# VTech CreatiVision > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/VTech_CreatiVision > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/VTech_CreatiVision.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VTech_CreatiVision > Source revision: 1352940182 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Hybrid computer and home video game console}} {{More sources needed|date=August 2015}} {{Infobox information appliance | name = VTech CreatiVision | aka = | logo = VTech CreatiVision Logo.png | logo_size = 250px | image = CreatiVision-Console-Set.jpg | caption = VTech CreatiVision | developer = | manufacturer = [VTech](/source/VTech) | family = | type = [Home video game console](/source/Home_video_game_console)/[home computer](/source/home_computer) | generation = [Second generation](/source/Second_generation_of_video_game_consoles) | release_date = {{Start date and age|1982}} (Hong Kong) | lifespan = | price = | discontinued = Early 1986 | units_sold = | units_shipped = | media = | os = | power = | system_on_chip = | cpu = [Rockwell 6502](/source/MOS_Technology_6502) @ 2 [MHz](/source/Megahertz) | graphics = [Texas Instruments TMS 9918/9929](/source/TMS9918) | memory = 1 Kb RAM, 16 Kb VRAM | storage = [Cassette tape](/source/Compact_Cassette)s | memory_card = [ROM cartridge](/source/ROM_cartridge)s | display = | sound = [TI SN76489](/source/TI_SN76489) | input = | controllers = [Joystick](/source/Joystick)/membrane [keypad](/source/keypad) controllers | camera = | touchpad = | connectivity = | platform = | online_services = | dimensions = | weight = | top_game = | compatibility = | predecessor = | successor = [VTech Socrates](/source/VTech_Socrates) | related = | website = }} The '''VTech CreatiVision''' is a hybrid [computer](/source/computer) and [home video game console](/source/home_video_game_console) introduced by [VTech](/source/VTech) in 1981 and released in 1982 during the [second generation of video game consoles](/source/second_generation_of_video_game_consoles). It cost $295 [Australian Dollars](/source/Australian_dollar) in Australia.{{Cite web |title=CreatiVision by VTech – The Video Game Kraken |url=http://videogamekraken.com/creativision-by-vtech |access-date=2022-12-13 |language=en-US}} The hybrid unit was similar in concept to computers such as the [APF Imagination Machine](/source/APF_Imagination_Machine),{{Cite web |title=VTech CreatiVision - Player's Choice Video Games |url=https://www.playerschoicevideogames.com/cat-vtech-creativision.cfm |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=www.playerschoicevideogames.com}} the older [VideoBrain Family Computer](/source/VideoBrain_Family_Computer), and to a lesser extent the [Intellivision](/source/Intellivision) game console and [Coleco Adam](/source/Coleco_Adam) computer, all of which anticipated the trend of video game consoles becoming more like low-end computers. It was discontinued in 1986.{{Cite web |date=2010-11-21 |title=OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum |url=http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=1118# |access-date=2022-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121051426/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=1118# |archive-date=2010-11-21 }} ==History== The CreatiVision was distributed in many [Europe](/source/Europe)an countries, including most German-speaking countries like [West Germany](/source/West_Germany), [Austria](/source/Austria) and [Switzerland](/source/Switzerland) and also [Italy](/source/Italy), [South Africa](/source/South_Africa), in [Israel](/source/Israel) under the '''Educat 2002''' name, as well as in [Australia](/source/Australia) and [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand) under '''The Dick Smith Wizzard''' name. Other names for the system (all officially produced by VTech themselves) include the '''FunVision Computer Video Games System''', '''Hanimex Rameses''' (both released in Australia and New Zealand) and '''VZ 2000''' (planned for release in [France](/source/France), likely unreleased). All CreatiVision and similar clones were designed for use with [PAL](/source/PAL) standard television sets, except the Japanese CreatiVision (distributed by Cheryco) which was NTSC, a [USA](/source/United_States) release was planned.