Vtech 3D Gamate (1983)

Alex · Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2013 2:24 pm Post subject: Vtech 3D Gamate (1983)

Hello!
A few months ago I received two rare Vtech 3D Gamate. It is a very cool handheld game I've never seen before. Actually, I can't find info anywhere.
Some cool facts about it:
- The system was created in 1983 and I am pretty sure is the first cartridge-based 3D handheld game system.
- It was released a year before the Vtech ProScreen and it has the 3 same games. It's box shows 3 other games but I think they were never released.
- It was created in Hong Kong but probably was only released in Europe (the box features english, spanish, french and german languages)
I just created a tumblr that features some pictures and videos (I bought two broken systems but one is almost repaired) Rik, you can use them for the museum!

Enjoy:
http://3dgamate.tumblr.com

blanka · Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 2:17 am Post subject:

Cool system. Pretty huge or not?

Alex · Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 3:40 am Post subject:

Hi Blanka!
The size of the 3D Gamate is similar to the Tomy/Tomytronic 3D games.

blanka · Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 3:56 am Post subject:

Sure, dumb of me. I was imagining size based on the D-pad, but the eye cups are a better indication off course. Does that mean the Pro-Screen is not so big either (same d-pad)?

Alex · Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 3:48 am Post subject:

The Pro-Screen is much bigger. I will show you a picture of both as soon as I can so you can compare!

woolfman · Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 10:54 am Post subject:

Cool!

Where did you find it?
_________________
Regards,
Wolf

Alex · Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 2:12 pm Post subject:

Hello!
Both systems have the same D-pad but as you can see in the picture, the ProScreen is much bigger.

Woolfman, I bought them to a private collector in Spain.

blanka · Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 10:12 pm Post subject:

Yes, but I thought it was humongous. The Pro Screen is like a normal table-top size. I thought it was like 60cm long.

MADrigal · Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 12:18 pm Post subject:

It is an incredible finding!
I am quite an expert on VTech games, but I really missed this one.
I have a question for you: would you kindly tell me:

- which code is printed on one of the box "flaps"? similar to 90-xxxx-yy

- which codes are printed on the cartridge blisters? similar to 95-xxxx-yy

- which codes are printed on the last page of game manuals? similar to 91-xxxx-yy

- is the "includes Formula 500" writing a STICKER on the box, or is it PRINTED on it? does this mean that the 2 boxes are different?

- in such case, please tell me BOTH codes printed on the "flaps", they would be different.

thanks!
_________________
http://www.madrigaldesign.it/

Alex · Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 2:40 am Post subject:

Dear Madrigal,
Sorry my answer took so long!
Here's the codes you are asking for:

- Gamate 3D Box flaps code: 90-0185-00
- Gamate 3D Manual: 91-0187-00
- Cartridge blister: 95-0128-02 (Escape Game Cartridge)
- Cartridge Manual: 90-0190-00 (Escape Game Cartridge)
- The "includes formula 500" is printed on the box so both boxes are exactly the same.

This codes show that this system was created before the Pro-Screen, so I think the 3 games, which are the same in both systems, were first released for the 3D Gamate.

If you need anything else, just ask!

Alex

MADrigal · Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 3:04 am Post subject:

Thanks much for the kind reply!!

> - Gamate 3D Box flaps code: 90-0185-00

OK!

> - Gamate 3D Manual: 91-0187-00

is that the console manual, or the manual for the game?

> - Cartridge blister: 95-0128-02 (Escape Game Cartridge)

OK!

> - Cartridge Manual: 90-0190-00 (Escape Game Cartridge)

Are you sure it's 90-x instead of 91-x?

question: what's the code for the Formula 500 manual?

> - The "includes formula 500" is printed on the box so both
> boxes are exactly the same.

mmm how is this possible? is it a printing? in such case, box codes must be different - one per each game. please check, thanks!

One last question: what about the copyright year printed on:
- game
- manuals
- boxes ?

Is it always 1983, or 1984 too?
_________________
http://www.madrigaldesign.it/

Alex · Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 3:51 am Post subject:

Hello again!

- It is actually the console manual. I don't own the manual for the Formula 500 game.

You can check it here:
http://25.media.tumblr.com/897.....1_1280.jpg

If you haven't seen the tumblr I created for the system:
http://3dgamate.tumblr.com/

- The code for the cartridge is 91-x! Sorry for the mistake.

- Both boxes have the "includes Formula 500" printed (It's not a sticker, like in some Vtech ProScreen boxes, it's just part of the graphic design of the box) and are exactly the same, with the same code.

- About copyright:

3D Gamate:
- Game System:Patent Pending. © 1983 VTL.
- Boxes: ©1983 VTL.
- Manual: © 1983 VTL.
- Cartridge Manual: © 1983 VTL.
- Cartridges (printed on the cartridge sticker): ©1983 VTL. Patent Pending.

ProScreen (VTECH/ VTL Version)

- I don't own the manual of the game system and the box doesn't show any copyright.

- The 3 games boxes and manuals show this copyright: ©1984.

- And the curious thing is that, the copyright printed in the game system is @1983

MADrigal · Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 4:01 am Post subject:

OK this is the info I collected about Gamate 3D

- release year 1983 (stated on game, box and manuals)
- box with "Formula 500" printing: 90-0185-00
- console manual: 91-0187-00
- Escape game manual: 91-0190-00
- Escape game cardboard: 95-0128-02 ("-02" means that there are more around!)

Info missing:
- Formula game manual: 91-xxxx-yy

About Pro-screen: do you have games on cartridge, sold in specific boxes? Would you send me details of each box and manual, like:
- box code for each cartridge
- manual code for each cartridge
- year: all of them are 1984, right?

Thanks!

PS please reply my private message and send me an email, I'll send you my current VTech codes database.
_________________
http://www.madrigaldesign.it/

blanka · Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 11:41 am Post subject:

If you want to be really sure about the production dates, checking component numbers is the most reliable. We all know the Coleco table tops that show way-off dates on boxes and art-work (and thus flooding the internet with wrong information).

Problem with VTL though, is that most of their MCU's are not having regular DIP or FP packages with printed numbers, but the round dot of epoxy to cover the chip on the logic board directly and LCD screens often lack production information.

Rik · Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 12:10 pm Post subject:

Well, that's just a general problem with most of these games. They obtain a copyright, and then design/test/market the game. Frequently it's off by a year, sometimes two. Like most of the Coleco handhelds were actually initially released in 82/83, but their copyrights are 81/82.

But if they were in production for more than a year, the component dates will no longer be accurate either. Coleco made Pac-Man (and most of the mini-arcades) for at least 3 years, so there will be components from 1981-1984 in them. Components could have also been manufactured far in advance of the release of the game too... Short of having company records reflecting exactly when these left the plant and went to stores, it's mostly just guess-work (although well-educated guess work at least). As long as the copyright is actually the copyright for the handheld game (and not the game being licensed if it's a licensed game), that's generally the best information we have.

Catalogs (either stores or corporate catalogs/flyers) are very helpful too. If the catalog actually says 'New for 1983' or something, then we can be reasonably sure that was the release year regardless of what the copyrights or components show.