About The Milton Bradley Microvision (1979 Handheld Game Console)

Ahead of its Time

The Milton Bradley Microvision is a tale of innovation, ambition, and a dash of late 1970s charm. So, grab your nostalgia goggles, and let’s take a trip back to the dawn of handheld gaming.

Release Date and Background: The Milton Bradley Microvision made its grand debut in November 1979. Milton Bradley, a company more famous for its board games like Monopoly and Operation, decided to step into the emerging video game market with this innovative handheld device. The Microvision holds the distinguished title of being the first handheld gaming console to use interchangeable cartridges, setting the stage for the future of portable gaming.

Design and Gameplay: The Microvision was a chunky, rectangular device with a black-and-white LCD screen. It wasn’t the sleekest or most stylish gadget, but it was revolutionary for its time. The front of the device featured a simple, 16×16 pixel screen and a removable faceplate that contained the game’s controls and cartridge. Each game came with its own faceplate, which you snapped onto the console, transforming it into a new gaming experience.

Despite the basic graphics, the gameplay was surprisingly engaging. Each game faceplate included a unique set of controls, such as buttons and dials, which added to the variety of gameplay. The concept was simple yet effective: swap the faceplate, and you had a completely different game.

Popular Games: The Microvision launched with a handful of titles, and over its short lifespan, it saw around a dozen games released. Some of the more notable titles included:

• Block Buster: Essentially a portable version of Breakout, this was the pack-in game that most people started with.
• Star Trek: Phaser Strike: Yes, you read that right! A Star Trek-themed game where players blasted away at enemy ships.
• Mindbuster: A puzzle game that challenged players to solve numeric puzzles.
• Pinball: An attempt to bring the excitement of pinball to a handheld format, complete with flippers and bumpers.

Popularity and Impact: The Microvision enjoyed a moderate level of popularity upon its release. It was a big hit during the 1979 holiday season, but its novelty soon wore off as technical limitations became apparent. The main issues were the small screen size and limited graphic capabilities, which couldn’t compete with the rapidly advancing home console market.

However, the Microvision’s true impact lies in its pioneering use of interchangeable cartridges. This concept was groundbreaking and paved the way for future handheld consoles like the Game Boy, which would go on to dominate the market.

Technology: For its time, the Microvision was quite advanced. The console itself housed a simple processor and a basic LCD screen, while the cartridges contained the game’s unique circuitry. This modular approach was innovative but also presented several challenges. The screen was prone to damage, and the technology behind the interchangeable cartridges was still in its infancy, leading to reliability issues.

The controls varied with each game, providing a unique experience each time you swapped the cartridge. This versatility was one of the Microvision’s standout features, even if it meant the device looked a bit clunky by modern standards.

Cultural Impact: The Microvision didn’t achieve the lasting fame of later handheld consoles, but it holds a special place in gaming history. It demonstrated that portable, cartridge-based gaming was not only possible but also commercially viable. This was a major milestone in the evolution of video games, influencing the design and development of future handheld systems.

Legacy: Today, the Milton Bradley Microvision is a prized collector’s item. Its status as the first handheld console with interchangeable cartridges makes it a significant piece of gaming history. While it may not boast the same nostalgic appeal as the Game Boy, it’s respected and appreciated by retro gaming enthusiasts.

Fun Facts and Trivia:

• Short Lifespan: The Microvision was on the market for only about two years, from 1979 to 1981. Despite its brief run, it left a lasting legacy.
• Technical Quirks: The screen’s pixels were large and sometimes suffered from “screen rot,” a common issue with early LCD technology.
• Star Power: The Star Trek: Phaser Strike game was a notable licensed title, showing that even in its early days, gaming was keen on tapping into popular culture.
• Ahead of Its Time: The idea of swapping game cartridges on a handheld device was revolutionary and set a precedent for future portable consoles.

The Milton Bradley Microvision was a trailblazer in the handheld gaming world. It might not have had the staying power or popularity of its successors, but its innovation and forward-thinking design paved the way for the handheld gaming devices we know and love today.