Epoch Cassette Vision

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The Epoch Cassette Vision

The Epoch Cassette Vision was a video game console made by Epoch and released in Japan on July 30, 1981. Despite the name, the console used cartridges, not cassettes, and it has the distinction of being the first ever programmable console video game system to be made in Japan. The system retailed for 13,500 yen, with games going for 4,000. It is believed, though not confirmed, that Sega and/or SNK made games for the Cassette Vision. Its graphics were a bit worse than the Atari 2600, and the only controls were 4 knobs (2 to a player, 1 for horizontal movement, 1 for vertical) built into the console itself, along with 2 fire buttons to a player. Though the Cassette Vision wasn't a fantastic seller, it managed to spawn off a smaller, cheaper version called the Cassette Vision Jr. and a successor called the Super Cassette Vision. The latter was released in 1984, and was also sold in Europe, with little success. Except for their failed Game Pocket Computer handheld system, Epoch never had another system released.