smith. The APF-MP1000 replaced the earlier APF TV Fun line of first-generation consoles. Under the hood, it runs on a Motorola 6800 processor clocked at 0.895 MHz, with 1 KB of RAM and an MC6847 video display controller that supports eight colors and resolutions of 256×192×4 or 128×192×8. The console can be powered by either 7.5 V AC at 0.8 A or 12 V DC at 0.5 A. Six cartridges were available at launch.
Quick Facts
- Aka
- M-1000 / MP-1000
- Manufacturer
- APF Electronics Inc.
- Generation
- Second generation
- Units Sold
- Around 50,000 at a minimum
- Media
- Cartridges
- Power
- 7.5 V AC 0.8 A or 12 V DC 0.5 A
- Cpu
- Motorola 6800 (8 bit) @ 0.895 MHz (3.579 MHz oscillator divided by 4)
- Memory
- 1 KB RAM
- Graphics
- 256 x 192 (8 colors)
- Predecessor
- APF TV Fun series
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The APF-MP1000 was developed in part by the noted engineer Ed Smith. It is the only second generation video game console based on the Motorola 6800 processor. The console uses a 3.579 MHz oscillator divided by 4 to achieve its CPU speed. It supports resolutions of 256×192×4 and 128×192×8, and requires a power supply of 7.5 V AC 0.8 A or 12 V DC 0.5 A. Six cartridges were released for the system. The APF-MP1000 and the APF Imagination Machine share a common lineage, with the MP1000 serving as a component of the larger Imagination Machine system.
Reader's Guide
The APF-MP1000 holds significance as a second generation console that bridged the gap between dedicated first generation TV Fun units and the more advanced cartridge-based systems of its era. Its use of the Motorola 6800 processor set it apart from contemporaries, though it remained a niche platform with only six cartridges released. The console's integration into the APF Imagination Machine—a system that combined gaming with computing capabilities—demonstrates an early attempt at multifunction home entertainment. The involvement of engineer Ed Smith, noted in later retrospectives, adds historical interest. While the APF-MP1000 did not achieve widespread commercial success, it represents a distinct branch of second generation console design and is remembered by collectors and historians for its unique architecture and place in the evolution of home video game hardware.
Did You Know?
- It comes built-in with the game Rocket Patrol.
- The console was developed in part by engineer Ed Smith.
- Six cartridges were released for the APF-MP1000.
More in Video Game Consoles by Generation, Part 6 1-24
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