Interton VC 4000 Home Video Game Console · Germany, 1978

8-bit · Second generation · ROM cartridge · Signetics 2650A CPU · 40 cassette titles · Released 1978

OVERVIEW

The Interton VC 4000 is an 8-bit, ROM cartridge-based home video game console released in 1978 by Interton, a Cologne-based manufacturer principally known for its hearing aid products. The console was sold across seven markets: West Germany, England, France, Spain, Austria, the Netherlands, and Australia.

Designed and manufactured almost entirely in Germany, the VC 4000 was positioned as an affordable alternative to the Atari 2600 and Mattel Intellivision. It retailed at approximately 100 Deutsche Mark below its principal rivals, with individual game cassettes priced around 40 DM less than comparable titles on competing platforms. All software was published exclusively by Interton, resulting in a library of 40 titles — three of which were never commercially released.

MANUFACTURER'S HISTORY

1962    Interton founded in Cologne by Hans-Herbert and Hellmuth J. Türk
1975    Interton Video 2000 released, alongside a range of Pong-type systems
1978    VC 4000 enters the market; sold across seven countries
1982    Console production ceases; company returns to its core hearing aid business
2005    Interton acquired by the GN ReSound Group

MARKET CONTEXT

The VC 4000's closed software ecosystem — with all titles published solely by Interton — limited the catalogue to 40 games, contrasting with the growing third-party libraries available on the Atari 2600. Gameplay was generally straightforward and graphics were deliberately modest, reflecting the console's budget positioning.

Several hardware variants were sold under different brand names through alternative retail channels, including the Körting TVC 4000 and the Grundig Super-Play Computer 4000, which were functionally identical machines. The Radofin 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System represented a compatible but architecturally distinct platform.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Processor          Signetics 2650A — 0.887 MHz · shared architecture with Arcadia 2001
Video controller   Signetics 2636 — dedicated gaming video chip
Data memory        37 bytes (on-chip RAM)
Storage medium     ROM cartridge — marketed as "cassettes" · 40–50 DM each
Controllers (×2)   12-button keypad, two fire buttons, joystick
Console panel      Power, reset, select, start

GAME LIBRARY — COMPLETE CASSETTE CATALOGUE

01  Car Races
02  Blackjack
03  Paddle Games
04  Tank Battle
05  Mathematics I
06  Mathematics II
07  Air/Sea Battle
08  Memory / Flag Capture
09  Intelligence I
10  Winter Sports
11  Hippodrome
12  Hunting
13  Chess
14  Motocross
15  Intelligence II
16  Intelligence III
17  Circus
18  Boxing Match
19  Outer Space Combat
20  Melody / Simon
21  Intelligence IV / Reversi
22  Chess II
23  Pinball
24  Soccer
25  Bowling / Ninepins
26  Draughts
27  Golf
28  Cockpit
29  Metropolis / Hangman
30  Solitaire
31  Casino
32  Invaders
33  Super Invaders
34  Space Laser †
35  Rodeo †
36  Backgammon
37  Monster Man
38  Hyperspace
39  Basketball †
40  Super-Space

† Three titles planned but never commercially released: Space Laser, Rodeo, Basketball.

Manufacturer: Interton Electronic
Date: 1978

This exhibit has a reference ID of CH76963. Please quote this reference ID in any communication with the Centre for Computing History.

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