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}. It is now very sought by collectors. thumb|VTech CreatiVision, rebranded as the Dick Smith Wizzard The CreatiVision console sports an [8-bit](/source/8-bit) Rockwell [6502](/source/MOS_Technology_6502) CPU at a speed of 2 MHz, 1[KB](/source/Kilobyte) of [RAM](/source/Random-access_memory) and 16[KB](/source/kilobyte) of [Video RAM](/source/Video_RAM), and has a graphics resolution of 256 × 192 with 15 colors and 32 sprites. The console has two integrated [joystick](/source/joystick)/membrane [keypad](/source/keypad) controllers (much like the [ColecoVision](/source/ColecoVision) and [Atari 5200](/source/Atari_5200)) which, when set in a special compartment on top of the console, can be used as a [computer keyboard](/source/computer_keyboard). The CreatiVision has interfaces for a [cassette](/source/Compact_Cassette) player, an extra rubber keyboard, parallel I/O interface, [floppy disk](/source/floppy_disk) drive and [modem](/source/modem) (likely unreleased) and one memory expansion module for use with the [Basic](/source/BASIC) language cartridge. Any [Centronics](/source/Centronics)-compatible printer can be connected to the I/O module if present. The CreatiVision was discontinued in late 1985/early 1986. === Laser 2001 computer {{anchor|laser_2001}} === A computer was produced by VTech in 1984-1986, based on CreatiVision hardware and compatible with most of its games: '''Laser 2001''', which is also sold in West Germany and was brought to [France](/source/France). It was also available in [Finland](/source/Finland) through '''[Salora](/source/Salora_Oy)''', with the name of '''Manager'''. The Manager had a Finnish keyboard layout and [character set](/source/character_set). ===Colecovision module=== A module to allow [ColecoVision](/source/ColecoVision) games to be played was designed for use with the CreatiVision '''Mark-2''' model (a later revision of the 1st model, incorporating hardware changes specifically designed to make the Coleco-module work). Before being produced, the module was modified internally and released for use on the '''Laser 2001''' and '''Manager''' computers only. A special adaptor (homebrew) would be needed to make the Coleco-module work on the CreatiVision Mark-2. ==List of games== In some regions, the console and its games were distributed by different companies, such as [Cheryco](/source/Cheryco) in Japan, and [Hanimex](/source/Hanimex) in Australia. VTech reissued several previous existing games in 1985. There were eighteen titles known to have been released. :{{legend|#FCFF93|size=50%| ''Background shading indicates games that were reissued in 1985.''}} {| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" id="vtechcreativision" |- ! scope="col" | # ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | AKA title(s) ! scope="col" | Genre(s) ! scope="col" | Clone of ! scope="col" | Release year |- | 1 || {{maybe|''Air/Sea Attack''}} || {{flagicon|JP}}'''''Submarine'''''
{{flagicon|AUS}}'''''Air/Sea Battle''''' || [Fixed shooter](/source/Shoot'em_up) || || 1981 |- | 2 || ''Astro Pinball'' || || [Pinball](/source/Pinball) || None || 1982 |- | 3 || ''Auto Chase'' || {{flagicon|AUS}}'''''Car Chase''''' || [Maze](/source/List_of_maze_video_games), [Driving](/source/Racing_video_game) || '''''[Rally-X](/source/Rally-X)''''' || 1981 |- | 4 || ''BASIC Interpreter 1.0'' || || Programming || None || 1982 |- | 5 || ''Chopper Rescue'' || || [Scrolling shooter](/source/Shoot'em_up) || || 1983 |- | 6 || {{maybe|''Crazy Chicky''}} || {{flagicon|JP}}'''''Crazy Paku''''' || [Maze](/source/List_of_maze_video_games) || '''''Pac-Man''''' (with modified gameplay) || 1982 |- | 7 || ''Crazy Pucker'' || Reissued as ''Crazy Chewy'' and ''Crazy Moonie''|| [Maze](/source/List_of_maze_video_games) || '''''[Pac-Man](/source/Pac-Man)''''' || 1981 |- | 8 || ''Deep Sea Adventure'' || || [Scrolling shooter](/source/Shoot'em_up) || '''''Defender''''' || 1982 |- | 9 || ''Locomotive'' || || [Platformer](/source/Platform_game) || '''''[BurgerTime](/source/BurgerTime)''''' || 1983 |- | 10 || {{maybe|''Mouse Puzzle''}} || || [Puzzle](/source/Puzzle_video_game) || '''''[Loco-Motion](/source/Loco-Motion_(video_game))''''' || 1982 |- | 11 || ''Music Maker'' || || [Music](/source/Music_video_game) || None || 1983 |- | 12 || ''Planet Defender'' || {{flagicon|JP}}'''''Earth Defense Force (Chikyū Bōeigun)'''''
