Bandai Super Vision 8000 (TV Jack 8000) – The Last Console of the TV Jack Series (1979)

Discover the Bandai Super Vision 8000, a second-generation home video game console released in 1979.

Learn how this console revolutionized the TV Jack series with a central CPU, unlike its Pong-style predecessors.

The Bandai Super Vision 8000, also known as the TV Jack 8000, was released in 1979, marking a significant shift in Bandai's home console lineup. As the final console in the TV Jack series, the Super Vision 8000 stood apart from its predecessors by featuring a central CPU, making it part of the second generation of video game consoles. This key difference set it apart from earlier TV Jack consoles, which were first-generation, Pong-style systems that operated without a microprocessor.

Earlier consoles in the TV Jack series relied on custom-built, codeless state machine computers made up of discrete logic circuits, which meant each game was essentially hard-wired into the hardware. In contrast, the Super Vision 8000’s central CPU allowed for more sophisticated and varied gameplay, offering a more versatile gaming experience.

This innovation helped the Super Vision 8000 stand out in a rapidly evolving video game market. Despite being overshadowed by other second-generation consoles, it remains a fascinating part of gaming history as one of the earliest systems that could be directly connected to a TV, reflecting the technological advancements of the late 1970s.