Jump to content

History of video games/Platforms/Action Max

Add links
100% developed
From Wikibooks, open books for an open world
  • The Action Max system with headphones, light gun, and red light.
    The Action Max system with headphones, light gun, and red light.

History

[edit | edit source]

Development

[edit | edit source]

The Action Max was developed by Worlds of Wonder, a company founded by former Atari Employees who helped Nintendo distribute the NES in America.[1]

Launch

[edit | edit source]
Action Max logotype.

Worlds of Wonder had a limited launch of the Action Max in 1987.[2] The system was a poor seller due to needing a VCR,[3] and unable to bail out the company from it's massive debts. Worlds of Wonder went bankrupt in 1988, with many employees going on to join Nintendo.[4][1]

Technology

[edit | edit source]

The Action Max ran lightgun games off of VHS tapes.[5] A small seven segment display on the unit displayed the player score.[2][6]

Compute

[edit | edit source]

The Action Max CPU is an an 8-bit Hitachi HD401010 clocked at 4MHz.[2][4][7] The Action Max has 32 bytes of RAM.[4]

Notable games

[edit | edit source]

Five games were released for the Action Max.[4]

  • The Rescue of Pops Ghostly
  • Blue Thunder - Based on the film
  • Hydrosub: 2021
  • Sonic Fury - Pack in game
  • .38 Ambush Alley
[edit | edit source]

Console

[edit | edit source]
  • Headphone and light gun jacks are located on the console front.
    Headphone and light gun jacks are located on the console front.
  • Switches, dials, and the segmented display are on the top of the unit. Note that the top is not smooth, but slightly textured.
    Switches, dials, and the segmented display are on the top of the unit. Note that the top is not smooth, but slightly textured.
  • Rear IO ports are on the back of the console.
    Rear IO ports are on the back of the console.
  • The power jack is in the bottom right.
    The power jack is in the bottom right.

Accessories

[edit | edit source]
  • The Action Max gun controller. Note the lack of an orange tip on the barrel or other indicators to clearly indicate that this is not a real firearm.
    The Action Max gun controller. Note the lack of an orange tip on the barrel or other indicators to clearly indicate that this is not a real firearm.
  • This red light was used to indicate successful hits.
    This red light was used to indicate successful hits.
  • Action Max Stereo Headphones.
    Action Max Stereo Headphones.
  • Sonic Fury PAL VHS tape for Action Max.
    Sonic Fury PAL VHS tape for Action Max.

Internals

[edit | edit source]
  • Much of the console internals are empty.
    Much of the console internals are empty.
  • Action Max has a main board and two daughterboards, as well as an internal speaker.
    Action Max has a main board and two daughterboards, as well as an internal speaker.
  • The casing top is spartan.
    The casing top is spartan.
  • A ring is used to hold the speaker.
    A ring is used to hold the speaker.
  • The motherboard bottom.
    The motherboard bottom.
  • The motherboard top, with a two character 7 segment display.
    The motherboard top, with a two character 7 segment display.
  • Note the custom WOW chip, as well as the large number of discrete components compared to integrated circuits.
    Note the custom WOW chip, as well as the large number of discrete components compared to integrated circuits.

References

[edit | edit source]

Wikipedia has related information at Action Max

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Action Max

Parts of this page are based on materials from:
 Wikipedia: the free encyclopedia.
  1. ↑ a b "System Overview: System Overview - Worlds of Wonder Action Max - Beyond the Mind's Eye - Thoughts & Insights from Marriott_Guy". www.rfgeneration.com. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  2. ↑ a b c "ActionMax - Game Console - Computing History". www.computinghistory.org.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  3. ↑ "BIG TROUBLE IN TOYLAND : Debt-Ridden Worlds of Wonder, the Maker of Teddy Ruxpin, Is Looking for Way Out of Woods". Los Angeles Times. 14 December 1987. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  4. ↑ a b c d "Home Page". Video Game Console Library. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  5. ↑ "Only In The 80's Would They Put Video Games On A VHS Tape" (in en-us). Kotaku. https://kotaku.com/only-in-the-80s-would-they-put-video-games-on-a-vhs-tap-5786220. Retrieved 26 October 2020. 
  6. ↑ "Action Max". thegamesdb.net. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  7. ↑ "About - WoW Action Max - Games Database". www.gamesdatabase.org. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?title=History_of_video_games/Platforms/Action_Max&oldid=4192614"