Philips Tele-Game series
TypeSeries of dedicated home video game consoles
GenerationFirst generation
LifespanLate 1975–1978
Introductory priceES 2201: 150 DM (converted 61 Euro)/400 Franc
PowerES 2208 Las Vegas: 9 V DC power supply
MassES 2208 Las Vegas: c. 800 g
PredecessorPhilips Odyssey series
SuccessorPhilips Videopac G7000

The Philips Tele-Game series was a series of six dedicated first-generation home video game consoles manufactured, released and marketed between 1975 and 1978 by Dutch company Philips.

All Philips Tele-Game consoles have the contraction "ES" which stands for "elektronisches Spiel" (German for "electronic game").[1][2] The systems are named differently depending on the country (Tele-Spiel in Germany, Tele-Game in Great Britain, Tele-Peli in Finland, and Tele-Spel in the Netherlands). In all countries, the name means tele game. The Philips Tele-Game consoles were some of the first European video game consoles ever to be released.[3][4]

Models

ES 2201

Philips Tele-Spiel ES 2201

The Philips Tele-Game ES 2201 was the first console of the Philips Tele-Game series and was sold from late 1975 to 1976 for 150 Deutsche Mark (DM)[5] (converted 61 Euro)[4] or 400 Franc.[3] The score is not displayed on screen, hence there are two sliders for the score on the case ranging from 0 to 15.[4] It can only output black and white.[4]

Games

Games available for the Philips Tele-Game ES-2201
Nr. English name[3] German name[3][6] Cartridge model[3][6]
1 Badminton Federball ES-2211
2 Pelota Trainingswand ES-2212
3 Skeet Shooting Tontaubenschiessen ES-2213
4 Racing Autoslalom ES-2214
5 Ghostchaser Phantomjagd ES-2215

Five games were available for the system in form of cartridges: Badminton, Pelota, Skeet Shooting, Racing and Ghostchaser. All of those games (except Badminton which was in the delivery[3]) were sold for 25 DM[5] or 45 Franc.[3] On these cartridges isn't a program, there are just a few wires that connect electrically a few parts of the intern console hardware so that a game appears on the screen.[4]

ES 2203 Las Vegas

Philips Tele-Spiel 2203 in packaging

The Philips Tele-Game ES 2203 Las Vegas is the second console in the Philips Tele-Game series. It was released in 1977[7] and has six integrated games instead of four commercially available games through the built-in Pong video game circuit AY-3-8500; Pong, soccer, squash, practice and two shooting games that can be played with a separately available light gun.[7] Otherwise, the device is identical to the previous console ES 2201. The console was not a success due to its high price, which is why it was later reissued with the Philips Tele-Game ES 2207 Travemünde in a cheaper version in the same year.

ES 2204 Las Vegas

Philips Tele-Spiel 2204 in packaging

The Philips Tele-Game ES 2204 Las Vegas, released in 1977,[7] is the third console in the series and uses an AY-3-8500.[7][8] Otherwise the system is identical to the model ES 2203.

ES 2207 Travemünde

Philips Tele-Spiel 2207 in packaging

The Philips Tele-Game ES 2207 Travemünde is a cheaper new edition of the ES 2203.[9][10] It was released in 1977[9] and also uses an AY-3-8500.[10] It is powered by a power supply (7,6 V/260 mA).[9]

ES 2208 Las Vegas

Philips Tele-Spiel 2208 in packaging

The Philips Tele-Game ES 2208 Las Vegas is the fifth console in the Philips Tele-Game series and was released in 1977.[11] For the first time, the system's joysticks offer 2-dimensional instead of 1-dimensional movements. It uses an AY-3-8550 and therefore can output color[11] and has a mass of ca. 800 g.[8] It is powered by a 9 V DC power supply.[11] Otherwise, the system is identical to the model ES 2204.

ES 2218 Las Vegas

Philips Tele-Spiel 2218 in packaging

The Philips Tele-Game ES 2218 Las Vegas is the sixth and last console in the Philips Tele-Game series. It was released in 1977.[1] For the first time, it offers eight instead of just six integrated games.[1] The device is otherwise identical to the model ES 2208 Las Vegas, with the only difference that it has an integrated AY-3-8600 chip.[12] This console was also available as a self-building kit with the designation EB 7601.[2]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Philips Tele-Spiel.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "RetroMO ...a real video game and computer collector | Meine Sammlung | my collection | Philips Tele-Spiel ES 2201 und ES 2218 Las Vegas". www.retro-mo.de. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  2. 1 2 "Spiele, Spielzeug: Philips/Schuco Experimentiersystem". norbert.old.no. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Pong-Story : Philips Tele-Spiel". www.pong-story.com. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Tele-Spiel ES 2201". www.old-computers.com. Archived from the original on 2019-01-05. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  5. 1 2 "Philips Tele-Spiel ES 2201 (zum Zweiten)". Bundesrepublik Pong (in German). 2010-03-30. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  6. 1 2 See page 8 of the instruction manual: https://archive.org/stream/1stGenPong/Discrete%20Consoles/Philips_Tele-Spiel_ES2201%28german%29#mode/2up
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Pong-Story : Philips Tele-Spiel ES-2203 and ES-2204". www.pong-story.com. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  8. 1 2 "Philips ES-2207". www.silicium.org. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  9. 1 2 3 "Philips Tele-Spiel Travemünde ES 2207 [BINARIUM]". binarium.de. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  10. 1 2 "Philips Travemünde ES2207". www.cbmhardware.de. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  11. 1 2 3 "Las Vegas ES 2208". www.old-computers.com. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  12. ↑ "Pong-Story - David Winter's Pong Rarity List and Price Guide". www.pong-story.com. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
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