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Philips G7000

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Philips G7000
'Videopac Computer'

Philips G7000 (48 KBytes)

The Philips G7000 'Videopac Computer', which was also my first videogame-system when I was a child
(picture copyright by M.A.Grundke)

Specifications

Name Philips G7000 'Videopac Computer'

Made by
Philips
the G7000 was originally developed by Magnavox as Odyssey² (successor to their Odyssey videogame system). Magnavox was then bought by North American Philips (N.A.P), subsidiary of the european Philips company

Released 1978
was produced until 1984, when N.A.P decided to quit the videogame market
from board- and chip-labels, I assume that this particular machine was built in 1983

Additional info TYPE G7000 / 22
PHILIPS
NO SF115049

Board-info
lower boardside:
106 83912
106 83932
upper boardside:
106 83922
8394 2

CPU Intel P8048H
the P8048H is a microcontroller coming with integrated 64 Bytes RAM, 1024 Bytes ROM, 2x 8 bit I/O-ports, IRQ-line and timer

Speed
1.79 MHz
according to Hans Franke, the G7000's NTSC-version (the Magnavox Odyssey²), had the same CPU clock. So apparantly, the video circuitry is clocked independently from the CPU in both variants (which is, of course, the best solution for compatibility)

RAM 192 Bytes
64 Bytes integrated in the P8048H
one Motorola MCM6810P (128x8) SRAM

ROM
1024 Byte 'bootstrap ROM' integrated in the Intel P8048H (which was mainly used to start the program from cartridge)
30 pin cartridges ('Videopacs'), 2-8 KBytes capacity (see 'Media')
for carts greater than 2 KBytes, bankswitching was done

Keyboard/ Layout non-standard QWERTY membrane keyboard
48 Keys + RESET (directly connected to CPU RESET-signal)
keyboard scanning was done via one of the 8048's I/O-ports

Graphics 'video display controller' (VDC), integrated in Intel P8245
contains 64 character set
144x96 Pixels, 8 colors (from 12 colors palette; 8 different colors can be set for either characters/ sprites and dark or bright background)
can create a 'background grid', characters (from its charset) and 4 independant sprites (which can be one color only, 8x8 pixels)

has a screw to adjust RF-output
this is a PAL-version; didn't find anything about the NTSC-version specs (which is the Magnavox Odyssey²)

Sound Intel P8245, again
4 volume settings
2 output-frequencies (983 Hz, 3933 Hz)
can loop sound, can generate noise
controllable via P8245's registers
there was a voice-module with SP0256B speech synthesizer and sample ROM available

Media
Cartridges via 30 pin connector on its top
carts had 4-8 KBytes capacity and were called 'Videopacs' (thus the 'Videopac Computer'). Furthermore, the carts could be exchanged while the machine was running (!) - that was because there's no POWER-switch - you had to pull the plug
carts came with a handle to pull them out easier

Input/ Output Intel P8048H used for I/O as well (reads joysticks, scans keyboard)
2x Joystick (internal 6 pin connectors, fixed-mounted)
integrated RF-modulator with fixed-mounted RF-cable (length: 3.8m!)
integrated powersupply with fixed-mounted powercord

Miscellaneous
The G7000 was the european version of the Magnavox Odyssey², and suprisingly it was much more successful than its US-counterpart. Originally developed by Magnavox (a Philips subsidiary), it was introduced in 1978 as an opponent to ATARI's VCS 2600
It was called 'Videopac Computer' because of its cartridges, the videopacs. They came with a handle (to easier pull them out), and could be exchanged while the machine was running

Due to its success in Europe, there were different variants of the G7000, some coming with external power-supply or detachable joysticks. Later introduced (but little successful and thus rare today) were the G7200 (with integrated b/w-TV), the N60 (with a smaller case) and the G7400 (codename 'G9000', with slightly enhanced graphics and sound)
The machine has a RESET-key (as part of the keyboard), but no POWER-switch! You had to pull the plug to turn the machine off
Reliable information on this machine is hard to find. Most of the G7000-specific data listed above was taken from Dan Boris' Homepage, which seemed the most authentic to me. Should you have any additions, feel free to contact me!

'Superbee' screenshot (4 KBytes) 'Invaders from Hyperspace!' screenshot (6 KBytes)

Two games I owned back in the days, when I had a G7000 as a child: 'Superbee' (left) is a distant 'Nibbles'/ 'Tron' relative - as a bee, you have to collect fruits, which turn into bars after that. Needless to say that touching these means instant death, and that it gets more difficult, the more fruits you collect (not to mention that game speed increases after a while...). On the right, 'Invaders from Hyperspace!' (aka 'Laser Wars'), which was a cool 2-player game. Except for the players' ships, the playfield contains ten moving objects (asteroids?), which will change their color when hit by a player (or one of the two UFOs contantly appearing). The goal of course is to change them all to your color, while avoiding the asteroids or getting shot - tricky, but it's great fun!

