The APF-M1000, APF-MP100 & Imagination Machine F.A.Q. Version apf.02 - December 1998 Creator & Maintainer: Sly D.C. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ O.K.,Here's the legal stuff: Copyright (c) 1998, Sylvain De Chantal All rights reserved. This document may be copied, in whole or in part, by any means provided the copyright and contributors sections remain intact and no fee is charged for the information. Contributors retain the copyright to their individual contributions. The data contained here in is provided for informational purposes only. No warranty is made with regards to the accuracy of some informations. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Additional contributions IS welcome! (really badly needed!!) Please mail additional information, opinions, and comments to : mailto --> "slydc@hotmail.com"(informations) or to --> "slydc@videotron.ca"(sell,trade) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Welcome to the FAQ about the APF-M1000, APF-MP1000 & Imagination Machine! TABLE OF CONTENTS ------------------- 1.0) What is the APF-M1000 & the APF-MP1000 ?? 1.5) What is the APF Imagination Machine ?? 2.0) APF-M1000 & MP1000 specs 2.5) APF Imagination Machine specs 3.0) Cartridge List 3.5) More Infos & Inputs... 4.0) The AD Text of the APF Imagination Machine 5.0) Credits ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.0) What is the APF-M1000 & the APF-MP1000 ?? ---------------------------------------------- The APF M-1000 was released in 1977. It's a Video game system cart based, comes with 2 non-detachables joysticks with a numeric keypad on each ones (look likes a mini-calculator with a joystick), has "Reset" & "Power" buttons on the unit. Only could be played on a Color TV only. This system seems to have been the pack-in unit with Imagination Machine. The APF MP-1000 was released in 1978. This system is basically the same as the M-1000 model but with a single difference, the MP-1000 comes with a built-in game called "Rocket Patrol". Both of these systems had the ability to be expanded to the Imagination Machine & both can play each other cartridges... 1.5) What is the APF Imagination Machine ?? -------------------------------------------- Released in 1978, this unit is a hybrid computer, combining an APF M-1000 video game system with a separate MPA 10 keyboard module. It came with 8K of RAM and 10K of ROM and could be expanded to 16K RAM, color grahics and a built in cassette recorder. The cassette mixed an audio track with the data track so as you were loading, a pre-recorded voice would tell you about the program. And 5-1/4" disk drive option. More info from L. Green: Motorola 6800-based, the machine had an excellent full-sized keyboard, 9K of RAM, and connected to your TV set via an RF monitor. The Imagination Machine was really an extention of APF's video game console, built to compete with the likes of the Atari 2600. You could first buy the video game portion by itself, and then later add the "rest" of the computer. The main drawback (like so many other computers of its day) was a lackluster BASIC. To program graphics required a lot of POKEs or CALLs, and I still remember the command to clear the screen after all these many years: CALL 17046. The machine did have some major pluses though: * The games written for it were surprisingly good (both in cartridge or cassette form). * Each of the two controllers on the game console had numeric keypads. * The built-in cassette recorder (used to load and save programs) was stereo: one channel would be used for saving/loading program data, while the other could be used for recording/playing your own voice (helpful if you wanted to record comments on what you're saving). I remember one APF "Space Invaders"-like game having a deep man's voice saying something like "Hah hah hah! Can you escape the Invaders! It's up to YOU to stop them!", etc. while the game loaded. A very unique (and sadly, never imitated) feature on the cassette system. * To help conserve memory while programming in BASIC, tokens were used for just about every BASIC command. In other words, if I typed out "PRINT", that would take 5 spaces in memory, but if I entered "PRINT" as a token (by pressing -- I think it was "CONTROL" plus another key), it would be entered as a "token", and take up only one or two spaces in memory. The only combination I can remember all these years later is CNTL-Y (which would have it do a "LIST"). 2.0) APF-M1000 & MP1000 specs ----------------------------- CPU : 6800 (8 bit) RAM : ??? ROM : ??? PALETTE : ??? RESOLUTION : ??? ??? Need info please ! 2.5) APF Imagination Machine specs ---------------------------------- CPU : 6800 (8 bit) RAM : 9K ROM : 14K (basic) PALETTE : 8 color on screen RESOLUTION : ??? Must be more ??? HELP!! 3.0) Cartridge List ------------------- Name Model # ------------------------------------------------------- Backgammon MG1008 Baseball MG1006 Blackjack MG1007 Bowling/Micro Match MG1004 Boxing MG1012 Brickdown/Shooting Gallery MG1005 Casino I: Roulette/Keno/Slots MG1009 Catena MG1001 Hangman/Tic Tac Toe/Doddle MG1003 Pinball/Dungeon Hunt/Blockout MG1011 Space Destroyers MG1013 UFO/Sea Monster/Break It Down/Rebuild/Shoot MG1010 3.5) More Infos & Inputs... --------------------------- Jay F. wrote to me that he brought a APF-MP1000. He wasn't able to get it work with either A 20" Panasonic CT20G13 or a 32" Panasonic CT32G23), but he did manage to make it work with a 6 year old RCA 19". He's curious (and so do i) if anyone else has had these problems with new TVs ?? Write to me if you did encounter anything like this, Thanks! 4.0) The AD Text of the APF Imagination Machine (From L. Green): ---------------------------------------------------------------- The only computer with color, sound, user programmability, and expandability at $599. The Imagination Machine offers more at its price than any other personal computer on the market today. Consider these features: 9k RAM, with 14k BASIC in ROM. 53-key typewriter keyboard. A fine resolution picture, generated on your television set or monitor in 8 colors. A built-in, dual-track cassette tape deck with 1500 baud rate for APF's digitally recorded, (??) tape programs. A built-in sound (??). And two, built-in, game style controllers with joysticks and numeric keypads. When you want to go beyond APF's library of educational home and personal management or entertainment programs... when you want to create your own programs ... you can. The Imagination Machine is programmable in BASIC and 6800 machine language. The Imagination Machine is also expandable. Just add our "Building Block", an optional, four-port expansion device, and you can hook up a printer, telephone modem, and additional memory cartridge or mini-floppy disk drive. For the name of your nearest Imagination Machine dealer, call TOLL FREE: 1-800-223-1264 (New York residents call(212)758-7550) or write: APF Electronics, Inc. 444 Madison Avenue, N.Y., N.Y. 10022 $599 Manufacturer's suggested retail price. 5.0) Credits: ------------- * Greg Chance (Dr.Demento) * Jay F...? * L. Green Thanks and see you in the next version !!! ---------------------------------------------------------- Copyright(c)1998, Sylvain De Chantal, "slydc@hotmail.com" or come visit my homepage at "http://slydc.encomix.es/index.htm"