Ultravision Video Arcade System
It's a computer, it's a color TV, it's an arcade.
The Ultravision Video Arcade System (VAS) was a gaming console announced at the 1983 Consumer Electronics Show that never reached production. Its slogan, "It's a COMPUTER, It's a COLOR TV, It's an ARCADE," highlighted its three-in-one design as a game system, color television, and personal computer. After the initial announcement, no further details emerged, and the system remained at the prototype stage. It is believed the company lacked the financial resources to launch such an advanced multimedia device.
The system integrated a standard 10-inch color television with the console. It was controlled by two 16-direction joysticks with top-mounted buttons and included a headphone jack. It could operate on either AC or DC power, allowing it to run from a car battery for portability. The home computer component featured 64 kilobytes of RAM, activated by an optional master keyboard, and used a Zilog Z80 microprocessor. Beyond its own line of game cartridges, the console was designed to accept plugin modules for playing ColecoVision and Atari 2600 games. The listed price was $595 USD.
Quick Facts
- Aka
- VAS
- Cpu
- Zilog Z80
- Memory
- 64 KB
- Display
- 10" color CRT
- Input
- Keyboard
- Controllers
- Joystick
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Ultravision Video Arcade System was first shown at the 1983 Consumer Electronics Show, where the company promoted it with the slogan 'It's a COMPUTER, It's a COLOR TV, It's an ARCADE.' The system was designed as an integrated unit: a standard 10-inch color television built into the console, controlled by two 16-direction joysticks with top-mounted buttons, and featuring a headphone jack. It could run on either AC or DC power, allowing it to be powered by a car battery for portability.
The home computer functionality was provided by 64k of RAM, which could be activated with an optional master keyboard, and a Zilog Z80 microprocessor. In addition to supporting its own line of game cartridges, the console was intended to have plugin modules that would have allowed it to play ColecoVision and Atari 2600 game libraries. Despite the announcement, the system never progressed beyond the prototype stage, and no further information was released. It is supposed that the company lacked the financial basis to release such an advanced multimedia machine.
Reader's Guide
The Ultravision Video Arcade System represents a notable 'what if' in video game history, as it was one of the earliest attempts to merge a game console, a color television, and a personal computer into a single consumer product. Its announcement at the 1983 Consumer Electronics Show came at a time when the home video game market was still expanding, but the system's advanced features—such as 64k of RAM, a Zilog Z80 microprocessor, and compatibility with ColecoVision and Atari 2600 libraries via plugin modules—placed it far ahead of its contemporaries. The $595 list price reflected its ambitious scope, but the company's apparent lack of financial backing prevented it from ever reaching production. The system's failure to launch is often cited as an example of the risks of overreaching in a rapidly changing market, especially as the video game industry faced a major downturn shortly after. Its legacy lies in its concept: a multimedia hub that foreshadowed later all-in-one entertainment systems, though it never had the chance to prove itself in the marketplace.
Did You Know?
- The Ultravision VAS was announced at the 1983 Consumer Electronics Show.
- It could run on AC or DC power, allowing it to be used with a car battery.
- The system had 64k of RAM that could be activated with an optional master keyboard.
- Plugin modules were intended to support ColecoVision and Atari 2600 game libraries.
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