The MB Microvision, WAY Ahead of It's Time - Video Game Retrospective

Today we discuss one of the most underrated video game consoles of the 1970s! The MB Microvision was the very first portable game console with interchangeable cartridges a full decade before the Game Boy popularized the idea. While the Microvision was a minor success for Milton Bradley it has largely been forgotten by retro video game collectors, let's change that!
This retro console is just one of many we've added to our retro video game collection! Subscribe so you don't miss our next review!
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#microvision #MBMicrovision #VideoGameRetrospective

[@chuckvsthemovie1614]

I got the system as a kid back in 1979. I loved Blockbuster and got really good at it. I also enjoyed playing the slot Machine game.

[@Larry]

Quite surprised there was no Space Invaders type game on the system in hindsight, but then again this was out before Space Invaders hit it big. But they're rare here too, I had to import one from Germany for my collection.

[@NewsmakersGames]

After staring at eBay listings for the Microvision for months I really thing the systems themselves tend to be more common here than in Europe. However the games seem to be pretty even. I theorise that is becuase prices had dropped somewhat by the EU release enabling those who did buy systems to buy more games on average.

[@hobbes64]

Alien Raiders was slightly like space invaders

[@mgabrysSF]

Because memory prices were so high it was cheaper to put a CPU in every freaking cart. That's like the 1st Odessey system on Roids.

[@CovenantAgentLazarus]

You literally make zero sense

[@herbcraven7146]

I had two Microvision machines back in the day, the second replacing a failed first one, probably because of the static issue. I had Vegas Slots, Bowling, and Sea Duel in addition to two copies of the pack-in Blockbuster game, which was really the best of the lot. I got pretty good at it, which gave me an edge on future Break-Out style games which were generally easier. Sea Duel was my next favorite, and is worth tracking down if you score a Microvision today.

[@christopherpike9907]

So cool I had that ! I never saw another one until now. Brought me back to my childhood, thank you ! Great video

[@otakubullfrog1665]

This was before my time; I had to rely on the good folks at Tiger whenever I needed a portable game that was way too simple, controlled poorly and got old quick. I think they really helped themselves by leaning into licenses a lot more.

[@ReploidReaper]

I actually knew someone with one of these back when I was a kid. He really wanted a DS but he couldn't get his parents to buy one for him. One day I went to his house and he showed me something his parents got him. It was the Blockbuster Microvision game. I had no idea it was old or rare at the time; I just assumed it was something cheap they got from Walmart. In hindsight, they probably found it at a yard sale. Honestly haven't thought about it in a very long time.

[@medes5597]

Poor kid. He likely could have sold it to a collector for the price of a DS ironically.

[@superbatman3762]

Interesting, I've never heard of this handheld before. The Vectrex should probably be your next video...

[@zman890]

Yes. I had a Vectrex too. Had the 3D headset too.

[@chrisnizer]

It may look terrible now but that's because there's so much more to compare it to. When this came out, there wasn't much of anything else but those red-dot LED games. So this was pretty sophisticated by comparison.

[@Rockin_Ross]

I had one in ‘79. I remember Connect 4 and Block Buster very well. My dad got it for me and I played it a lot on airplane flights. Great review!!

[@BassmintStile]

Growing up in the 80's, my grandparents had one. I loved playing it when I went over their house. I have 2 cib with all NA games cib.

[@NewsmakersGames]

That's quite the collection! Have you considered picking up Super Block Buster to complete the set?

[@dennisneo1608]

Your grandparents??????

[@BassmintStile]

@@dennisneo1608 Yeah, my grandfather(rip) loved computers. He saw video games as brain teasers. He loved figuring how to master them. I'm talking about arcade high score type of games.

[@fcknkllr]

Jacob I always enjoy your videos, you really seem to do all of your leg work to get the best information. I'm 48 years old and find your information to be very accurate with all your gaming systems legwork. Keep of the great content!

[@bubbles581]

when i was a kid me and my sister had this radio shack device called like "12 video games in 1" that was basically 12 colored buttons with lights behind them and when you turned it on you could select different "games" by pressing one of the buttons. Two of the games were basically Simon, but with 12 buttons instead of 4. One was an "organ" or "piano" some were like "baseball" but with really weird rules that you needed the manual for. It didnt' have a screen or anything just 12 buttons with led back lights. Anyway this just reminded me of that.

[@bubbles581]

Hahaha here I am 10 months later I forgot all about watching this video and im reading my comment and thinking OMG ME TOO!!! 😅

[@MikeS-el6vd]

I still have my working original Microvision and 8 carts from back in the day. Great memories for this ancient gamer.

[@DarwinsChihuahua]

I was hooked on Block Buster! I don't even remember having any other games for it.

[@ian_b]

I desperately wanted one of these when they first came out. I remember huge stacks of them on display in Beatties (a shop here in Northampton that is long gone).

[@JohnSegerclucka]

I had the micro vision when I was a kid. I had the games blockbuster, bowling and the Star Trek game. I loved it back then. I thought it was a lot of fun

[@seblav9386]

I had an armory full of handheld games. Tiger, Nintendo and lesser known companies.

[@joezar33]

Ok that suprise me 6:04 , didn't expect fluid movement, thought it be exactly like a *Tiger Handheld* or game n watch , where there a picture backgrounds and a few black pixels that sorta move

[@Novaheart1998]

I have 3 of them, one has a new backlit LCD and 7 games. It’s extremely primitive but cool.

[@ilikebeans9380]

we gotta be grateful for this console because it created the handheld consoles.

