Grandfather of cartridge gaming still fun after 25 years.
Written: Jul 17 '02 (Updated Jul 18 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great two player games, also some great solo games, even holds up today.
Cons: First edition all cables are hardwired to main console. Harder cartridges to find.
The Bottom Line: Grand daddy retro cartridge based system still great fun after 25 years, just hard to find carts. Definitely under-valued system and carts if working in my opinion.
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| trillig's Full Review: Fairchild Channel F |
This was the first gaming console to sport cartridges in 1976, died a horribly fast death after the release of the Atari 2600. Only 26 cartridges were produced.
The last few came out when the rights were sold to Zircon in 1978.
Very hard system to complete collection, but fun to try, I am still trying.
I think this system holds good value since it's a first and some of the games are still a lot of fun.
It has nice built in versions of pong, even if you can't find any more carts and the controllers are very unusual with push, pull and twist ability as well as 360 degree movement.
This system is all about gameplay, I think it only supports about 8 colors.
Some of the games I have never seen anything like still to this day, example is #16: Dodge It; basically you run your block around a simple rectangular area while others move around and bounce off walls and try to hit you, after surviving a while and longer, more and more chasing blocks are added.
Another one is the simple but addictive, Shooting Gallery on both carts #1 and #2 where it's all timing, when to shoot at a moving target, because where you shoot from and angle changes after each hit but you can't move or change that angle. At the start though speed and time can be adjusted, adding to variety.
Only major issues with this system:
The controllers need tender loving care, they are not very solid, be gentle!
Channel F I has hardwired power supply, R/F cable, and controllers. [Channel F II does not.]
Other notable info:
The unit does the sound effects on version I so mute the TV, version II they changed it to TV doing sounds.
No volume control on the I either.
The power off and on switch in in the back, small and pain to switch, highly recommend unplugging system anyhow to save power supply or putting on a power strip, swapping carts while system is on for me works just fine, I am betting that was their intention, only system I can recall that tolerates this, another plus.
2 player maximum.
No headphone jacks.
I has a dust cover, II does not, actually having a good dust cover is a nice find, they are dark transparent plastic and easy enough to damage.
The Fairchild Channel F (I) is worth more if in good working order and far harder to come by.
Both I and II use all the carts, no change to the processor or games.
List of all 26 games and # is the actual # on the cart.
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#1: Tic-Tac-Toe/Shooting Gallery/Doodle/Quadra Doodle
#2: Desert Fox/Shooting Gallery
#3: Video Blackjack
#4: Spitfire
#5: Space War
#6: Math Quiz 1 (Addition/Subtraction)
#7: Math Quiz 2 (Multiplication/Division)
#8: Magic Numbers/Mindreader/Nim
#9: Drag Strip
#10: Maze/Jailbreak/Blind Man's Bluff/Trailblazer
#11: Backgammon/Acey-Deucey
#12: Baseball
#13: Robot War/Torpedo Alley
#14: Sonar Search
#15: Memory Match
#16: Dodge It
#17: Pinball Challenge
#18: Hangman
#19: Checkers
#20: Video Whizball
#21: Bowling
#22: Slot Machine
#23: Galactic Space Wars/Lunar Lander
#24: Pro Football
#25: Casino Royal
#26: Alien Invasion
I like the system a lot also, for its superior built in pong games versus most of the old pong only systems.
You can turn your paddle for nice angles!
Highly Recommended Classic system, especially if you have 2 gamers in the house!
9 out of 10 fun factor!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
trillig
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Location: Henderson, NV, USA
Reviews written: 6
Trusted by: 0 members
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