VHS Consoles
The most common media forms for games were cartridges, compact disc, and recently DVD formats. In the 1980's however developers conceived the idea of using VHS videocassettes as a form of game media.
A company called Worlds of Wonder introduced the first "VHS console" in 1987. The console was called Action Max. This console required the owner to also own a VCR. The VHS cassettes were not inserted into the console itself. Action Max actually connected between the VCR and television.
All VHS Action Max games were shooters that took advantage of the console's light gun. The VHS tapes were live action movies with characters that spoke to the camera in order to give off the effect that the gamer was in the game. Action Max super imposed a red sprite on the VHS video whenever the light gun trigger was pulled. Unfortunately, this
was the only activity that indicates that the gamer had done anything since the video continues to play regardless of the gamers actions. This limitation may have hindered console sales since other console light gun games offered more interactivity. The console offered 4 games with 3 selectable game modes (Standard, Reflex, and Limited Ammunition).
In 1989 another "VHS Console" was attempted. View-Master released the Interactive Vision in the United States. It used VHS tapes similar to Action Max, but unlike the other video tape system, it could generate its own limited graphics. The View-Master Interactive Vision was designed as a children's educational video game system, and came in 2 different packages. One included the game "Sesame Street: Let's Learn to Play Together" while the other included "Disney's Cartoon Arcade". Games were played using a joystick attached to the system. It was an unusual controller shaped like a lollipop. The stick-like handle had three colored buttons (red, yellow, blue) and there was also a green and a white button on the left of the top, circular portion. Kids responded to timed prompts provided by the on screen actors.
Check out the Interactive Vision FAQ for
more information.
Obviously the limitations of VHS, and the evolution of other consoles, rendered these units obsolete. However they were an interesting concept for it's time.
 FACT: In 1987, Mattel somewhat duplicated the Action Max functions in it's "Captain Power" action figure toy line. Both figures and toy vehicles fired an infrared beam that gave off the impression that you were shooting the onscreen characters of the Captain Power cartoon show. Similarly the cartoon could also generate the same infrared beams that could trigger springs in the toy vehicles. These springs responded and gave the impression that the toy was actually shot. An innovative toy that Mattel sold into 1988.
Japan saw it's own "VHS game machine". The console was marketed by Bandai, and called Bandai Telebikko. The concept was similar to the the other toys. The zapper gun included fired an infrared beam that gave off the impression that you were shooting the onscreen characters. Likewise the onscreen characters could return fire. Bandai's games took advantage of their
character licenses.
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