Telegames Personal Arcade
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| Telegames Personal Arcade | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Telegames |
| Type | Video game console |
| Generation | Second generation |
| First available | 1986 |
| Media | Cartridge |
The Telegames Personal Arcade was the US version of Bit Corporation's DINA 2-in-1. This slim console could play both Colecovision and Sega SG-1000 cartridges. It came equipped with Nintendo NES styled control pads, and even had a built in game called "Meteoric Shower". Since the DINA control pads did not contain the numeric keypad of the actual ColecoVision controller, they were mounted on the unit itself. It also sported a "pause" button that could be used for SG-1000 games.
[edit] History
In the late 1980's Coleco was feeling the pains of the "Videogame Crash". Britain-based company Telegames eventually purchased the rights to the ColecoVision console, and bought most of Coleco's stock. Rather than selling Coleco's bulky unit, Telegames began manufacturing and distributing the Bit Corporation designed DINA 2-in-1. In 1988 the renamed DINA became the Telegames Personal Arcade. The unit was sold via mail order catalogs. The unit was even sold through Telegames USA, a Texas-based videogame mail-order store for only $40USD.
[edit] Compatibility
As impressive as the Telegames Personal Arcade was for the price, it did have its share of flaws. The console was not compatible with all ColecoVision carts. Part of the reason was due to the lack of a second player numeric keypad. The Atari 2600 adaptor and other expansion devices were incompatible due to the positioning of the power and RF connectors. Some units had a manufacturers defect that caused the system to draw too much power into the motherboard causing damage after long term play.
Telegames Personal Arcade was only advertised as a Colecovision alternative. Western gamers were never aware of its Sega SG-1000 capabilities. Owners probably mistakened the additional slot as an expansion port. It is not known if the SG-1000 slot was disabled by Telegames.