[@demascotte101]

A friend of mine has the European version. Still works and is in good condition. 2 games >>>Blockbuster and 4 connect . Original boxes in good condition. Could this be something of value?

[@NewsmakersGames]

Thanks for watching this look at the Microvision! Have you ever used one?

[@The_Original_Hawkez]

I had one of these as a kid. Like my VIC-20, My ColecoVision, etc. My little brother sold it to friends for almost nothing when I went to the Airforce. So one night about 10 years ago I got a couple systems, 1 boxed manual, etc. All the games boxed and many duplicates. All for about$100 USD. This was like 3 lots, so I have some boxed and unboxed duplicates as well. These are all US versions and I am missing Super BlockBuster. Just one of those slightly drunk/nostalgic Ebay nights that paid off.

[@kenwheeler3637]

I have a boxed copy with a bunch of the games that I got about a dozen years ago or so. Always wanted one back when they were new. I couldn't really say when the last time that I've actually played the thing was though.

[@particulatematter]

I had one when I was a kid and I absolutely loved it. Took it everywhere with me. I just recently found it and about a half dozen games after clearing out my parents attic. It does still work, remarkably, though the plastic overlays are well worn. Watching this brought a rush of memories back!

[@Gameboy-Unboxings]

​@@The_Original_Hawkezdamn man.. I'd have disowned him for that.. not even joking.

[@The_Original_Hawkez]

@@Gameboy-Unboxings I sort of did, we were not friends until years later when we were both adults.

[@daneast]

Sometime in the early to mid 80s I ran across one of these, or something very similar. Given the time period it pretty much had to have been this console. It was in a thrift store / Goodwill type store if I remember correctly. I can't remember what game it had with it, and I'm not sure it worked. I just remember it had a dot-matrix LCD, which I had never seen before, and had interchangeable games. I do remember the face coming off exposing the internals. It reminded me somewhat of the ColecoVision controllers in that they had overlays that were specific to each game. Thanks for the video - it definitely jogged my memory about it. No, I didn't buy it, because it seemed too beat up and as a kid didn't have my own money anyway. :) Plus it was already outdated by that time.

[@3vi1J]

I used to look at that thing in the Sears Christmas catalog as a kid and dream about how much fun it must be. Whew, dodged that bullet.

[@TheCrazierz]

Mah you missed out

[@hobbes64]

If you have this system, try to get Connect 4. I think it was the best game. You can play against another person or the computer.

[@CovenantAgentLazarus]

How do you know it has a 100 Kilohertz processor?... I mean I know thats probably accurate but where did you find these specs out?

[@daneast]

Interestingly, this display seems to have better responsiveness and less blur than the original Gameboy. Of course this is lower resolution, but it looked decent in the games with the fast moving ball. I

[@ricklewis2068]

For rare/obscure consoles I’d like to see you cover, my local game store recently got in an Ultrasonic Tournament 150, I’d never heard of it before. While in the annals of video game history this is just a forgotten Pong clone, it was pretty interesting; it looks like shiny stainless steel, it came with a lightgun shotgun that you assemble, and the fact that Pong clones were a thing in the first generation of home gaming is pretty interesting ( to me at least).

[@NewsmakersGames]

Never heard of that particular system but we've recently been picking up quite a few pong systems for future videos

[@MikeStavola]

I totally don't have 4 Microvisions, one with a brand new screen...

[@NewsmakersGames]

But is it backlit?

[@bubbles581]

Weird people complaining about the stock footage... i think its perfectly fine .....

[@MattKasdorf]

Please provide links to the sites mentioned.

[@jacobjones9071]

Such a cool little (big) device!

[@NewsmakersGames]

Which retro video game console would you like to see us cover next?

[@galbyman]

How about something from left field. The Java based Doom RPG for older cell phones.

[@jacobjones9071]

I'm not sure if the ugly beige cartridges of the US or the colorful carts of Europe are more interesting

[@CoinOpTV]

I wanna tour your studio!

[@BANANASAUCEYUM]

Oh my GOODNESS that game boy is yellow

[@1joshjosh1]

You sound a little bit young to truly have the feel for this but I hope you're doing a good job because I'm trusting.

[@relo999]

9:10 get european games. That's the "solution", as they have plastic buttons rather than a film that you need to press to press the buttons.

[@andrewkaye2108]

When it first came out, I SOOO wanted one, But my mother wouldnt buy me one! Hmph. :(

[@zman890]

I had one of those.

[@christopherpike9907]

I’d love to see Texas Instruments “speak & “

[@mcorleonep]

I had one of these BITD however my older sister busted it in a rage for whatever reason. :-/

[@wintermoon5442]

I loved my microvision. I played my first one to death and hounded my parents to get me a second one. I had three games, though. expensive.

[@aut0turret]

1 year ago? Looks like you might have to adjust for inflation again!

[@megamanfan3]

The MicroVision is pretty much a novelty item.

[@NewsmakersGames]

But it's a COOL novelty item!

[@fattiger6957]

This console was featured in one of the Friday the 13th movies. I think the 4th movie.

[@NewsmakersGames]

It was part II, and the 2 games they mention don't actually exist!

[@ricklewis2068]

That is the most disgustingly yellowed Game Boy I have ever seen.

[@NewsmakersGames]

What's really sad is that it was pristine like a year ago.

[@trekkin_fpv5272]

This stock photography really.... just not good. I love these videos, but these stock videos intermixed... just take me out of the video. sorry.

[@chinabluewho]

Your insertion of (free?) generic stock video footage in your videos is what really drags down your channel, they are very fake looking/cringe inducing and really take you out of the rhythm .