{{flagicon|AUS}}'''''Galaxy Defender''''' || [Scrolling shooter](/source/Shoot_'em_up) || '''''[Defender](/source/Defender_(1981_video_game))''''' || 1981 |- | 13 || {{maybe|''Police Jump''}} || || [Platformer](/source/Platform_game) || '''''[Donkey Kong](/source/Donkey_Kong_(arcade_game))''''' || 1982 |- | 14 || ''Soccer'' || || [Sports](/source/Sport_game) || None || 1983 |- | 15 || {{maybe|''Sonic Invader''}} || {{flagicon|AUS}}'''''Invaders''''' || [Fixed shooter](/source/Shoot'em_up) || '''''[Space Invaders](/source/Space_Invaders)''''' || 1981 |- | 16 || ''Stone Age'' || || [Puzzle](/source/Puzzle_video_game) || '''''[Pengo](/source/Pengo_(video_game))''''' || 1984 |- | 17 || {{maybe|''Tank Attack''}} || {{flagicon|AUS}}'''''Tank Battle''''' || [Multi-directional shooter](/source/Shoot'em_up) || ['''''Combat'' (video game)'''](/source/Combat_(video_game)) || 1981 |- | 18 || {{maybe|''Tennis''}} || {{flagicon|AUS}}'''''Who's for Tennis?''''' || [Sports](/source/Sport_game) || None || 1981 |} Dick Smith Electronics also released software for the device, including forty one games.{{Cite web |title=The coin-op and global gaming database |url=https://www.arcade-history.com/index.php?page=database&listtypes=168 |access-date=2025-11-25 |website=www.arcade-history.com}} {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="width:50%; font-size:95%;" id="softwarelist" !rowspan="1"|Title !Format ! colspan="1" |Model |- |Asteroids | |Model X-7248 |- |Attack of the Killer Tomatoes | |Model X-7274 |- |Backammon | |Model X-7273 |- |Battleships | |Model X-1723 |- |Bowling Model | |Model X-1724 |- |Chess | |Model X-7275 |- |Code Breaker | |Model X-1700 |- |Combination | |Model X-1720 |- |Concentration | |Model X-1725 |- |Dawn Patrol | |Model X-7333 |- |Digout | |Model X-7336 |- |Dracula Castle | |Model X-7272 |- |Draughts | |Model X-1722 |- |Duel | |Model X-7279 |- |Factory Flare-up{{Cite web |title=CreatiVEmu: CreatiVision emulation central |url=https://www.madrigaldesign.it/creativemu/software.php |access-date=2025-11-25 |website=www.madrigaldesign.it}} |tape |Model X-1728 |- |Formula 1 | |Model X-7331 |- |Galaxon | |Model X-7332 |- |Game Disk 1 | |Model X-7400 |- |Game Disk 2 | |Model X-7401 |- |Game Disk 3 | |Model X-7402 |- |Game Disk 4 | |Model X-7403 |- |Grandfathers Gold |tape |Model X-1726 |- |Hamburger Sam | |Model X-7337 |- |Hangman | |Model X-7233 |- |Hoppy | |Model X-7243 |- |Kamakazi | |Model X-7334 |- |Knights & Dragons | |Model X-7245 |- |Ladder Challenge | |Model X-7268 |- |Lunar Lander | |Model X-7338 |- |Lunar Landing | |Model X-1721 |- |Metric Spycacther | |Model X-7289 |- |Missile Attack | |Model X-7335 |- |Othello | |Model X-7271 |- |Poker | |Model X-7232 |- |Slot Machine | |Model X-7234 |- |Starblaster | |Model X-7247 |- |Super Snake | |Model X-7244 |- |VZ Ghost Hunter | |Model X-7242 |- |VZ Panic | |Model X-7270 |- |VZ-Invaders | |Model X-7239 |- |Whizkid Spycatch | |Model X-7290 |} == References == {{Reflist|refs= {{cite web|url=https://www.leadedsolder.com/2023/10/03/creativision-clone-v1.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250409121849/https://www.leadedsolder.com/2023/10/03/creativision-clone-v1.html|archivedate=2025-04-09|title=Dick Smith's Wizzard-ry 8 (Bit)|quote=CreatiVision is a video game console. It was developed by VTech [..who..] themselves turned it into the Laser 2001, Salora sold it as the Salora Manager in Finland}} }} ==External links== {{commonscat}} * [http://www.madrigaldesign.it/creativemu/ CreatiVEmu: CreatiVision Emulation Central] * [http://www.8bit-homecomputermuseum.at/repair/creativision_datasette_interface/Creativision_datasette_interface.html Creativision Datasette Interface] * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926181459/http://darkwatcher.home.att.net/console/vtech.htm |date=September 26, 2009 |title=VTech Creativision - Dark Watcher's Console History }} * [http://www.videogameconsolelibrary.com/pg80-creativision.htm Video Game Console Library] database entry * [http://20thcenturyvideogames.com/index.php?action=vermodelos&pass=&submenu=&tipo=4&sistema=VTech-Creativision&verletra=A#VTech-Creativision 20th Century Retro Games entry] (gallery page for many VTech CreatiVision models and regional variants) * [http://www.ausretrogamer.com/retrospective-a-tale-of-dick-smiths-wizzard/ Retrospective: A Tale Of Dick Smith’s Wizzard] (AUSRETROGAMER E-Zine. May 9, 2016 by Aaron Clement.) * [https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/CreatiVision_MiSTer VTech CreatiVision] core for [https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Wiki_MiSTer/wiki MiSTer FPGA] by Jamie Blanks {{VTech products}} {{Second generation game consoles}} {{Home video game consoles}} Category:Home video game consoles Category:Discontinued video game consoles Category:Second-generation video game consoles Category:Products introduced in 1981 Category:VTech Category:65xx-based video game consoles Category:Computer-related introductions in 1981 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [VTech CreatiVision](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VTech_CreatiVision) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VTech_CreatiVision?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.