Epoch Video Game Consoles Timeline

Hi Folks!

Been quite a time i haven't posted on my blog and to start the year 2023 (err...mid-year), i will talk about the timeline of video game consoles released by Epoch. Some of you must be asking...why ? Well i've been digging information regarding the Epoch Cassette Vision and the Hanimex HMG-7900 and both these share so much but this will be another story.

So before presenting the "connection" between the Cassette Vision and the HMG-7900, let's see what Epoch has released over the years:

EPOCH TV ELECTROTENNIS (also AKA TV Tennis)
Released on September 12, 1975.



Not only this is the very first game console released by Epoch but was also the first game console made
in Japan. Based on the Magnavox Odyssey technology (it all TTL - aka discrete logic), Japan has it's first ever video game released on the (Japanese) market. Only one game you could play (Tennis) but has the option to play versus the game console (Robot mode). Just a quick note: It was also released in Japan under the "Entex" emblem in January/February of 1977 as the テレポン TVG-200 for 8,000 Yens. The Entex version was also sold in the United States & Canada in 1976 as the Entex Gameroom Tele-Pong and in the UK under Binatone.

EPOCH VIDEOGAME (TV TENNIS SILVER EDITION)
Released in 1976.


This is the same as the TV Tennis by Epoch but was sold through Hitachi affiliated electronic stores.

HITACHI VG-104
Released around Mid-April 1977.

Yes...Hitachi! This Pong console is made by Epoch for Hitachi as Hitachi sold Epoch previous Pong console. There is a logo of Epoch on the back of the console in case you don't believe it.

EPOCH SYSTEM 10
Released late August 1977.



This is Epoch first LSI chip Pong console as it uses the uPD770C made by NEC (which means Nippon Electric Company). It has 10 different Pong-type games and uses a light gun for the shooting games (which was also compatible with the System 10M2, the Toshiba TVG-610 and the Cassette Vision). There is also an article saying that it was planned to be exported to the United States through Magnavox around September 1976. Looks like this never happened.

TOSHIBA TVG-610
Released October 01, 1977.



Uses the same LSI game chip as in the Epoch System 10 and System 10 M2.

EPOCH SUPER 10
Unreleased (1978).

This was the first Epoch game console to be using a Microcontroller instead of an LSI. This game console was never released due to too numerous Pong consoles on the Japanese market. Finally became the "Big Sports 12" game cartridge for the Cassette Vision.

EPOCH TV BASEBALL
Released August 21, 1978.


This is the first Epoch game console using a Microcontroller (the uPD778C). It was after released
as the "Baseball" game cartridge for the Cassette Vision.

EPOCH TV BLOCK
Released May 17, 1979.



Epoch made a deal with Atari to released the Atari Video Pinball (model C-380) LSI chip but with
their own game console body. This is the same dedicated game chip found inside any Atari Video
Pinball ligth grey/cream edition.

EPOCH SYSTEM 10M2 (MK-II)
Released June 13, 1979.



Same as the previous model (System 10) and using the same LSI chip (uPD770C). Some says that
this model has an improved chip like faster speed to serve. Anyone can confirm this ?

EPOCH CASSETTE TV GAME
Released October 8, 1979.



Epoch imported and sold the Atari 2600 (the heavy sixer) in Japan. Epoch was the third distributer
of the Atri 2600 VCS. Picture from Video Game Kraken.

EPOCH TV VADER
Released August 1980.



This is the second Epoch game console using an Microcontroller (the uPD774C). It was after released
as the "BATTLE VADER" game cartridge for the Cassette Vision.

EPOCH CASSETTE VISION
Released July 30, 1981.


Epoch first cartridge game console (not counting the Atari 2600 VCS they distributed) which was using
Microcontrollers instead of programmable ROM chips. Only 11 game cartridges (total) was released for
it and two "known" games from previous TV game consoles (TV Baseball and TV Vader).

EPOCH CASSETTE VISION JR
Released July 19, 1983.



Revised version of the Cassette Vision. Two games cannot be fully played of this model (Baseball
and Big Sports 12).

***********
Starting from here, i only briefly describe Epoch game consoles for the timeline sake since i will
talk about the connection between the Cassette Vision and the Hanimex HMG-7900 (or Soundic SD-200).
***********


EPOCH SUPER CASSETTE VISION
Released July 17, 1984.



Next Gen game console trying to compete with the Nintendo Famicom...who do you think won the battle ?

EPOCH SUPER CASSETTE VISION LADY SET
Released July 18, 1985.



Pink version of the Super Cassette Vision. This was intended/aiming the "girl" game players.

EPOCH EXCITE PING-PONG
Released March 2001.


It has been 16 years since the last released game console by Epoch. Now they are in the "Plug & Play"
type genre as it was pretty cheap to manufacture and sell. There is also a version sold by "Mizkan"
which has a pink box.

EPOCH EXCITE BLACK BASS FISHING
Released July 2001.



EPOCH EXCITE STRIKER
Released Early 2002.



EPOCH EXCITE BOXING
Released July 2002.



EPOCH EXCITE STADIUM DX
Released July 2002.



And Epoch released many Plug & Play consoles (about 30 more) until 2010. 

So the next time i'll talk about the relationship between the Epoch Cassette Vision and the Hanimex HMG-7900 (or Soundic SD-200). Until then take care Folks! ;)