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Bally Astrocade

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Gaming Console

The Resume

    (February 1978-1985)
    Manufactured by Bally - founded as Lion Manufacturing (1932)
    Originated as the Bally Home Library Computer through Bally/Midway (1977)
    $300
    First advertised in American Scientific (September 1977)

Why Bally Astrocade might be annoying:

    Bally manufactures gambling machines.
    Almost the entire first delivery were defective.
    After discontinuing the system in 1980, they reintroduced it a year later.
    They changed the system name from Bally Astrocade to just Astrocade.
    It's nickname was 'The Professional Arcade.'
    Bally passed on producing Pong (1972).
    The system would overheat quickly. It warned to keep the vents clear even though the vents were on the bottom of the unit.
    Although the computer boasted 4K of Ram, only 1800 bytes were available to the user.

Why Bally Astrocade might not be annoying:

    Bally was the first gaming company to offer stock (1969).
    The computer system used the Z80 chip which was also used by Radio Shack's TRS-80 computer.
    The system came with 4 built-in programs (calculator, doodle pad, checkmate and gunfight).
    It was advertised as 'not just a TV game' but an 'excellent business tool.'
    They were the first mass marketed full scale home computer.

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 23 Votes: 52.17% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 16 Votes: 56.25% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 12 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 15 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 23 Votes: 60.87% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 28 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 34 Votes: 67.65% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 67 Votes: 71.64% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 116 Votes: 65.52% Annoying