PC-50x family

PC-50x family

Manufacturer	Several companies; see Consoles list
Type	Home video game console
Generation	First generation
Lifespan	1977–1982
Media	ROM cartridge
CPU	General Instrument AY-3-8xxx

The PC-50x family (also known as SD-050,^[1] SD-070,^[1] SD-090,^[1] 9015) is a series of home video game consoles belonging to the first generation prevalent in Europe between 1977 and the early 1980s, all produced in Asia.^[2][3] The designation PC-50x of the series derives from the serial number of the cartridges (PC-501, PC-502 ...).^[2][4]: 39

The consoles do not have a central processor; all the games are implemented thanks to the individual chips in the cartridges, all based on the chip family AY-3-8xxx of General Instrument.^[2] The family also includes the so-called "9015" series in which it changes the name (9015-A, 9015-B ...) and changes the shape of the cartridges but uses the same AY-3-8xxx chips.

Common features

Some consoles produced coloured screens while others were black and white. Of the colour consoles some were marked with the initial letter S of SECAM, the French standard of the colour coding, used for example in France (and colonies) and Russia.

Features common to all the consoles in the family are the 10 keys for choosing the game, a start/reset button, 4/5 switches for game settings and two joystick with one button on each.^[2]

For many models, in the name there are the SD letters, which stand for Soundic (Hong Kong), the real manufacturer of the console.

Consoles list

The consoles were produced in China, imported and rebranded by several companies and sold under different names. Below is a non-exhaustive list of them.

Name	Company	Display	Year	Country	Note	Photo
SD 050S	ITMC	Colour		France
SD 90	ITMC	Black and white or colour		France
SD 050S	Soundic	Colour		Europe
Programmable system	Soundic	Black and white		Europe
TV Jack 5000	Bandai	Colour	1978	Japan
Palladium Tele-Cassetten Game	Neckermann	Colour	1978	Germany
Video Cassette Lock	Takatoku	Colour	1977	Japan	(CTV-8600 or TG 95 OI model).
SD 050	Hanimex	Black and white		Europe
SD 070 couleur	Hanimex	Colour		Europe
TVG 070C	Hanimex	Colour		Europe
Secam Systeme vidéo cassettes	Secam	Colour		France	On the PCB is written SD-050S
Jeu Video SD 050S	Secam	Colour		France
SD-50 Program 2000[5]	Creatronic	Colour[5]	1978[5]	France[5]
Programmable 2003	Elbex	Colour	1977	Europe	Produced in China but sold in Europe
4/303 'Video Secam System'	Rollet	Colour	1983?	France	Sold also with the name 'Secam Video Systeme' SD-050S
Programmable TV-Game	Universum	Colour		Germany
SD-050	Grandstand	Colour		United Kingdom
Programmable game	Grandstand	Colour		United Kingdom	Also known as Mercury Commander Paul's Mark III – Programmable TV Game
Colour Programmable SD070 Video Sports Centre SD070	Grandstand	Colour	1978	United Kingdom United States[4]
Tournament Colour Programmable 2000	Prinztronic	Colour
Programmable TV Game SD-050C	Tempest		1977	Austria
Superstar 01-4354 Programmable[5]	Binatone	Colour[5]	1978[5]	United Kingdom[5]
Cablestar 01-4354[5]	Binatone	Black and white[5]	1978[5]	United Kingdom[5]
Tele-Sports III[5]	Radofin	Colour[5]	1978[5]	Europe
Tele-Sports IV[5]	Radofin Acetronic	Colour[5]	1978[5]	Europe
Tele-Sports programmable[5]	Radofin	Colour[5]	1978[5]	Europe
Colour TV Game[5]	Acetronic	Colour[5]	1978[5]	United Kingdom[5]
Video SD-050[5]	Akur	Colour[5]	1978[5]	Germany[5]
Color TVG-872[5]	Cam Clipper	Colour[5]	1978 (Cam) 1977 (Clipper)[5]	Italy[5]
TVG-888	Irradio	Colour		Italy
PG-7 programmable	Polycon	Colour		United Kingdom
9015	Poppy	Colour		Germany
TVG 10	Poppy	Colour		Germany
9015	Sanwa	Colour		Germany
9015	Mustang	Colour		Germany
4A-8	Conic	Colour	1978	Hong Kong	Cartridge format in common with 9015
Jeu Video Cassette Interchangeables Tele-sports III	Univox	Colour	1977	France
Color (model TVG 57253)	Mark		1978	Europe
TV Game-programmable SD-070	Tristar		1978	Sweden
Colour Cartridge VMV12[6]	Videomaster	Colour	1979	United Kingdom	Cartridge format in common with Palson
Game Cassette System CX-336[6]	Palson	Colour	1978 1979	Spain	Cartridge format in common with Videomaster
Aureac Video Play	Aureac VP Electronics		1978	Spain	The 10 game select keys were on one of the two controllers
Black Point FS 1003	S.H.G. GmbH	Colour	1978	West Germany
Black Point FS 2000	S.H.G. GmbH	Colour	1978	West Germany
Optim 600[7]	Optim	Colour	1978	United Kingdom

