# History of video games/Platforms/APF TV Fun series
## History
### Background

Before making the APF TV Fun, APF made consumer electronics like calculators.

### Launch

The APF TV Fun model 401 was released in 1976 for $125. The system sold very well with 400,000 first year sales, and lead APF to make more game consoles.
In February 1977, the TV Fun Model 405 was launched.

### Legacy

The APF-MP1000 followed the system, featuring much better capabilities and design.

## Technology

Casing tended to be shared between models of APF TV Fun. Systems were manufactured in Japan.

### 401

The APF model 401 uses a General Instrument AY-3-8500 chip, and takes 6 C type batteries. A CD4071 chip handles video output on the APF model 401.

### 402

The 402 also uses a General Instrument AY-3-8500 chip but has an additional General Instrument AY-3-8515 chip to add color graphics capability to the system.

## Notable games

* Handball
* Squash
* Baseball
* Hockey
* Soccer
The APF TV Fun 402 supported two light gun games.

## Gallery
### APF TV Fun 402C console

* The 402C consisted of an angular deck with black plastic, woodgrain themed panels and silvery metallic accents.
* The 402C rear contained a number of ports, including power and controller ports.
* The 402C bottom contained a channel selection switch and an info panel. This console was made in Hong Kong.
* The 402C bottom panel with the battery compartment exposed.

### APF TV Fun Controllers

* Paddle controllers for the APF TV Fun 402C.
* Light Gun for the APF TV Fun 402C.

### APF TV Fun 402C Internals

* The PCB is made with care. Hand drawn traces curve to their destination.
* A small portion of the PCB is cut away to make space for an external component. Some cables are wrapped around a ferrite choke.
* The plastic shell of the console provides a number of internal mount points.
* A TV Fun 402C motherboard has hard wired connections to external components.
* A TV Fun 402C motherboard appears to be single sided, with this side lacking traces.
* RF Shielding protects significant components.
* Straight lines of solder blobs indicate a probable IC on the other side of the board. This PCB bears the mark of UAL.
* AY-3-8500 pinout, used on the 401, 402, and a number of first generation consoles.
* AY-3-8550 pinout, used on the 402

## External Resources

* Old Computers - APF TV Fun 401.
* Pong Museum - APF TV Fun 401.

## References

* ↑ "TheGameConsole.com: APF TV Fun Model 401 Game Console". www.thegameconsole.com. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
* 1 2 "OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum". www.old-computers.com. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 "pongmuseum.com - APF TV Fun - Model 401". pongmuseum.com. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
* ↑ Edwards, Benj (2 September 2016). "Ed Smith And The Imagination Machine: The Untold Story Of A Black Video Game Pioneer". Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/3063298/ed-smith-and-the-imagination-machine-the-untold-story-of-a-black-vid.
* ↑ "APF TV Fun model 405 retro gaming console". Vox Odyssey. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
* ↑ "APF TV Fun". Retrieved 17 November 2020.
* ↑ "APF TV FUN 401". IT History Society. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
* ↑ "APF TV Fun console repair". www.raphnet.net. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
* 1 2 "APF TV Fun Consoles". AtariAge Forums. Retrieved 17 November 2020.