After taking a look at what I just wrote about the APF system, you'd think that I don't even like it. I basically said that it is really boring and why bother playing it. And... well, that's true, to SOME extent.
The cartridges for the APF console itself ARE lackluster. I've only used the Imagination Machine via emulation (Bill is now one of the few to have a working machine), but there are some neat game tapes that have been archived (mostly user written, I think). I also like the idea that the IM gives a user control over the Motorola's first CPU, the 6800. Without the IM add-on, of course, you were stuck playing just the handful of cartridges that were released for the system. With the computer you could create games in BASIC (which would have been slow but serviceable at the time) or machine language (which would have been a challenge-- but the archived tapes prove that it was done).
Some people collect this system because it was the first of its kind. APF announced a computer add-on, and, amazingly, they followed through! Besides just being a first though, the system allowed the used to really get their hands dirty. APF kept it coming though with RAM upgrades, storage options (disk drives) and printer interfaces. For a very short moment in history this machine was alive and kicking-- if not very well known.
In my mind the APF Imagination Machine is sort of like adding The Homebrew Channel to a Nintendo Wii. Suddenly the possibilities become endless!
After taking a look at what I just wrote about the APF system, you'd think that I don't even like it. I basically said that it is really boring and why bother playing it. And... well, that's true, to SOME extent.
The cartridges for the APF console itself ARE lackluster. I've only used the Imagination Machine via emulation (Bill is now one of the few to have a working machine), but there are some neat game tapes that have been archived (mostly user written, I think). I also like the idea that the IM gives a user control over the Motorola's first CPU, the 6800. Without the IM add-on, of course, you were stuck playing just the handful of cartridges that were released for the system. With the computer you could create games in BASIC (which would have been slow but serviceable at the time) or machine language (which would have been a challenge-- but the archived tapes prove that it was done).
Some people collect this system because it was the first of its kind. APF announced a computer add-on, and, amazingly, they followed through! Besides just being a first though, the system allowed the used to really get their hands dirty. APF kept it coming though with RAM upgrades, storage options (disk drives) and printer interfaces. For a very short moment in history this machine was alive and kicking-- if not very well known.
In my mind the APF Imagination Machine is sort of like adding The Homebrew Channel to a Nintendo Wii. Suddenly the possibilities become endless!