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Sothius' Home - Museum - Miscellaneous - Philips G7000 - additional pictures

Name	Philips G7000 'Videopac Computer'
Made by	Philips the G7000 was originally developed by Magnavox as Odyssey² (successor to their Odyssey videogame system). Magnavox was then bought by North American Philips (N.A.P), subsidiary of the european Philips company
Released	1978 was produced until 1984, when N.A.P decided to quit the videogame market from board- and chip-labels, I assume that this particular machine was built in 1983
Additional info	TYPE G7000 / 22 PHILIPS NO SF115049
Board-info	lower boardside: 106 83912 106 83932 upper boardside: 106 83922 8394 2
CPU	Intel P8048H the P8048H is a microcontroller coming with integrated 64 Bytes RAM, 1024 Bytes ROM, 2x 8 bit I/O-ports, IRQ-line and timer
Speed	1.79 MHz according to Hans Franke, the G7000's NTSC-version (the Magnavox Odyssey²), had the same CPU clock. So apparantly, the video circuitry is clocked independently from the CPU in both variants (which is, of course, the best solution for compatibility)
RAM	192 Bytes 64 Bytes integrated in the P8048H one Motorola MCM6810P (128x8) SRAM
ROM	1024 Byte 'bootstrap ROM' integrated in the Intel P8048H (which was mainly used to start the program from cartridge) 30 pin cartridges ('Videopacs'), 2-8 KBytes capacity (see 'Media') for carts greater than 2 KBytes, bankswitching was done
Keyboard/ Layout	non-standard QWERTY membrane keyboard 48 Keys + RESET (directly connected to CPU RESET-signal) keyboard scanning was done via one of the 8048's I/O-ports
Graphics	'video display controller' (VDC), integrated in Intel P8245 contains 64 character set 144x96 Pixels, 8 colors (from 12 colors palette; 8 different colors can be set for either characters/ sprites and dark or bright background) can create a 'background grid', characters (from its charset) and 4 independant sprites (which can be one color only, 8x8 pixels) has a screw to adjust RF-output this is a PAL-version; didn't find anything about the NTSC-version specs (which is the Magnavox Odyssey²)
Sound	Intel P8245, again 4 volume settings 2 output-frequencies (983 Hz, 3933 Hz) can loop sound, can generate noise controllable via P8245's registers there was a voice-module with SP0256B speech synthesizer and sample ROM available
Media	Cartridges via 30 pin connector on its top carts had 4-8 KBytes capacity and were called 'Videopacs' (thus the 'Videopac Computer'). Furthermore, the carts could be exchanged while the machine was running (!) - that was because there's no POWER-switch - you had to pull the plug carts came with a handle to pull them out easier
Input/ Output	Intel P8048H used for I/O as well (reads joysticks, scans keyboard) 2x Joystick (internal 6 pin connectors, fixed-mounted) integrated RF-modulator with fixed-mounted RF-cable (length: 3.8m!) integrated powersupply with fixed-mounted powercord
Miscellaneous	The G7000 was the european version of the Magnavox Odyssey², and suprisingly it was much more successful than its US-counterpart. Originally developed by Magnavox (a Philips subsidiary), it was introduced in 1978 as an opponent to ATARI's VCS 2600 It was called 'Videopac Computer' because of its cartridges, the videopacs. They came with a handle (to easier pull them out), and could be exchanged while the machine was running Due to its success in Europe, there were different variants of the G7000, some coming with external power-supply or detachable joysticks. Later introduced (but little successful and thus rare today) were the G7200 (with integrated b/w-TV), the N60 (with a smaller case) and the G7400 (codename 'G9000', with slightly enhanced graphics and sound) The machine has a RESET-key (as part of the keyboard), but no POWER-switch! You had to pull the plug to turn the machine off Reliable information on this machine is hard to find. Most of the G7000-specific data listed above was taken from Dan Boris' Homepage, which seemed the most authentic to me. Should you have any additions, feel free to contact me!


Two games I owned back in the days, when I had a G7000 as a child: 'Superbee' (left) is a distant 'Nibbles'/ 'Tron' relative - as a bee, you have to collect fruits, which turn into bars after that. Needless to say that touching these means instant death, and that it gets more difficult, the more fruits you collect (not to mention that game speed increases after a while...). On the right, 'Invaders from Hyperspace!' (aka 'Laser Wars'), which was a cool 2-player game. Except for the players' ships, the playfield contains ten moving objects (asteroids?), which will change their color when hit by a player (or one of the two UFOs contantly appearing). The goal of course is to change them all to your color, while avoiding the asteroids or getting shot - tricky, but it's great fun!