Games

Format difference between Palson CX 336 "Supersport", Radofin Programmable Video System "1001 Superstar" and PC-501 "Supersportic", all with AY-3-8610 inside

Prinztronic Superstar cartridge interior, based on the AY-3-8610 chip

AY-3-8710 (PAL version) Tank Battle

Code	French name	English name	Chip
PC-501 9015-A	Supersportif	Sports / Supersportic / Superten / Superstar	AY-3-8610 (8 pong games + 2 rifle games)
PC-502 9015-B	Motocyclette	Motor cycle	AY-3-8760 (4 race games)
PC-503 9015-C	Bataille de chars	Tank Battle	AY-3-8710 (2 tank games)
PC-504 9015-D	Course de voitures GP	Racing cars / Grand Prix / Race Car GP	AY-3-8603 (2 racing games)
PC-505 9015-G	Bataille navale	Submarine	AY-3-8605 (2 games)
PC-506 9015-E	Jeu de destruction	Super Wipeout	AY-3-8606 (10 games)
PC-507 9015-H	Jeux de tir	Shooting Gallery	AY-3-8607 (3 rifle games)
PC-508 9015-F?	6 jeux de base	Fundamental	AY-3-8500[8] (pong games)

References

1. http://www.pong-story.com/pc-50x.htm pc-50x cartridges
2. Amos, Evan (2021). The Game Console 2.0: A Photographic History from Atari to Xbox. No Starch Press. p. 35. ISBN 9781718500617 – via Google Books.
3. Boellstorff, Tom (2024). Intellivision: How a Videogame System Battled Atari and Almost Bankrupted Barbie. MIT Press. p. 341. ISBN 9780262549509 – via Google Books.
4. Herman, Leonard (March 2018). "Revising History". Old School Gamer Magazine. No. 3. BC Productions. pp. 38–39 – via the Internet Archive.
5. Michael, Starr (2009). Vintropedia: Vintage Computer & Retro Console Price Guide 2009. Vintropedia. ISBN 978-1-4092-1277-5.
6. Videomaster su Pong-Story
7. Robertson, Angus, ed. (1979). From Television to Home Computer: The Future of Consumer Electronics. Blandford Press. pp. 187–188. ISBN 9780806999142 – via the Internet Archive.
8. "Sly DC's Retro Gaming Blog: PC-508 Fundamental cartridge". 19 November 2016.

External links

• "PC 50x at videogameconsolelibrary".
• "PC 50x at pong-story".
• "PC 50x at ultimateconsoledatabase". Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
• "PC 50x at old-computers". Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
• "PC 50x at 20th Century Video Games".