Epoch Cassette Vision
Talk about an obscure console!
The Cassette Vision was a Japanese console released on June 30th, 1981 by a company named Epoch. This 4-bit console retailed for a nice low cost of 13,500 Yen (around $135USD) with games retailing at 4000 Yen. This made Cassette Vision a good economical choice for gaming.
The graphics on the Cassette Vision were very basic and blocky. Both the games and cartridges (size and plastic boxes) are strangely similar to the Hanimex HMG-7900...although the console itself is reported to be more powerful.
There were not a lot of cartridges released for it. The game that made the console a big seller was "Kikori No Yosaku". In the game you must chop down trees while avoiding a raging boar, a snake, and a bird that will crap on you from above (one of those strange but fun Japanese games). It is reported (but not confirmed yet) that the maker of the game was either SNK or Sega. Other games include Grand Champion (racing), Galaxian, Big Sports 12 (Pong games), Baseball, Astro Command, Elevator Panic, Monster Mansion, Battle Vader and Monster Block.
The Cassette Vision was essentially a combination of cart based, and Pong based
games. The large surface contained a number of built in controls. The controllers were two metal knobs built into the unit at the bottom which controlled only horizontal movement. There were also 4 fire buttons labeled PUSH-1 thru PUSH-4. There is also a power on/off switch, SELECT, AUX. and START buttons for game selection. The COURSE and sliding 'Selection' controls were the "Pong like' aspects of the console. These were used for carts such as "Big Sports 12" to select the different pong variations (12
games...duh). This is also where the upper paddles found on each side come into play. One paddle moved your pong paddle horizontal, and the other vertical. This gave a unique feel to pong.
The console must have done quite well since it churned out successors. Epoch capitalized
on it's success with the Cassette vision. In 1983 they released a scaled down and even cheaper version (Only 5000 Yen) called the
Cassette Vision Jr. The lower cost helped Epoch keep Cassette Vision carts in production. They later released it's successor the Super Cassette Vision in 1984.
 FACT:
Epoch managed to take advantage of both the arcade experience, and the still booming TV Pong
interests. It's release marked an important moment in Japanese gaming history.
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