Early Gaming Computers

The late 70's and early 80's saw a rise in the popularity of home computers, not only for educational or work-based applications, but also for home gaming. Home computers were often seen to offer better value than video consoles, and for parents, their added 'educational value' was also seen as a bonus.

The first, the Bally Astrocade , had a limited release in 1977, with others, such as the APF Imagination Machine following close behind. However, the release of the simple Sinclair ZX80 in 1980 really kick-started the home computer craze in the UK, with the video game console crash of 1983 helping to popularise the alternative home computers such as the VIC-20 , Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum .

In this section, you can find out more about the early home computers used for gaming, including the Atari XEGS , Sinclair ZX81 and Commodore Amiga CDTV , along with home computers that were not released in the UK, such as the Sharp X68000 and Commodore MAX Machine , which were released only for the Japanese market. If you want to find out more about the early computer games that could be played on these machines, why not check out the History of Computer Games section?

APF Imagination Machine

A combination computer system and home video game console released in late 1979 ...

Atari XEGS

The XE Game System, a combined home computer and gaming machine released in 1987 ...

Bally Astrocade

Originally released as the Bally Professional Arcade in 1977, before being renamed the Bally Computer System in 1981 and the Astrocade in 1982 ...

Commodore MAX Machine

A home computer released in Japan in 1982 and discontinued the same year ...

Commodore 64

The best selling single personal computer model of all time, released in 1982 and discontinued in 1994 ...

Commodore 128

An 8-bit home computer released by Commodore in 1985, and discontinued in 1989 ...

Commodore Amiga CDTV

The first gaming computer to feature a CD-ROM drive as standard ...

Commodore VIC-20

Released in 1982, this 8-bit home computer was the first microcomputer to sell more than one million units ...

MSX

A standardised computer architecture released in 1983 and designed to create a single industry standard for home computers ...

Sharp X68000

A home computer released in 1987 for the Japanese market ...

Sinclair ZX80

The unit that was responsible for kick-starting the home computer craze in the UK ...

Sinclair ZX81

Released in 1981 as the popular successor to the ZX80 ...

Sinclair ZX Spectrum

Sinclair's first colour home computer, released in 1982 and remaining in production until 1990 ...