Know Your Console - Fairchild Channel F
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Fairchild Channel F

The Fairchild Channel F system came out in 1976, the year before the Atari 2600. It was the first console to use cartridges that contained game code, earlier consoles, like the Magnavox Odyssey, had cartridges that did nothing but unlock games that were already programmed into the system. This meant that the console had a theoretically limitless supply of games. Unfortunately, for the Channel F, instead of being known as a pioneer of home video gaming, it ended up as a more of a footnote, when it became the first video game console to be destroyed in the market by a rival with better graphics and sound. After the Atari 2600 came out, the Channel F limped along and underwent a redesign, but it could not be saved from it's notably inferior (and disturbingly RGB) graphics. In the end, only 26 game cartridges were released over its lifespan.

The system had two built-in games, Hockey and Soccer, both of which are Pong variants.

The Unit | Hand Controller | The Cartridge | Unit Packaging | Game Packaging

The Unit

Bottom View

Front View

Back View

Left Side View

Right Side View