Rec.games.video.classic Fairchild Channel F FAQ APDF35D@prodigy.com - Clint Dyer Version 0, February 12, 1996 Copyright (c) 1996 Clinton R. Dyer All right reserved. This document may be copied, in whole or in part, by any means provided the copyright and contributors sections remain intact and no fee is charged for the information. Contributors retain the copyright to their individual contributions. The data herein is provided for informational purposes only. No warranty is made with regards to the accuracy of this information. These people knowingly (or unknowingly) helped with the information contained in this FAQ. No one yet! Needs and such: Well, pretty much everything and everything! -Game Ratings. I'd like to get 3 or 4 numbers to average out, because the numbers contained here are only my opinions. Keep in mind when rating games that most of these games were early, so try and rate them to games on the Fairchild system, and not against later systems. -System specs -Timeline information -Repair information -Anything anyone would like to see. This FAQ is for you, so if there's something you want to see, let me know! Thanks for any and all help! 1. Introduction 2. Timeline 3. System specs 3a. System information 3b. Cartridge information 3c. Controller information 4. Game list/etc. 4a. Box/Cartridge variations 4b. Catalogs and other paraphernalia 5. Repair information 5a. The base unit 5b. Controllers 5c. Why won't my games work? 1. Introduction Why did I decide to do a Fairchild Channel F system FAQ? Good question! I can't say this system is the most popular system of all time or has the best games of all time, but it's always held a special place in my heart. It was my first cart based video game system, and really the only gaming system I've ever had that everyone in my family could play and compete at (even my mom wasn't bad at Bowling). I've heard it said before: "this system's horrible", "these games stink", "the 2600 did that so much better", etc. and I just have to say one thing to those people: It was the first programmable cartridge system -- what do you want? All that had ever been seen at the Fairchild's release was Pong, and this was a big step up. It actually contained cartridges, that were different, instead of flipping a switch to change the game options. The graphics, which consist primarily of large blocks, were groundbreaking at the beginning, but when better systems were released, failed to compare. Towards the end, Zirchon Intl. bought the system rights from Fairchild, released a new system, called strangely enough Channel F 2, and a total of 5 games before the system passed away. 2. Timeline 1976 - Fairchild releases the Channel F cart based video game system 1976-1978/9? - Fairchild releases 21 different carts for their Channel F system 1978/79? - Zircon buys the rights to the Channel F system 1978/79? - Zircon releases Channel F 2 1978/79? - The last cartridge for the system is produced (#26 Alien Invasion) 3. System Specs 3a. Channel F system ?? Techy info. needed here! 3b. Channel F system 2 Same chipset/etc., with removable controllers, sound on the TV and cartridge holders on the back instead of in the unit. 4. Game list/etc. Key: # of Players: 1 = a 1 player game only, 2 = a 2 player simultaneous game, N/A = game isn't playable Rating: Gameplay rating from 1 to 5. 1 being the worst, 5 being the best. Rarity: C = Common UC = Uncommon R = Rare ER = Extremely Rare Number: Name of Game, # of Players, Type of Game, Rating, Rarity #1: Tic-Tac-Toe/Shooting Gallery/Doodle/Quadra Doodle, 2, Misc, ??, C #2: Desert Fox/Shooting Gallery, 2, Shooter, ??, #3: Video Blackjack, 2, Casino Games, ??, #4: Spitfire, 2, Shooter, ??, #5: Space War, 2, Shooter, ??, #6: Math Quiz 1 (Addition/Subtraction), 1, Educational, ??, #7: Math Quiz 2 (Multiplication/Division), 1, Educational, ??, #8: Magic Numbers/Mindreader/Nim, 1, Puzzle, ??, #9: Drag Strip, 2, Driving, 4, #10: Maze/Jailbreak/Blind Man's Bluff/Trailblazer, 2, Puzzle, ??, #11: Backgammon/Acey-Deucey, 2, Board Game, ??, #12: Baseball, 2, Sports, 3, C #13: Robot War/Torpedo Alley, 2, Shooter, ??, #14: Sonar Search, 2, Puzzle, ??, #15: Memory Match 1 & 2, 2, Puzzle, ??, #16: Dodge It, 2, Driving. ??, #17: Pinball Challenge, 2, Pinball, 4, #18: Hangman, 2, Puzzle, ??, #19: Checkers, 2, Board Game, ??, ER #20: Video Whizball, 2, Action, 4, R #21: Bowling, 2, Sports, ??, R #22: Slot Machine, 1, Casino Games, ??, R #23: Galactic Space Wars/Lunar Lander, 2, Shooter, ??, R, #24: Pro Football, 2, Sports, 3, ER #25: Casino Royal, ??, Casino Games, ??, ER #26: Alien Invasion, 2, Shooter, ??, ER No #: Demonstration Cartridge 2, N/A, Demo, N/A, ER 4a. Box/Cartridge variations I used to be a heavy variation collector, and although I don't collect them anymore, I thought I'd throw in my findings for those who do. 4b. Catalogs and other paraphernalia -"Channel F has a lot more fun in store for you." Catalog includes carts #1 - 17 -"Now playing on the Channel F." Catalog includes ??????? 5. Repair Information 5a. Base unit 5b. Controllers 5c. Why won't my cartridges work?