This is the third and last
version of the Videomaster Home T.V Game.
Released in late 1975 as model VM 3, this system played simpler games than the original
version, due to simpler circuits. It is actually nearly same as the
Olympic Home T.V. Game, model VM 3-D. Only the game selection
circuit changes. The advertisement below was found in the march 1976 issue of
Elektor, who already published analog video game construction articles. Our
specimen was shipped to its customer on Dec 19th, 1975. It is not known whether this version of the Home T.V. Game was sold
ready made. The kit included a detailed assembly manual that already had
several errata fixed. It was shipped in the brown carton box pictured
below. It is believed that the assembled version of that game was
the Olympic Home T.V. Game because it used the same circuit
board.
Later in 1976, an add-on circuit, model VM 5, was released. It added
sound effectts and "follow-me" on-screen scoring (two squares moving step by
step each time a point is marked or lost). Additionally, VM 5 flashed the
winner's paddle or hole on the screen. Finally, the intelligent design of this
kit modulated the sound signals so as to make them sound off the TV set, saving
a small speaker that would have not fit into the system. The number of VM 5 kits
produced remains unknown and is likely to be small. However, our specimen has its original
VM 5 bill showing "Order
310/1838". It is believed that this add-on circuit board was designed after
the Videomaster Olympic (model VM 3-D) and Rally (model VM 4). Since no VM 5
advertisement has been found so far, it is also believed that VM5 was advertised
by mail to customers who bought an MKIII kit.
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